Foxhollow Poultry Farm

Our houses, fields, brooders, and hoop houses are full of poultry right now. Almost all of the poultry to be raised this year is on the farm at this moment except for another 200 or so turkeys, some more muscovy ducks, and a couple hundred quail. Bird chores take about 6 hours now. Today an additional amount of time will be taken to ensure the birds do not get too hot as weather is expected to be in the mid to upper 90's. A little too hot for all of us here.

The newest arrivals here are the Embden geese and some muscovy ducklings. The little goslings are so adorable. They kind of walk like tiny penguins. I have combined the two in the brooder, which seems like a good idea as they are both the same age, water fowl and get along really well together. The geese have made the muscovies calm down and more friendly. Instead of running when you open the door, the ducklings now come to greet you. They may have to be separated later in life, but for now all is good. Here are their pictures.

Since it was perfect weather, we decided to move our replacement layer ducklings to their new outdoor summer quarters. We used a large dog kennel covered with tarps, straw bedding, put a heat lamp in, waterer, and feeder.... and the ducks. They are so funny to watch and just adorable even though they may be the messiest animals ever.

The breed khaki campbell duck is specifically used for eggs. They are abundant producers and can lay up to 300 eggs a year. The chef's in town are waiting impatiently for their eggs. They should begin to lay in late August. Seems like a long time from now to have to wait. Hurry up little ducks, the chef's are waiting for your delicious rich eggs!

 Spring is toying with us. Our weather has been anywhere from 7 degrees to the high 50's. The reality of spring will HOPEFULLY be here soon. This time of year is quite frustrating due to the wait for nice weather and wait and wait and wait. Our first planting in trays has been done indoors again this year. We didn't get  our hoop house up last fall so we will build it this August to extend our winter season. Greens, herbs, and radishes in November! What a treat.

We bought a large, used, Humidaire incubator this weekend. It was an unbelievable find! A gentleman in Fort Dodge was going out of business and wanted to sell most of his poultry gear.  This incubator will help us increase our flock this year with about 400 chicken eggs per setting, or a couple thousand quail eggs. After the tornado that went through here last year our flock was pretty low in numbers. We need to increase our flock size and conformation after that destruction. Our plan is to be able to sell some chicks to other farms next year (2010). Thanks for understanding to those of you who have inquired for chicks this year. We just don't have enough to go around yet. 

Our table poultry production schedule has been bumped up considerably from last year. We are adding two new types of ducklings to our roster this year. The French Grimaud,  a large type of Long Island Duckling is one of them. The other is a Barbary/Muscovy duck that has little fat, lots of meat, lots of eggs, doesn't quack but does fly. This should be interesting! We may need hardhats in the duck yard now.

Our heritage layer flock should start producing eggs within the month. Looking for those first eggs is more fun than an Easter egg hunt as I have been raising the chickens for almost 6 months. I ask them daily "where are the eggs?" No reply and no eggs....yet.

We will also be breeding and selling Red Golden Pheasant this year. They are a beautiful bird --Males are bright red, yellow, orange, and blue.

So far they are settling in to their new environment with the Peafowl, and Slate Turkeys. Everyone is getting along together pretty well.

All in all things are pretty much on schedule at present. The only problem I have is a list 5 pages long of things that have to be done when the weather warms up. Until then we are waiting!