On Considering Livestock: Chickens

A note, to myself, on some sites and books that have shaped (and are shaping) my understanding and provision for the animals we share our adventure with.

Lately, I've been exploring chickens. Right now, we're hopeful to have both egg layers and meat chickens, and so I'm learning how best to provide for both of them while paying attention to individual needs. One concern is balancing calcium intake with protein. I'm playing with different ideas on what to raise and grow.

Mealworms, Black Soldier Flies, larvae: 

In all cases of feeding a larvae or protein for chickens, it seems that raising it ourselves will to be the best option. The cost of raising is cheaper than purchasing, I'll never have to worry about keeping them in stock, and the upkeep seems to be incredibly easy.

Some dangers and things to be aware of in preparing to raise your own feed:

http://www.raising-happy-chickens.com/high-protein-chicken-foods.html

On eliminating the cost of chicken feed altogether -- though, I've found that when you cut the cost in one area, you add or create it in another. Still -- it's a good read, and offers some great points to think about.

http://www.makeitmissoula.com/2012/07/eliminate-the-cost-of-chicken-feed/

Black Soldier Fly Farming:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/553203/black-soldier-fly-farming

And  because I consider opportunities from all angles, perhaps -- duck? To pull a quote from the article I've listed below:
"Ducks offer a few benefits that chickens do not. In terms of nutrition, duck eggs contain more fat and cholesterol than chicken eggs while providing other essential nutrients including vitamins A, B6, B12, niacin, iron, and calcium.

The eggs also tend to taste much better -- a trait attributed to ducks' ability to forage for up to 90% of their food. Grain-fed chicken eggs have a pale flavor and lightly colored yolk. Duck eggs, on the other hand, have a lot more flavor and deep orange yolks full of nutrients. "

Now, to be fair, the author unfairly compares grain-fed chicken to free-range duck.

http://www.resilientcommunities.com/ducks-for-backyard-protein/

Official Launch!

My husband is an amazing man, and he chooses time and time again to support my dreams, and so: ROGUE MOUNTAIN FARMS is born!

Bruce, helping my husband move the goats

He is the handy-man, the inspiration, the full-time provider, and though he insists they're my projects, it truly is a family affair. Even my mama-in-law ('mother' is too formal, and I love and enjoy her too much) is involved, as we'll be trading goats and horses back and forth. And I'm sure our little girl will get a kick out of making homemade butter and helping to color soaps.

Tricky briars!

Sarah, checking to see if Bertha enjoys Sumac (not the poison kind)

So, it'll be an experimental process, with lots of fun projects and natural and chemical free things to smell and buy and try.

In time, we plan to offer: 

Goat's milk and 
Various types of cheeses (haloumi, feta, mozzarella, "farmers" cheese, cheddar, etc.) and spreads
Yogurts and Kefir
Butter
Ice cream and creamsicles 
Caramels
Chocolate Coconut Fudge
Tootsie Roll candies

As well as non-edibles such as:

Soap
Facial cleansers and Body scrubs
Essential oils and essential oil salves

And as we build our stock, and my beehives get going, we'll add elements such as these:

Eggs from happy and free-range, backyard chickens
Honey candies and honey products (but I won't commit my bees to honey for sale yet, as they're usually so busy their first year just building up winter stores for survival)
Rabbits

and we're considering chicken and rabbit meat, as well. 


I'm so excited!

Goats!

Sarah and I exploring hollowed out logs and squishy mushrooms

Sandy out walking with one of her babies

Rogue Mountain Bees for Christmas

Because I have the most amazing husband, who believes in me and is willing to take a chance on my abilities -- even when I'm not -- we're about to become beekeepers!

I'm terrified that I'm going to kill all of them, right off the bat, but he insists I'll know enough by then, and everyone will be perfectly happy and healthy. I'm trying to believe him.

As usual, he sees the potential in my abilities before I do. My husband makes my world a better place. 

/tries not to hyperventilate. 

For Christmas, my sweet man gifted me with a hive set up. We purchase our bees this month for delivery in springtime. It's the fulfillment of a childhood dream.

I've learned that queen cells look different than the rest, that lots of things like to kill/eat/infect/steal/infest the bees or their home, that there are a lot of natural ways to care for them, pesticides are the industry norm, but can be avoided, and that it's actually a very brutal society.

Also, bees swarm and cook wasps who invade their hive. It's kind of gruesome, but a very stand-together-to-turn-the-overwhelming-tide and inspiring event. 

This particular fact (and learning that a bee's guts get pulled out of its back end, and thus dies when it stings) has inspired our recently-turned-9-year-old daughter to volunteer as my junior beekeeper, and overcome her fear of bee stings. ("So, they don't WANT to sting me?" "Well, would you want your guts to fall out of your bottom?" "Eww! NO!" "Me neither. So, there you go. They'd rather feel safe.")

We're going to be hunting for a Jr. beekeeper's suit soon. 

:)

 Also, bees are little math nerds. I love them already.

London, England: Day 3

Saturday, Nov. 22: (Day 3)

Day Three in London was as busy as the others, but we were on our own this time. We explored until our feet were about to fall off. We saw where Sherlock Holmes lived, accidentally discovered the free admission line of the Museum of Natural History, made plans to go into the Victoria and Albert Museum, but never made it. Then we broke for lunch, went back to meet a couple of dinosaurs, and took a snack break at the single most delicious crepé shop and then took the Tube out to where we needed to be to catch a 30min ride on The Eye of London. Whew. It was quite a day:

First, was The Sherlock Holmes' Museum:

Signing the guest book at Sherlock's house ^.^ This book nerd's heart grew three sizes that day.

The Hound of Baskervilles. My first Sherlock book. 

Our first cab ride.

After we spent way too much time in the Sherlock Holmes Museum, we went on to the London Natural History Museum, took some time checking out the rocks with our little budding geologist. Then, with blood sugar levels dangerously low -- we decided to break for lunch.

Waiting for our coffee and crepes.

 Being perfectly normal. As usual.

NUTELLA CREPE! That look is pure joy in the heart of an eight year old.

That kid in the background haha

London, England: Day 2

Friday, Nov. 21: (Day 2)
After a great breakfast at our hotel, we met up for a guided bus tour. It was called the Imperial Tour, and covered walking tours of all the greatest attractions in the area. We saw Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, House of Parliament, Big Ben, Victoria Tower, a ground level view of the London Eye,  Waterloo Bridge views, Trefalgar Square

The crew in front of Buckingham Palace.

Our tour guide, flagging everyone down.

 A lovely carriage, heading down the lane.

Victory Square 

A statue dedicated to Queen Victoria, and our princess Sarah at the foot of the statue.

The Palace.

Our next stop took us over to a collection of the classical sights. Westminster Abbey came first, with this gorgeous view:

And on our walk over to The Houses of Parliament, we passed lots of statues. This particular one had out tour guide tickled, because in all of his investigations, he could find no information explaining the presence of Abraham Lincoln's statue hanging out there between the religious and government hotbeds of London, England. 

And at the same statue, here we have our first walking view of Big Ben. It blew my mind a little bit, how centrally located everything was. I thought we'd have to travel a bit more to get to some of these places. Or, at least hop on the bus again between Parliament's buildings/Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey. 

And there he is! Big Ben himself.

The view from Big Ben (or now, apparently, Elizabeth Tower) at one end of the Houses of Parliament to the other, with the Victoria Tower

Houses of Parliament

Because of terrorist threat, the monuments around the government buildings were fenced off and guarded. 

From there, we hopped back onto the bus and drove over the bridge to Trefalgar Square. It was starting to get dark, but it was really gorgeous.

Crossing the bridge, with a great view of the Houses of Parliament

Peeking at the Eye of London

Statues in Trefalgar Square. 

The statues put in three of the four corners of the Square have been selected by public subscription, and because there was so much division over the fourth corner -- they now have a changing installment. During our time there, it happened to be a blue rooster.