Thoughs on Moving

Well, it's clear that we are on the move. Or at least moving toward being on the move. For every box that is packed and each and every trailer load that we have towed thus far you would think we have made a dent in the progress. Every bone and muscle in my body aches and Darnit - my lips are chapped from the new chilly mountain air.

The top photo is what we have grown accustomed to viewing.
The photo below it is the reason for the chapped lips and cool mountain air.

Our temporary chicken coop (below with high fence surrounding it) is just that - TEMPORARY! In need of much work but it will do until construction on the barn begins.




Fences need to be built & barns constructed from scratch. Horse stalls taken down, driven a zillion+ miles into the mountains and reassembled. OMG!!

Wonder how the chickens, ducks, turkeys, goats and horses are going to fare in the high mountain desert? It's Chapstick for all.

How Fresh Are Those Eggs?

According to Consumer Reports (Sample Issue, 2010), for most food, the expiration date indicates the last day the food should be consumed. Why is there an exception for eggs?

Hmmm? It seems (not our opinion) that Federally graded eggs in their shells are safe for three to five weeks after the expiration date on the carton, as long as you keep them refrigerated.

Allow us to give you a little information on the benefits of the magical protective layer that a fresh chicken eggs comes equipped with? There's no need for washing or refrigerating. It's the oh-natural way.

Going to the Market?

When shopping at the market whether it be a Farmer's Market or big chain store please keep in mind that when you are purchasing your meat, seafood or poultry you should pick those items up last. Very last and then zoom home to the freezer.

Horrifingly enough, there was a test compiled in 2007 (a test among chain stores, NOT FARMER'S MARKETS)that reported that out of 525 chickens tested - only 17% were free from salmonella and campylobacter. Gross, right?
You bet.

Don't get all freaked out. Just make a simple alteration to your normal market schedule and get your frozen and refrigerated items last - and then go home!
Bon Appetite!

2010 BRINGS ABOUT MANY CHANGES FOR RANCH HAG HENS.

In the Spring of 2010 Ranch Hag Hens, family and farm animals will roost in higher elevations in a remote location in Northern California. As a result, Ranch Hag Hens will focus primarily on Treats for Chickens, their Heritage breeding program and the "Ranch Hag" herself will be completing the Great American Novel - her chicken care and behavior book - due late 2010, early 2011.

Thank you to everyone who supported the backyard chicken movement! At this time all of the beautifully feathered ladies have flown the coop.

Please sign up for our e-mail newsletter (down and to the right) for special updates on chicken availability, sales and natural product promotions.

Excessive Breeding

Holey smokes.
Just learned that in China a company, "Yuhe, has doubled its number of breeder farms from 13 to 27 within just a few days – a company surely demonstrating its ambitions for the future".

I can't help but think that this is a move that clearly isn't 'demonstrating its ambitions" for the well being of the chickens in the future. Yikes!!

So, a special message to all you Backyard Chicken lovers - excellent job and keeping you flock happy, healthy and contributing to your families organic intake. Keep up the good work.

Chicks for Christmas Delivery

Several (actually, way too many) inquiries have been made into the availability of day-old baby chicks for 'Christmas delivery' -
Ho, Ho, Ho, Ho, Ho! Followed by no, no, no, no, no.
And, here is the story and the Bah-Hum-Bug of it all.

Baby chicks are a seasonal arrival, no doubt. But not a winter seasonal arrival. If chicks hatch during the later months of the year (October, November, December, etc.) they need to be indoors for a minimum of eight weeks before we tempt them with all the wonders of outdoor living in a coop; full-time. This time schedule puts them outside somewhere in December, January & February. And the last time we checked the weather Doppler - these months are WINTER. Did we mention 'wet' and 'cold'? We aren't exactly skipping around in our shorts early in the mornings and late in the evenings.

- unless of course you've wandered off to a tropical island to live the remainder of your days swinging from a hammock all the while your feathered fowl scratch in the sand for a flea or two.

Back on track, back at the desk, back to ......
So, fellow urban backyard chicken lovers please do what you can to hold out just a little bit longer for the Sprunging of Spring. Your chicks health will benefit from it immensely. Mother Earth intended it this way. Promise.

But, if you find yourself unable to resist the fluffy little balls of innocence we recommend our Just For Chicks package to your Holiday Shopping List along with several Healthy Basics to keep them in optimum health: Colloidal Silver, Vitamins and Electrolytes and/or Healthy Hen Wellness Tonic to their daily rations.

Treats for Chickens

When your feathered flock is in need of supplies - supplies that are proven to work....scratch on over to Treats for Chickens for the latest and greatest.

A cheer to health and happiness for the modern backyard chicken.