Eaglewhensheflies, Author at A Country Girl's Heart -Beats that Matter

February 28, 2022February 25, 2022

What Chickens are Right for You?

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There are many factors to consider when choosing what breed or breeds of chickens are right for your flock. That sounds exciting, doesn’t it? Your Flock. Here are a few questions to ask yourself when deciding what chicken breeds are right for you. You will also find brief corresponding points to aid in making your decisions.

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What are your goals for chickens?

Will your birds be your pets? Some have chickens merely for the food they provide. others enjoy them as a pet.

Do you plan to produce your own food with your chickens? You might want to choose a breed for its egg laying ability. Do you plan to raise them for meat? If so, there are breeds available whose fast-growing heavy muscle patterns make them ideal for eating.

Perhaps you intend to own chickens for both meat and eggs. There are wonderful heritage and dual-purpose breeds who lay a decent number of eggs and are delicious to eat. For example, the Silver Gray Dorkings raised here at CG Heartbeats Farm.

Click this link to learn more: https://www.dontclipmywings.com/silver-gray-dorking/

Do you plan to raise chicks? If so, you might want to include a breed known to go broody in your flock. Will you be raising chicks to a breed standard, a backyard Heinz 57 mix, or a little of both? There is no wrong answer, only what you prefer.

Do the breeds you want play well with others?

Some breeds are known to be more aggressive compared to other breeds. If you choose to own more than one breed, you will want to purchase breeds that are able to get along with each other. There will always be a pecking order among chickens. One hen will rule the others. There will be one below her in the domination order. Each hen will have a place in the line down to the lowest.

Do you want more than one breed?

A flock of mixed breeds can be a beautiful thing. The beauty of a dozen different colored eggs may make the decision for you. Many find joy in seeing blue, green, different shades of brown eggs and even eggs with a pink tint. The diversity of backyard chicken breeds provide a wonderful way to enjoy owning birds.

Do you want more tips and fun group challenges? Join the Facebook group Hatching Eggs, Ideas, and Homesteading Practices

Should your birds be vaccinated?

To vaccinate or not vaccinate is a personal choice based on several different factors.

Desire to raise chickens completely natural
Comfort level with the risk of loosing some birds
Desire to have eggs and possibly meat from birds that were not vaccinated
Allowing for the survival of the fittest
Belief that vaccinating will stop disease from spreading (It has been proven to slow down the spread in the last century.)
Over all sustainability of the environment.
Loss of money due to loss of birds

Some breeders vaccinate all chicks, some do not, and others leave the choice up to the buyer. If you are purchasing older birds and have strong feelings one way or the other about vaccination, make sure to inquire before purchasing. That goes for any age bird, truthfully.

How many chickens do you want?

This decision will depend in part on how much land you have available. Other factors include the goals that you have decided on. If you are breeding chickens, chances are you will have more chickens than an average backyard flock. If you live on a lot in town, the number you can have will be limited to the size of the coop that fits in your space. In general, there should be 3 to 5 square feet per bird in a coop and 8 to 10 in a run. If chickens are kept in coop 24/7 the square footage would need to larger per bird.

Understand that this can vary depending on the size and breed of chicken. Still, this gives you an idea to base the number of chickens you want to own. Perhaps you live in the country and want to sell farm fresh eggs locally, you may want 50, 100 or even more.

Will your flock include a rooster?

Depending on where you live, roosters may not be allowed due to the loud crowing they are bound to exclaim as morning dawns. I personally enjoy hearing my roosters crow early in the morning.

A rooster is needed if you intend to hatch chicks to fertilize the eggs. A hen will lay eggs without a rooster, so if you certainly do not need one for a hen to lay eggs. Will your first

Do you plan to free range your flock?

Traits of a chicken that does well free ranging include high awareness of predators, ability to fly, and of course scratch and look for food. Some breeds are known to be better as a free-range bird then others.

Another factor that influences free ranging abilities is the environment in which they are raised. If you choose to free range your flock, expect to have some loss of life. The advantages and disadvantages are yours to weigh.

One more thought is that if you have close neighbors with dogs, or even not so close this seems to be another disadvantage to free ranging birds. Even if you choose to keep your chickens in a pen of some sort that does not entire reduce the risk of loss from a predator.

How many eggs do you consume on a daily or weekly basis?

Different breeds of chickens are known for how many eggs they produce a day. In recent years, chicken breeds have been developed that are known to be the best for laying eggs, (laying highest number of eggs in the shortest amount of time). These often lay best in the first year, but after that the number falls of drastically.

Heritage breeds of chickens tend to lay less eggs each year but have longevity to produce eggs for several years. Does the idea of supporting heritage breeds appeal to you? Or perhaps the desire for large numbers of eggs in a shorter amount of time works best for your goals.

In Conclusion

Know what your goals are. Use these questions to decide what chickens are right for you. Decide what is most important for you. Have fun and try new breeds. Maybe there is not a chicken breed that fits your requirements. If you are up to the challenge, you may decide to create your own breed. I have. See the post titled Introducing the Lemon Flower Chicken Breed. Click below

Introducing the Lemon Flower Chicken Breed

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February 22, 2022February 23, 2022

Put Your Chickens to Work on the Homestead

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Chickens offer two readily known assets to a homestead in producing eggs and meat. I have found a third use for chickens here on CG Heartbeats Farm. While I am likely not the first to do so, in this post I share how I have put chickens to work on the homestead.

Humble Beginnings

One of my frustrations early on in this journey was a desire to garden, but no good way to bust up the sod which has a fantastic root system. I wanted to turn parts of the yard into garden space as long as 2 or 3 years. I started looking for little ways to begin producing some of my own food and here is where that journey has taken me so far.

Originally, I used broken buckets to grow sweet potatoes and pots to grow peppers, and tomatoes. The first year I had the best success with the sweet potatoes and from that soil, created a small container garden. I also utilized a part of one the flower beds which for years, I hardly kept the grass at bay. My garlic journey began with 18 cloves of garlic in 2016 with 3 varieties. Fast forward 5 years later, I have around 600 cloves planted in 8 varieties. I no longer use the flower garden. Now I am able to use other areas, thanks to the work of chickens.

Looking Back

As a part of using what I had in the form of dog kennel panels, I set up first one 10 x 10 and an additional 5 x 5 off the side of the 10 x10 pen. These were covered in a netting that we had purchased in a roll and a part of that roll remains. These pens were placed in an area where I wanted to create garden space. In the fall of 2018, the chickens had sufficiently killed off the sod in the 5 x 5 pen.

How did I know this you might wonder? There was almost no visible grass or roots sticking up in this pen. A few stray root tops near the surface along a piece of wood was about all I could see from the surface. Simply put, it had a look of bare ground.

I moved the 3 panels to a different side of the 10 x 10 pen. In this new location, more sod could be removed by the chickens.

Back to the spot where the pen had been. My next step was to take a spade to this area and turn the dirt over. At this time, I also found and removed any remaining roots I could find. There were a few, but certainly not the number that would have been present had I randomly picked this spot in the yard and tried to start digging up the grass. I have done that before when planning grapes and black raspberries and it proved to be a bit difficult for my current physical state.

Sustainable Gardening Ideas

With the ground prepared, I used this area to plant the Music garlic variety and has a mild, sweet flavor that I find pleasing. It has been a bit of a trial for me being the first time I had planted garlic in this area of the farm. Knowing this spot also contained a sandy subsoil same as where I planted garlic before in a garden near the house, I felt confident planting one variety in this location. Adding hay chaff and eventually wood chips are a practice for garlic I am raising. Both could be considered a waste product, but not if I am looking for ways to be sustainable. Since I don’t like weeding and I love the benefits of chaff and woodchips as a method to cover the soil.

Early Spring 2019 the garlic garden in the flower bed

Early spring 2019 the Music variety of garlic is growing nicely in the new bed

Recalling the Spring of 2019

Spring of 2019 rolled around and proved it was indeed excellent for garlic. It is doing every bit as well as in the other location where it is planted on CG Heartbeats Farm.

Here the chicken pens are moved to a new location. The patch of dirt is where the pens were previously located.

In March I was itching for the 3^rd week of April to arrive for that was the week I planned to move all the current panels to a new nearby location. Here the chickens would have fresh ground and I would have another garden plot. I am finding I like the idea of having different plots around on the farm instead of one large garden area. I think it adds character, reduces wind and water erosion, and in time with some flowers mixed in, beauty. It may provide a way to rotate crops in different areas, a sustainable practice.

Julie is running the roto tiller. She has a growing flower business, Blooms on 800.

I had started heritage tomato seeds indoors and looked forward to planning them outside in this new garden space. My excitement helped energize me for the task. No sooner than the new pens set up we had 5 inches of rain in about a week’s time. That put a damper on the progress.

Help from a Friend

I learned to know Julie last year at while attending the markets. She has proved to be a continued encouragement to me. She had earlier offered to bring her tiller over and work the ground for me, saving me the work with a spade. This past Monday that day finally arrived.

Feeling excited to see the progress made, I proceeded to plant the tomatoes that day. What I cannot share in a picture or quite in words was the smell. I will only say that ground did NOT smell like roses. Julie, in her encouraging way, said, “You will have the biggest tomatoes around.” This in response to my comment about the bad smell.

Now that tomatoes are planted and covered due to the forecasted temps in the low thirties and I will continue to leave the cover on until the weather has warmed. These ‘covers’ are the tops of apple cider vinegar and milk jugs, an example of ways to re-propose materials otherwise considered trash. (#usewhatyouhave) This project has cost me little to nothing. Perhaps even saved me a small amount as it provided a natural food source for the chickens while they lived outside. I did, of course, feed them additional food.

Tomatoes planted with room for additional plants, perhaps corn and beans? Notice in this picture I have already added hay chaff to cover the ground. Wood chips will be added, also.

Continuing the Progress

Over the last 2.5 years I have continued putting the chickens to work on the homestead creating additional garden space. I am getting close to creating a garden entrance and fencing a portion of the garden.

Garlic and onions are currently planted in a 10 foot by 36-foot garden where chicken pens sat in 2020. Eventually a portion of this space will be home to an additional row of grape vines.

The garlic and onion garden for the 2022 harvest. Pictured here in the fall of 2021 shortly after
planting. This is one of several current garden spaces. Notice I had just started to put hay chaff on.

The vision of the gardens I am creating has developed slowly over the last few years. To be honest, it will likely continue to be modified as time goes by.

I am looking forward to adding flower bulbs against a fence line. Last fall I planted 2 Dwarf Alberta Spruce trees, one in each outside corner of where the fence will be. How are you using what you have?

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February 15, 2022February 10, 2022

Introducing the Lemon Flower Chicken Breed

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The Lemon Flower chicken breed developed over the last few years as I sought to use what I had and work within my limits when I struggled with reproducing Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiner chickens. When this process started, I was not sure how the process was going to unfold. For the first time I share the story as a part of introducing the Lemon Flower chicken breed.

How The Lemon Flowers Began

Feelings of failure and frustration filled my mind as I went about the chore of feeding chickens. 3 years into ‘raising’ Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiners I had yet to hatch a single chick. What did I know about hatching? About breeding chickens? Was I up to this ‘new experience’ I had taken on 3 years ago? Give me horses and horse illness, problems and work. This I knew as a 30 plus year horse owner. My thoughts recalled a concept I had learned in the last 3 years; taking on a new project or experience was bound to include failure. Well, in the moment, I was feeling it.

I mean! Could these hens even produce a fertile egg? I had been through 3 roosters. Not a single chick had hatched!! Additional frustration feelings of failure overwhelmed me. My body responded by energy leaving my body. Perhaps taking on new projects was NOT the way to improve my health. Maybe if I had continued with horses, I would have overcome my loss of desire to ride, compete and continue chasing my childhood dream. Maybe? Ah, but no turning back now! Onward.

Testing Fertility of the Hens

Wait! I had a plethora of fertile roosters in the Swedish Flower Hen breed. Perhaps I could test the LCN hens’ fertility by crossing the hens on a SFH rooster. If they produced chicks, then the infertility fault would be in the LCN roosters.

There was a nice looking SFH rooster who had been raised outside as a grow out. I often admired him, but had no need for him in any of my current breeding pens. He was available and a nice specimen. I mulled over my thoughts for a week at least. I had conversations with friends over my idea. If I did get chicks, what would I do with them? Perhaps, I could sell them as laying hens to folks who wanted pretty chickens. I mean they were bound to be pretty, right?

The SFH rooster wasted no time at all in breeding the LCN hens after I placed him in their pen. The hens were not laying right then. I also have a protocol of waiting 6 weeks after switching roosters before hatching eggs to ensure integrity of the genetics. In other words, I do not want chicks are from one rooster and they are actually from another. It is my understanding; 6 weeks is a conservative measure. Often breeders will consider 2 to 4 weeks a good wait time when switching roosters.

Fertile Eggs

In time I incubated eggs from the SFH rooster and LCN hens. YES! I had fertile eggs. Now I could blame the LCN roosters for the infertility in the LCN hens. I ended up with 5 chicks, 3 roosters and 2 hens.

The 5 50/50 crossbreds I hatched

These chicks were 50% LCN and 50% SFH. At the time, I had no luck in hatching LCN and no roosters to use. I had picked up 2 pure grow out roosters, but they were not old enough. My pen space was limited so I put the 50/50 hens in with the purebred hens. I kept 2 of the nicest and similar colored 50/50 roosters in a separate pen.

The difference in the eggs of the 50/50 hens and the LCN hens was obvious. The cream colored LCN eggs were oblong, almost in a detrimental fashion and the 50/50 hens had a rounder structure and were definitely darker in appearance. When the grow out roosters, I named Cisco and Clinch were old enough and knowing I could easily tell their eggs apart, I put them in with the 50/50 hens and the pure hens.

Imagine my excitement when the black based 50/50 hen went broody. I happily set her up in a brooder tank and gave her the eggs she was sitting on. Now I am uncertain if any of the eggs she hatched were from the pure hens or not. I can speculate one was based on how she turned out and the type of egg she is producing.

For the beginning of 2022, chick in question is now an adult and in with my known purebred rooster. See last week’s blog post (click below)

5 year Challenge Raising Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiner Chickens

My Decision to Continue

Deciding to experiment to see what I would actually get I incubated the crossbreds eggs. They were faster to produce chicks over the purebred. Frustrating!

I am all about using what I have. At the time, I had nice sized, egg producing cross bred chickens who were not perfectly uniform in color but were similar in size who were producing fertile eggs crossed back on Lemon Cuckoo Nierheiner Roosters.

This second generation of my crossbred project was 75% Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiner and 25% Swedish Flower Hen

Taking the pullets for the red CB hen I created a pen with one of the 50/50 roosters. The pullets from the black based 50/50 hen I placed with the other 50/50 rooster. My plan was to keep 2 lines going with the 3^rd generation.

2021 proved a difficult year for me on a personal level. Chicks did not always get banded or marked. For the record I am honest with customers and communicate if I do not know which pen a bird came from. Depending on their goals, the pen they came from does not matter to them. So, I communicate honestly and allow the customer to decide.

Notice how yellow the hen is in the top right of the photo. She is the hen who has since moved in with the 100% Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiner rooster.

To reduce chore time, I combined the 4 75/25 hens with the 50/50 rooster. The short video below shows the 1 rooster and 4 hens.

In late fall of 2021, I added any female offspring back into the pen. for the winter season. I marked each crossbred hen to know what generation and line they are.

Colors of Lemon Flowers in Developing Generations

Of the original pairings, one 50/50 hen was almost all black, the other was mainly red or ginger. As I created the next generation pens, I grouped them based on what hen they came from and similar color.

Colors of 75% LCN and 25% SFH or Second Generation Cross

The cross of 75% LCN and 25% SFH hens over 50/50 % roosters produced 1 or 2 consistent color patterns. In other words, there were 1 or 2 different colors which showed up. The feather patterns were similar, but the colors appeared 1 of 2 ways.

Generation 4 in creating the Lemon Flower Chickens

The most consistent coloring has shown up in the fourth generation. However, I am optimistically waiting to see what the 4th and 5th generations produce

Introducing Lemon Flowers Chicken Breed Characteristics

The roosters readily show a heavy muscle pattern but demonstrate a willingness to fly and roost. These characteristics are a combination of the 2 orginating breeds. The hens lay consistently and produce a tan, sometimes speckled egg. To date, I have not documented the average number of eggs produced by single hen.

Breeding Goals and Needed Improvements for Lemen Flower Chickens

I would like to see improvement in color uniformity although many hens are quite consistent with in the 3^rd generation. I need to document and calculate the average number of eggs a hen lays in a given year. My 2022 goal is to hatch all I can and select the best for next generation pens to continue improving on what I already have.

introducing the Lemon Flower chicken breed

For 2022 initially I will have 2 pens of Lemon Flowers. The 50/50 rooster over 3rd generation hens and a third-generation rooster over the second-generation hens.

What questions do you have about my developing breed? Leave me a comment below or post on the Lemon Flower Chickens Facebook page. I am not planning to sell many, if any, of this breed until I have worked with them more.

Do you want to learn more about Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiners or Swedish Flower Hens the two originating breeds? Check out the links below:

https://www.dontclipmywings.com/lemon-cuckoo-niederrheiner/

https://www.dontclipmywings.com/swedish-flower-hen/

I am excited to be introducing the Lemon Flower chicken breed. There is a Facebook page to connect and chat about these beautiful chickens. Use the link below to like and follow.

https://www.facebook.com/Lemon-Flower-Chickens

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February 8, 2022February 8, 2022

5 year Challenge Raising Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiner Chickens

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In the fall of 2016, after purchasing Swedish Flower Hens, I found these gorgeous, dual-purpose chickens called Lemon Cuckoo Niederrhiener. Newly imported only 2 years prior, to the United States, they sold for around $30 a chick. My homesteading journey was just beginning and the prospect of selling baby chicks for such a price appealed to me. This post tells tell my story of raising Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiner chickens.

As, I scoured the internet, searching for a place to purchase my own. I came across 2 or 3 farm websites who no longer sold them. Not thinking too much about the fact at the time, I now believe the farms struggled to reproduce them; quickly decided the breed would not be a good financial return on their investment.

Circle M farm offered a deal on chicks for only $20 each. I ended up with 8 chicks, 6 females and 2 males. While harder to distinguish males from females at hatch, by the time they were 4 weeks old the males were lighter and the females darker. All with a yellow look to them.

2017

With great anticipation I set their eggs in 2017. Imagine my disappointment when time after time the eggs either lost viability early on or were not even fertile to begin with. I started looking for a different rooster.

The first year the hens regularly laid eggs. I remember thinking their egg production was to be commended.

2018

I purchased a rooster to hopefully gain fertile eggs to incubate. With the hens all enjoying an outside pen, I examined them using the translated standard from Germany. I choose the hen who best represented the breed and placed her in a separate pen with the new rooster. In this fashion I would now have 2 lines from which to add diversity to the gene pool.

Want to read the translated German SOP or Standard of Perfection? Click the link: https://www.dontclipmywings.com/lemon-cuckoo-niederrheiner-standard-of-perfection/

Disappointed again, as none of the eggs were fertile. I do not think I ever had a fertile egg from the rooster I purchased.

Raising Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiner Chickens in 2019

Feeling a bit frustrated as 3 years into raising Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiners and I had not hatched a single chick. Could the hens be the problem? I knew my Swedish Flower Hen roosters were consistently fertile. Perhaps I would test the ability of the Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiner hens to produce a fertile egg.

After tossing around the idea in my mind and looking over my Swedish Flower Hen roosters, I decided why not. I was not getting anywhere as it was. I might as well try this new idea of mine. If I did get any chicks, I could always sell them as crossbreds or egg layers.

The 5 chicks who hatched from the crossbred experiment.

The hens crossed on the black based mille fleur rooster produced 5 chicks using a Janoel 12 incubator. I had my answer, the roosters were to blame. In my conversations with others about this docile breed, I learned of the importance of trimming the vent feather of both roosters and hens.

Cisco and Clinch

I was hopeful with the addition of Cisco and Clinch to now have a chance at hatching Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiner chicks. Timing has proved a difficulty in itself. The hens were 3 years old and not laying as regularly at this point.

Cisco and Clinch were not mature enough to breed the hens the summer I brought them home. By the time I put them in with the hens, the hens had stopped laying for the winter.

2020 Raising Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiner Chickens

2020 I continued with my crossbred program crossing roosters who were 50/50 with pullets/hens who are 75% LCN/25 % SFH. Next weeks post will share details of my crossbred project I now call Lemon Flowers.

I combined the 2 hens who were 50% Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiner in a pen with my remaining Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiner Hens crossed on Cisco and Clinch. The black 50/50 hen went broody. Check out the chicks she hatched.

Notice how white 2 of the chicks are. I was testing Cisco and Clinches fertility using eggs from a pen which contained both pure Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiner hens and 50/50 hens. I might have ended up with a pure hen also. As I hatch her eggs, I will have better idea. She is currently in with my only pure LCN rooster.

Moma Hen with baby chicks — The black broody 50/50 hen with 3 of the chicks she hatched.

I was disappointed in 2020 to have lost 2 hens, leaving me only one original Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiner hen. The timing of when the hens laid eggs was not conducive to incubating. The 2020 season came and went.

2021

Imagine my delight when I finally had fertile Lemon cuckoo Niederrheiner eggs. I only hatched one chick in the incubator, but I congratulated myself on progress. The hen stopped laying before I could get any other eggs rounded up to incubate. She was approaching 5 years and no longer laid eggs as often.

Possum Attack

Its 4 am and I hear roosters crowing, while not entirely unusual I heard anther sound and listened closer. It sounded like a chicken in distress. I dressed quickly and took a moment to grab my pistol. It was fairly chilly out with a wind blowing. No time or desire to waste on warm clothes, I wanted to investigate.

Taking a quick glance at Aneta, our Great Pyrenees told me where the problem was located. In my headlamp I inspected the interior of the LCN outdoor pen. The rooster was huddled and then I see it. A possum was eating on my hen. My blood ran cold. I wanted a clear shot, and the possum was already on the move. After moving into a better position with the possum still in motion, I shot and missed. Wait! Was the hen breathing? She was but did not survive the attack.

I waited around for the possum to return and managed one more shot. Regrettably I appeared to have missed again. I apparently need to improve my skill. Certain the varmint would return; I moved the rooster into the barn. He did not seem to have injuries either, but unfortunately, I also lost him a few weeks later. Another setback in raising Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiner chickens.

Trying Chicks from a Hatchery

A subscriber and fellow Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiner enthusiast alerted me a hatchery was selling LCN chicks. Of course, hatcheries are not known for their excellent representation of any breed. Rather the opposite, no matter the breed. Given the difficulty of finding others breeding and selling LCN’s I choose to order chicks.

Notice the inconsistency in these 2 roosters. Both were from the hatchery chicks I ordered.

By the time fall arrived I was sorely disappointed. The inconsistencies were beyond obvious. There were not uniform or even anywhere near the way my original birds had presented themselves. Not a single one actually looked like a LCN.

Pictured are the 5 pullets from the hatchery. Notice the inconsistency also.

In the fall of 2021, I looked at pictures at pictures of Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheirs from the hatchery catalog. Definitely NOT what my original birds looked like. I would likely not be ordering a second time.

Click the picture below to read a translated version of SOP (Standard of Perfection) from Germany for Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiners.

Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiner Standard of Perfection

Now what?

Left with only one pure LCN rooster, and possibly one hen, and no contacts with chicks available at the time.

My options:

sell them all and say forget it.
work with the obviously not pure pullets from the hatchery and cross them back on my pure LCN rooster
find the best representation from my crossbred project and my possible pure hen (hatched in 2020) to cross them back on the LCN rooster (hatched in 2021) I now have.
At least I knew what percentage my crossbred birds had of the LCN line.

With the hatchery birds I have NO idea what was in them or the percentage of LCN they possess if any. Chances are someone here in the United States had tried to recreate the breed using breeds the birds were originally created with in Germany. Cheers to them for trying, but full disclosure would be appreciated.

Raising Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiner Chickens in 2022

For the beginning of 2022 I am starting the year crossing my lone pure LCN rooster on the 2 yellowest of my crossbred hens with correctly colored legs out of my cross bred project. One of these hens is potentially pure. The cross bred project chickens will be called either lemon flowers or flowering lemons.

One of the 2 hens who will be crossed with the pure LCN Rooster in 2022

I am on the fence about using the hatchery pullets to cross back on my full Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiners. With no idea what breeds went into what they are calling Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiner. I do however know what percentage my crossbreds carry. For this reason, it seems easiest to work with the 2 hens from my crossbreds I have chosen who represent the LCN breed the best.

Lemon Cuckoo Niederrhiener rooster who hatched in 2021

Hopefully, I can add LCN from the original imports. This continues to be my goal for raising Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiner chickens.

I welcome your thoughts and conversation on the Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiner breed. Leave me a comment below.

Use the links below to connect on Facebook:

Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiner Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/210080682774048

Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiner Page https://www.facebook.com/LemonCuckooNiederrheiners

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January 31, 2022January 31, 2022

Book Review: Face Off with Your Feelings

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I signed up to be on the waitlist for the release of Face Off with Your Feelings. I came across Jessica on Instagram and followed her account because she shared Truth. Her posts were not full of feel-good information, but practical ways to address deep hurt from trauma and abuse. She taught from scripture and her own experiences. I knew I would benefit from her Book Face Off with Your Feelings.

NOTE: This page or post contains affiliate links. When you click and make a purchase I earn a portion of the money you spend at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate and other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support.

My Review

Throughout the book she keeps it real telling of her own false beliefs, how she has grown and how partnering with the Lord allows her to heal from a place of deep wounding.

In Face Off with Your Feelings Jessica shares step by step how to take painful trauma to the Lord and allow Him to impart His Truth over the lies which come out of difficulties circumstances and experiences.

Stickers — Check out these amazing stickers Jessica offers on her website: Face Off with Your Feelings – Jessica Hottle

The process Jessica teaches promotes growth in a relationship with Jesus. She shares the importance of taking our wounded experiences to Jesus first. She teaches about the connection between body, soul and spirit.

Jessica also Created a Workbook

The entire book is a guide to the healing process. Her workbook provides space to answer questions promoting the healing process. Jessica encourages her readers to be aware of a need to constantly be busy. I was reminded of my past practice of intentionally turning off the radio when traveling which I started over 8 years ago. As I realized, I have become ‘busy’ again and the practice of sitting in the moment and recognizing where my thoughts go has taken a back seat. I appreciate the reminder to be aware.

She starts the book encouraging the reader to make space to heal. An important element as the healing process does not occur over night. Rather, the healing journey is a daily or weekly practice of getting real and a willingness for deep examination of one’s self, of being honest with Christ and searching His Word for His truth to replace lies.

The Launch Team

Being a part of Jessica’s launch team was a privilege. I have been on between 10 and 20 book launches over the last 10 years. Being a part of Jessica’s was like no other I have participated in. She actually conducted live coaching videos speaking to questions or comments we had in our own healing journey. I am forever grateful for her insights into my own journey of healing as being a part of her launch team. Jessica ask good questions to get me looking deeper at my heart, beliefs and actions.

Face Off with Your Feelings also asks good questions to get a person started and going next level down in examining our hearts and beliefs driving our reactions. She shares ways to take a closer look at our reactions to events or comments which trigger our pain. Again, questions to ask ourselves to get us to look closer and dig deeper into why respond the way we do. What lie are we believing and what is God’s answer or truth to the lie.

Face Off with Your Feelings Book — Click the following link to order your copy: https://amzn.to/3H9DIFl

The Journey Continues

Finally completing the book does not mean we are done with our journey. Rather, it is a springboard to launch off of. If, like me, your journey started before reading Face Off with Your Feelings, you are bound to discover insight, God’s truth and a new question to help you along on your healing journey and relationship with Christ.

“We cannot let what we feel become an “I am” statement in our life. God is the only one who gets to say who we are and what we are made of.”
~Jessica Hottle in Face Off with Your Feelings

My copy of Face Off with Your Feelings is strewn with underlined print and notes in the margins. Some are practical ideas I desire to apply, and others are examples in my own life I documented in response to a truth she imparted. The content is full of advice I want to continue to put into practice for it does not teach 1 or 2 action steps rather a shift in the way one processes emotion.

In Conclusion

I intend to go through the book and spend time answering the questions in the workbook Jessica created. My healing and the skill of taking control of my thoughts and emotions is a lifelong process. I will continue to press on.

Other Book Reviews

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January 25, 2022January 22, 2022

Books I Read in 2021

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Books take us places we will never see with our eyes and offer ideas and education. I am thankful for the time others invested in me by reading stories. In this week’s post I share my opinion on the books I read or listened to in 2021.

Books are a part of my life and have been since I was a little girl. Both of my parents read to me, as did a grandma. Memories of sitting next to an adult while being read to me fill my heart with joy. To this day I enjoy reading, or with today’s modern technology listening to a book.

Forgiving What You Can’t Forget by Lisa Terkheurst

I choose an audio version of Forgiving What You Can’t Forget via Christian Audio. The first part I listened while face to face with a current painful environment strewn with painful memories.

I found Chapter 7 particularly helpful as I followed Lisa’s advice to write out what I was feeling instead of wishing the people around me would change. In the past when faced with the above-mentioned scenario, I always seen my only relief occurring if the people behaved differently. I longed for them to change so I would find a healing balm for my pain.

She jolted me to a new reality I was thankful for. I sat writing how I felt in the situation from my past. The little girl whose life was forever altered. I also wrote about the pain I felt in the moment. The current circumstances around me. I felt the beginning of a newfound freedom.

Lisa unpacks other ways to shift one’s mindset. Pain we feel is valid, but as a believer we are instructed to forgive. Sometimes forgiveness starts as a choice, not as an emotion. The emotions will need to catch up. And I believe God is faithful when we keep our eyes focused on him.

As a part of the Book study led by Lisa and her staff of this book Forgiving What You Can’t Forget I re-read the book. Being a part of the book study gave me opportunity to listen to additional teaching via videos and go through the digital workbook provided.

The Lord used Forgiving What You Can’t Forget to begin healing in my life but going through the book/Bible study God dug deeper into areas I needed Him to find in my heart.

Want to order your own copy of Forgiving What You Can’t Forget? Click here. To order the study guide click here. Or to order them together along with a DVD click the link: https://amzn.to/3FI0XEU

Love Centered Parenting by Crystal Paine

I found Love Centered Parenting to go beyond sharing parenting ideas. Crystal shares her spiritual journey as it relates to her journey raising children. The lessons she teaches apply to areas of life outside of parenting a child.

Book and cup of coffee — Click on the picture to order your copy today.

My walk with Christ has grown as a result of reading and applying parts of Love Centered Parenting. Her honesty is refreshing.

She gets real about challenges her family has faced and is honest about her mistakes.

Her ability to encourage others by sharing her own life lessons leaves me with a desire to continue learning from her experiences.

Love Centered Parenting is packed full of ways to grow closer in a relationship with Jesus. Read

The entire book review by clicking below:

Love Centered Parenting: Book Review – A Country Girl’s Heart -Beats that Matter (dontclipmywings.com)

Holding on When You Want to Let Go by Sheila Walsh

Sheila speaks to the brutal moments in life when we find ourselves questioning, where is God? Is He real? Does He care? Why is ________ happening? (You fill in the blank) Holding on When you Want to Let Go addresses the nitty gritty of faith.

As I read, I felt encouraged, reminded in my current out of control circumstances I trusted God more than I ever had before. No, I have not arrived, certainly not. To be honest I was tempted and even gave in, allowing my thoughts to be distracted from the difficulties at hand, but on a smaller level. However, my roots of faith are deepening.

Order your own copy by clicking the link: https://amzn.to/33BS9U2 Sheila also has a study book available.

Dakota Series

Dakota Dawn, Dakota Dream, and Dakota Dusk make up 3 books of this 5 part series telling fictional historical accounts of individuals who immigrated to Soldahl, North Dakota. I enjoyed hearing details of what life may have been like for the brave travelers to a new land. The community of people who worked hard and loved the Lord through hardship and joy.

Historical romance are my easy listening (or reading) books for the times I long to get away but physically need to stay present on CG Heartbeats Farm.

I recently learned 2 additional books exist in this Dakota series penned by Lauraine Snelling. You can be sure I will track them down to enjoy, also. I found the first 3 audio books on Christian Audio.

Wrapping Up

I started a couple other books in 2021, but I am still finishing them. Check back for individual book reviews. Or you might have to wait until I post a similar post next year. I would like to hear what books you enjoyed in 2021. Will you leave me a comment sharing your favorite book in you read in 2021? Happy reading in 2022

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January 18, 2022January 18, 2022

Goals For 2022 on the Homestead

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As the last quarter of 2021 rapidly waned, the need for structure became glaringly apparent. The homestead has grown in the last 5 years from a few chickens to 4 breeds, Nigerian Dwarf goats, Great Pyrenees, from no garden space to 5 garden plots. The little baby goats I added earlier were growing and in need of larger permanent pens, horse pasture fencing had been neglected, Aneta needs a doghouse. She has a place in the barn when the weather is adverse, but a doghouse would be best, I believe. Do you see a common theme? The homestead goals for 2022 revolve around structure.

I am ready to start constructing permanent outside chicken pens. The chickens to create garden ground in their outside pens and moving the outside pens as needed. Now I am ready for at least one permanent pen as part of the garden space. The joy of seeing chickens scratch and peck after harvest motivates me to complete one cute, chicken garden pen.

The milk stand Brian and I put together one evening with repurposed boards.

Driving to pick up feed one afternoon, a cute garden entry way and picket fence jumped out at me. My imagination took off. With focused thought my mind seen what I wanted to create for my own garden entry. It is a bit more elaborate than my neighbors. Here is another structure project.

The list of structure projects I hope to tackle (with the help of my husband) continues to grow and makes up much of the 2022 farm goals.

Building Projects for 2022

Buck/pasture shelter
1 permanent garden chicken pen
A dog house for Aneta
Property line fencing Garden entry and fence
Farm stand

Maintenance Projects for 2022

Horse pasture fencing
Horse shelter updates and painting
Remove hip roof barn
Repair horse barn roof
Yard clean up
Current garden shed improvements

Heritage Chicken Breeds

Silver Gray Dorking

I am planning to add additional birds from a different farm in the month of January. I will be adding a new line and creating a second pen of Silver Gray Dorkings.

The plan is to purchase both roosters and hens or pullets. The new roosters will be crossed on the current pullets and the current rooster will be crossed on the new hens. I make up a pair crossing also to increase diverse options for future crosses.

Swedish Flower Hen

In the next 2 months I plan to update information on the different breeding pens. in 2021 I put a second crested pen together. Crested pens here at CG Heartbeats Farm are crested crossed on non crested. The was it works out for now. Pen #8 has a crested rooster on non crested hens. Pen #12 has some crested hens, but the rooster is not crested.

Crossing crested on crested in the Swedish Flower Hen breed lends to producing vaulted skulls. I do not know of anyone who has worked with the breed in an attempt to breed away from vaulted skulls when crossing crested on crested.

Lemon Cuckoo Niederrhiener

For the beginning of 2022 my single purebred LCN is crossed with 2 of the yellowest looking crossbred pullets. The pullets a large percentage LCN but not full. This is an experiment to see what I get. I also have the 5 pullets I purchased from a hatchery with him.

2 or 3 of those 5 are for sale. I have not advertised them yet at the time of writing this post. I will not sell them as LCN for they are an extremely poor representation of the breed. If I can locate pure LCN chicks this year I would like to add them to the farms flock. They are difficult to locate. Now that a hatchery is selling chicks as this breed it is even harder to find true Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiners.

For additional information on Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiners click on a link below:

Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiner – A Country Girl’s Heart -Beats that Matter (dontclipmywings.com)

Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiner Chickens | Facebook

Crossbred Project Goals for 2022

In the wee morning hours waiting for chickens to be processed I was given an idea for the crossbred chickens. Flower Lemons was the name suggested. I am now deciding between Flower Lemons or Lemon Flowers. Leave me a comment below if you have a suggestion for me or a vote for one name or the other.

Nigerian Dwarf Goat Goals for 2022

Bonney, Dixie and Ariel are breed for April and May kidding. I am beyond excited to freshen Nigerian Dwarf does. I plan to retain a doe from each if the opportunity presents itself. Goat Math. 😊

Brian and I laid out a plan for a small buck or pasture shelter. The boards are mostly purchased and cut. We need a break in the weather to start construction. Our plan is to build the walls and the floor in the barn before putting the shelter together outdoors.
Other goat goals are:

continue to lay out goat pasture ideas in my mind.
attend 2 to 5 shows in 2022 with some of the goats
sell the Nigerian Dwarf kids I choose not to retain

As one additional goal for 2022 I desire to milk test Dixie, Bonnie and Ariel. Will I be able to do all three in one year? There is additional research I want to do to plan for milk testing the does. Peaches and Grace will likely not be bred until September or October of 2022. Grace would be ideal for fall kidding. I am undecided if I want to milk through next winter. On one hand, I like the idea of having milk all winter. On the other hand, I wonder if I will need a break by the time winter rolls around. Likely, the act of milking will take me back a few years to days of childhood and provide enjoyment.

Four of the 5 Nigerian Dwarf does at CG Heartbeats Farm in the fall of 2021.

There are new skills I need to learn and equipment to purchase. My dad always tattooed and dehorned the babies. Now these jobs are on me since I have my own goats. The tattoo equipment I have, but the dehorning box and iron still need to be purchased.

Learn more about the Nigerian Dwarf goats at CG Heartbeats Farm by clicking below:

Nigerian Dwarf Goats

Horse Goals for 2022

I strongly desire to spend time working with the horses in 2022. Training Drifter to drive would benefit the homestead. If we put a stone boat together or a wooden sled for him to pull, he would be useful in hauling fire wood from the woods in winter months. One fact about Drifter, he is strong!

I am certain Cider had the potential to be a nice riding horse, she needs wet saddle blankets to get her there. If you are unfamiliar with the term ‘wet saddle blankets’ it simply means lots of hours spent with a rider on her back.

Dusty has a home here as long as she lives. I raised her from a foal. Bo puts a smile on my face. But my goal is to raise a foal with her in the next year or two.

Gardens

My mind continues to play our different ideas for laying out the gardens this year. I know there are certain plants I desire to raise again. Last week, the seeds I ordered from Baker Creek Seeds arrived.

Cats

My one goal for the cats this year is to have all the females and some of the males fixed.

Great Pyrenees

Our heeler Champ is aging and I see a need for a second LGD. Before realizing I needed to focus on structure for 2022, I seen a need to get on a wait list for a male LDG to assist Aneta in her duties here.

I definitely want to be better prepared for a new puppy than I was for Aneta. She is an amazing dog. Today she made me proud. I looked up to see her running in the woods, far behind the deer ahead of her. At my calling and sharp No she turned (not immediately) and ran to me. I praised her greatly. It is thrilling to see her responding better compared to a year ago. I will not be leaving her out unsupervised though.

In Conclusion

Likely the goals will shift a bit as the year plays out. I am excited for our 2022 goals and look forward to seeing what all we can accomplish. I would love to hear about our goals for 2022. Leave a comment sharing yours whether on your homestead, farm or in your life.

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January 10, 2022January 10, 2022

CG Heartbeats Farm 2021 Year in Review

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Personal Growth and Challenges in 2021

2021 started on track for my expectations. However, by March my mind had lost focus and motivation to write, by July my ability to garden, preserve and function waned, to say the least.

March and April revealed a dear family member was going to be in battle for their life fighting cancer. As I type these works, the battle continues. The end of June a series of events involving the health and lives of other family members unfolded. From a life-threatening bullet wound to an unrelated death, hospital stays and a tough decision for my aging horse, my energy levels and attention shifted to the people in my life who needed my assistance. The homestead took a back seat, gardens were let go, little food preservation happened. The bare minimum kept the homestead going.

September though the end of 2021 felt as if I was picking up the pieces and putting order back in place. My word for 2022 was going to be structure because I see a great need for structural improvements both physical and in my daily routines. As the last 2 weeks unfolded the word persistence continued to show up. So, while I will be addressing structure in 2022 as mentioned above, my word for the year is persistence.

In a worldly sense the past year might appear as a waste. In a personal and spiritual sense, I grew. My trust in the Lord to provide, my belief and trust in His sovereignty, my faith to follow His direction and belief, He alone is a light unto my path. Growing relationships with those I encountered in the last year have eternal benefits.

In the midst of my struggle, there were additions to the farm and I will mention them below as look back at 2021 on CG Heartbeats Farm.

Horses

In July on a warm sunny morning, I found my 26-year-old mare Rosie down and unable to rise, even when I tried to assist her. Her physical condition had been gradually declining. If I am honest it started around 4 years ago. I knew it was time. My heart ached deeply and I continue to miss her. I felt like a part of my dream was buried with her. However, my love of horses has not disappeared. I continue to have goals and dreams around the majestic equine. Looking back at last year however, I did not do much beyond the daily care and maintenance of looking after my horses. At the close of 2021, 4 horses now reside here at CG Heartbeats Farm, Bo, Drifter, Cider, and Dusty.

Trees

I am super excited to share I was able to plant 16 trees nearer the house in the last quarter of 2021. Two of the seedlings were volunteer starts from the current Crabapple tree. I planted 12 additional flowering trees from the Arbor Day Foundation. The varieties included, Crape myrtle, White Dogwood, Sargent (White) Crabapple, Redbud and Washington Hawthorns. It will be a few years until they are flowering, but I can see it in my mind and I am excited every time I think about it.

After Christmas, I discovered Dwarf Alberta Spruce on sale (75% off) at our local Lowes. We were still experiencing mild weather. I purchased 2 and planted the next day. Now CG Heartbeats Farm has evergreens on the homestead. My heart smiles every time I see snow on the pines, even if they are small trees for now.

Great Pyrenees

Aneta continues to thrive here, barking often during the night and alerting us to any unusual activity. She managed to escape her area a few times. She was always here to great me in the morning. You might remember how she took off in the fall of 2021. She spent much of the year confined. The process has helped her to understand where her home base is.

She continues to be kind with the cats and kittens. I am certain she likes the goats as she spends time with them. I am still working with her to not chase. She doesn’t hurt any of the animals. But her chasing has to stop. I take the blame for not correcting her the first time and subsequent times when she was a young puppy.

I can hardly believe she is almost 2. Her presence on the homestead, bring joy and protection for the livestock.

Nigerian Dwarf Goats, A New Addition in 2021

In the spring, I picked up 2 Nigerian Dwarf doelings with the intention of sending them on to my sister later in the year. Honey and Oakley, as I called them, did indeed travel about 1000 miles to reside with my sister and her family.

baby Nigerian Dwarf goats — Honey and Oakley before moving on to my sisters place.

Those 2 adorable kids were just a start. Over the course of 2021, I added 3 bucks and 5 doe kids. Officially, CG Heartbeats Farm now raises registered Nigerian Dwarf goats. Dixie, Bonney, and Ariel are bred to freshen in April and May.

Baby Goat — Peaches joined the CG Heartbeats Farm herd in July of 2021 at 2.5 weeks old.

I am looking forward to drinking milk produced here on the homestead, making butter and who knows what else. Kidding season (or foaling season or hatching baby chicks) brings me joy. The delight I feel at the appearance of new born babies over rides the exhaustion brought on by late night checks and sleepless nights.

a male goat — Sunny arrived in August and brings us our first *buck out of a 5* doe

If you would like to learn more about each of the Nigerian Dwarf goats, click here.

Chicken Updates for 2021

2021 produced new ideas and plans for the heritage chicken breeds raised here on CG Heartbeats Farm. check out the paragraphs below to learn a few of the details.

Swedish Flower Hens in 2021

I enjoyed hatching various Swedish Flower Hen chicks in 2021. Toward the end of the year I scaled back my numbers. I still have a majority of the same pens. There is a new strategy for my pens. I will add new pullets from a pen back into the pen the came from instead of starting new pens. the Hens in those pens are aging and instead of starting new pens I will be replacing them over the next year or two. A different rooster will be added in time.

A reminder for those unfamiliar with breeding chickens, crossing a hen back on its sire is an acceptable breeding practice in chickens.

Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiner

Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiner first arrived at CG Heartbeats Farm in 2016. This breed has proved the greatest challenge of all. Truly they deserve their own blog post to share all the details of my journey with them.

For the time being here is a brief update for 2021. The last remaining hen from my original chicks was killed by a possum attack. I have a rooster remaining I hatched from the pair this year. I also lost both Cisco and Clinch. Last spring I purchased “Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiner” chicks from a hatchery. I fully realize the odds of getting quality was slim, but I decided to try them. To say I am disappointed is an understatement.

Only one of the chicks looks like it should in color, and size. It is a rooster. The pullets have started to lay. While the eggs are beautiful, they do not represent what true LCN look like.
For the next few weeks 2 of the yellowest crossbred pullets are with my LCN rooster, along with 2 or 3 of the best of the pullets from the hatchery. I intend to hatch some of their eggs and see what I get. I am all about using what I have. My preference is to purchase a line of LCN descended directly from German imports. Until I can locate some and purchase them, I will continue to work with what I have.

Crossbred Project in 2021

This group too deserve their own post. If you are new here or not familiar with them, they started out with a black based mille fleur Swedish Flower Hen rooster crossed on Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiner hens. I did this to ‘test’ the hens with a rooster I knew was fertile. I crossed the offspring back on a LCN rooster. In the next 2 generations I continued crossing with other crossbreds.

75% Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiner and 25% Swedish Flower Hen

My crossbred project continues to impress me. I will be working with them to enhance uniformity in color. I need a name for the breed beside Crossbred project. Want to help me? Leave a comment below or shoot me an email at cgheartbeatsfarm@gmail.com

Silver Gray Dorking

While I did loose a few of the older birds this past year, I raised a few also. I desire to incubate as many eggs as possible and when the weather permits, I will have Silver Gray Dorking hatching eggs for sale. I intend to sell chicks also.

Fruits

Black Raspberries, Concord grapes and apples were the 3 fruits produced and eaten here at CG Heartbeats Farm. I preserved a few of the black raspberries by freezing them. Many were eaten fresh. Same with the apples, I enjoyed eating fresh apples while they lasted. I have not learned how to care for apples with out using chemicals. Thus I only ate them fresh around the spots that even the nice ones displayed. I had wanted to make applesauce, but I did not make it a priority.

Concord Grapes

Delicious memories of savoring the flavor as I ate Concord grapes from the vine produced here creates excitement for the coming work I will do to prepare for 2022 harvest. The grape project has been a 3- or 4-year process and cost me nothing but the waiting and hard work.

My heart swelled with happiness chewing the concord grapes as an occasional snack. The vines are young and I expect they will produce more this year. I thought I had an adequate trellis for the vines. Turned out they needed more height.
I am always learning.

Gardens and Food Preservation in 2021

Garlic

Garlic harvest showed me new aspects of the plant I had not encounter previously. Unfortunately, much of the crop was harvested late. Here are a few of the highlights:

The way the different garlic varieties continued to develop seed heads
Varying hardiness of the stalk between varieties
How the same variety grew better or worse depending on which garden plot it was in

Additional garden Ground

The chickens continue their work prepping garden ground. The amount of space I have to garden grew again this year. Check out Chickens on the Homestead to read how the chickens contribute beyond meat and egg laying.

Another important part of gardening here on CG Heartbeats Farm continues to be saving seeds for future use. The intentional act of setting aside the needed produce to collect seeds from what I raised this year continued in the fall. In saving the seeds, I feel not all was wasted.

New Varieties

In 2021 I planted zucchini, sweet corn, 2 new flowers varieties, onions from seed and Amish Paste tomatoes. The rest of what I planted was repeat from years past. As I mentioned above, my gardens suffered neglect this past year.

Farmers Markets

I attended a few markets, but I could not on a consistent basis due my time and energy being pulled in other directions.

Website

Writing too took a back seat in 2021. The times I sat down to put words into sentences, I struggled to organize my thoughts. Few times after mid-February, I had time to catch my breath. The act of writing flowed temporarily. As I look back at 2021, and I have been putting this together for the last week, I find I have joy in writing again.

My view of what the future holds goes no farther than the next step or two. Thank you to all who have stayed for my journey and visited the website when I was unable to write as often as I believed I should.

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October 8, 2021October 22, 2021

Book Review: Holding on When you Want to let Go

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Sheila speaks to the brutal moments in life when we find ourselves questioning, Where is God? Is He real? Does He care? Why is ________ happening? (You fill in the blank) Holding on When You Want to Let Go addresses the nitty gritty of faith.

Holding on When You Want to Let Go is the second book I have reviewed by Sheila Walsh. The first was Praying Woman. If you desire to read those thoughts, use the clickbelow: Book Review: Praying Women – A Country Girl’s Heart -Beats that Matter (dontclipmywings.com)

I encourage you to look up the scriptures referenced in this and any book asking the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart concerning the meaning of a particular scripture. Examine the context around a given scripture. Ask Him what he wants to teach you.

A General Overview

In the first 5 chapters, Sheila addresses 5 scenarios when we need to hold on:

Life feels out of control
You feel alone
God is silent
You are afraid
You have messed up

If we are honest, we have all experienced these feelings at some point in our lives. I know I have felt every one and some of them I feel often.

I was encouraged by the message around fear and sin or when you are afraid and sin. Of course, along with many in our world today the chapter on Holding on when life feels out of control is especially relevant. I am no different. God is in control even when our circumstances feel otherwise.

The Final 5 chapters Sheila focuses on the fact, the truth, for God’s children. We are being held by:

His Promises
The God Who Rescues
The God of Miracles
The One who changed everything
The One you can trust

I can not choose one of these final 5 chapters which spoke to my heart over the others. I intend to read the hard copy I received, making notes as I read again. As a part of Sheila’s launch team, I read a digital copy and prefer to take notes in a physical copy. I am encouraged by the reminder to hold on to my Savior in trying circumstances.

Picture of Book Holding on When You want to Let Go

On a Personal Note

A family member is going through serious health struggles, and 2 other family members experienced acute health problems over the last few months. There is encouragement in the reminder to continue to trust the Lord despite circumstances happening around me completely out of my control.

If I look back over my life this practice of trusting Him even when hard issues happen around me completely out of my control is a skill I have needed. In times past, I gave into the temptation to distract myself with pursuits of happiness or simply running away. I did not understand the how of trusting God.

As I read, I felt encouraged, reminded that this round of out of control circumstances I trusted God more than I ever had before. No I have not arrived, certainly not. To be honest I was tempted and even gave in, but on a smaller level to allow my thoughts to be distracted from the difficulties at hand. However, my roots of faith are deepening.

This year I found myself tested and I am thankful for the hope I found reading Holding on When You Want to Let Go.

I look forward to reading my hard copy of this book, making notations, and allowing God to speak to my heart through the words and Bible verse brought to my attention through Sheila’s book.

In Conclusion

I recommend Holding on When You Want to Let Go to anyone feeling alone, grieving, fearful, battling addiction, or those facing circumstances of health difficulties. You may find a renewed sense of commitment and hope in the midst of trouble. You are loved, friend.

Holding On When You want to Let Go is a relevant book for everyone who has faced a trial lately or is in the midst of one now. Do you need encouragement? You can purchase your copy today using the link below.

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June 12, 2021June 12, 2021

Seasons ~ Spring 2021

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Before I share a CG Heartbeat Farm update for the Spring 2021 season, I want to celebrate what has been accomplished in the first 3 months of 2021.

Winter Progress

Another recent milestone involves the chickens. Yesterday and today the first chicks hatched from what I am currently calling Crossbred pen # 2. Right now 5 pretty brown eggs have produced a baby chick and the 6^th egg is pipped.

All 6 eggs I incubated were fertile. Peering through the incubator, I do not see 100% consistency in color as I hoped for. But it is a project and I cannot expect perfection in only the 3^rd generation. I have 9 additional eggs incubating from Crossbred pen # 2 in another Janoel 12 incubator. Again all 9 were fertile. This is 100% fertility in the 15 incubated eggs.

Crossbred pen # 1 has started laying. They are laying a cream colored egg. I will be setting their eggs in the next hatch. I am considering offering (hatching) eggs for purchase from the Crossbred pens this year. If you are interested be sure to send me a message.

Nigerian Dwarf Goats

For months I have been ‘goat shopping’, asking questions, visited places in person and conducted lots of searches online. In the last 3 months I put deposits on 5 kids which are still at their respective farms, but I have created a web page to introduce them with pictures.

Honey and her sister made the trip to CG Heartbeats Farm in March. At 8 week old Nigerian Dwarf doelings brought me joy watching them, caring for them and sometimes they even come cuddle by me when I am sitting with them. At least one of them are headed to my sisters later this year, but for now I am enjoying them.

Gardens

Garden are a bit slow this time of year, but made small process by adding another post to the grapes. Now I am able to put up a trellis for the largest grape vine getting it up off the ground. I pruned off a few unwanted pieces in February. One of the 8 is doing fanomible growing roots and leafing out in a jar of water. The other 7 have hope but are not are far along.

I added wood chips left from chopping wood this winter to one of the garlic gardens. My heart feels satisfied when implementing sustainable practices. The other 2 garlic gardens will only be getting chaff added. I ran out of wood chips after covering one garlic garden.

I found this amazing deal on a hand push cultivator in near new condition. Excited to have it, I used it the day I brought it home.

Spring 2021 Goals

Nigerian Dwarf Goats

Actually bringing 5 Nigerian Dwarf goats home I have made a deposit on. There are 2 bucks and 3 does. Be sure to check out the Nigerian Dwarf web page for pictures. Pedigree information will be added in the future.

Nigerian Dwarf Goats

Chickens in Spring of 2021

I want to continue my Crossbred project by hatching eggs from both pen crossbred pen # 1 and # 2.

I may add Silver Gray Dorking chicks from another farm.

Al the outside pens will be moved to give the outside chickens fresh ground. The space they were at will be additional garden space for 2021.

Aneta

Aneta has matured and is going to be in training learning to guard the goats. She has shown an interest in them after her initial shock at the strange creature in the barn.

Horses

Cider is on notice to expect to spend time with me. I have missed riding lately. All the horses have been sitting for 2 years. She happens to be the shortest in height, thus the least distance to fall. I am pretty sure even though she has the least training she will be the safest as long as I take slow steps in her training.

Construction Projects

New animals here at CG Heartbeats Farm means new pens, fences, and shelters are needed. I am currently tossing around the ideas with Brian. To be honest, we are currently in the planning stages. It will be later in the year until any construction takes place.

Gardens for Spring 2021

I plan to rent a tiller this year for a few hours to work the ground where the 2 new garden spaces are. Both were home to the outside chicken pens and the soil becomes packed down. I like to till the soil well one time before the first planting. After a garden has been used one year I found I can manage new unwanted growth with non-motorized hand tools.

I am excited to be planting seeds I saved from last years harvest. Included are Toyko Green Cucumbers, Glass Gem Popcorn, Kentucky Red Peanuts, Heirloom tomatoes, Lincoln peas, Sorghum, Marigolds, and various herbs.

I will be planting other seeds as well, many which are heirloom seeds too.

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FREE!!! Decide on a Breed of ChickenWorksheet!

What are your goals for chickens?

Do the breeds you want play well with others?

Do you want more than one breed?

Should your birds be vaccinated?

How many chickens do you want?

Will your flock include a rooster?

FREE!!! Decide on a Breed of ChickenWorksheet!

Do you plan to free range your flock?

How many eggs do you consume on a daily or weekly basis?

In Conclusion

Humble Beginnings

Looking Back

Sustainable Gardening Ideas

Recalling the Spring of 2019

Help from a Friend

Continuing the Progress

How The Lemon Flowers Began

Testing Fertility of the Hens

Fertile Eggs

My Decision to Continue

Colors of Lemon Flowers in Developing Generations

Colors of 75% LCN and 25% SFH or Second Generation Cross

Generation 4 in creating the Lemon Flower Chickens

Introducing Lemon Flowers Chicken Breed Characteristics

Breeding Goals and Needed Improvements for Lemen Flower Chickens

2017

2018

Raising Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiner Chickens in 2019

2020 Raising Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiner Chickens

2021

Possum Attack

Trying Chicks from a Hatchery

Now what?

Raising Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiner Chickens in 2022

My Review

Jessica also Created a Workbook

The Launch Team

The Journey Continues

In Conclusion

Other Book Reviews

Forgiving What You Can’t Forget by Lisa Terkheurst

Love Centered Parenting by Crystal Paine

Holding on When You Want to Let Go by Sheila Walsh

Wrapping Up

Building Projects for 2022

Maintenance Projects for 2022

Heritage Chicken Breeds

Silver Gray Dorking

Lemon Cuckoo Niederrhiener

Nigerian Dwarf Goat Goals for 2022

Horse Goals for 2022

Gardens

Cats

Great Pyrenees

In Conclusion

Personal Growth and Challenges in 2021

Horses

Trees

Great Pyrenees

Nigerian Dwarf Goats, A New Addition in 2021

Chicken Updates for 2021

Swedish Flower Hens in 2021

Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiner

Crossbred Project in 2021

Silver Gray Dorking

Fruits

Concord Grapes

Gardens and Food Preservation in 2021

Garlic

Additional garden Ground

New Varieties

Farmers Markets

Website

A General Overview

On a Personal Note

In Conclusion

Winter Progress

Nigerian Dwarf Goats

Gardens

FREE!!!
Decide on a Breed of Chicken
Worksheet!

FREE!!!
Decide on a Breed of Chicken
Worksheet!