Country Girl Heartbeats Farm Archives - A Country Girl's Heart -Beats that Matter

March 7, 2022March 3, 2022

Choosing the Best Age of Your First Chickens

1 Shares

I previously shared questions to ask as you decide on specific chicken breeds in the blog post titled What Chicken are Right for You. Today’s post takes you on the next step. When deciding on chickens that are for sale, there are 4 different growth stages to choose from, hatching eggs, chicks, juvenile or grow outs, and adult. Let’s examine different reasons you might choose from adult birds, hatching eggs, chicks or grow outs when choosing your first chickens.

Adult Birds: Choosing your First Chickens

There are a few reasons adult birds are the best options for your new chickens. By purchasing adult chickens, you will not need to wait for them to start laying. You will not need to feed them for the 4 to six months prior to beginning to lay. This, also, applies to birds you are raising for meat if they are heritage breeds.

The modern meat bird is ready to harvest as early as 2-3 months. Either way you will not need to invest the time to wait or the money to feed them. Do expect to pay a higher price for adult birds compared to juveniles or chicks to cover the fact the seller has invested the time and money (that you did not) to raise them.

Juvenile or Grow Outs

Some breeds cannot be easily sexed until 2 or 3 months of age. If you do not want a rooster, waiting for male or female characteristics to appear might be the best route for you. If sounds like you, there are still advantages to purchasing a juvenile over an adult.

If your chickens are your pets, you will be able to bond with them as they finish growing and will be able to decide what they are eating. Feed options such as organic, non-GMO, traditional, or even grow your own feed will be up to you. Raising them yourself allows them to have free range time and finish raising them to your standards. This is not to say that you cannot connect with a breeder that feeds chickens in a manner similar to yours, but that makes your search chickens a little more challenging.

Buying Baby Chickens for Your First Chicks

baby chicks are one option when choosing your first chickens

Purchasing chicks can be a bundle of fun. The cute, little fuzzy babies chirping and running around. When they have had enough of that, their little heads suddenly droop. They slowly lay down and sleep. Whether purchased locally or picking up at the local post office the fun of bringing them home and watching them grow up provides a bit of ole fashioned entertainment.

Other Considerations When Purchasing Chicks.

The act of shipping them through the mail can sometimes cause loss of life, even with the best of packing.
There often is a shipping charge in addition to the price of the chicks.
If you choose to stay local with your purchase, you will be limited to the local breeds of chickens for sale.
Chicks need a heat source until their first feathers grow in.
A brooder of some fashion is needed for chicks until they are old enough.

Hatching Eggs: Choosing Your First Chickens

Hatching your own chicks gives children the experience of seeing a new life develop. The lessons learned go a bit farther than sitting down at a desk and reading a science book. The hands on activity creates an environment where seeds of responsibility and discipline can be planted. The best part is watching a healthy chick pop out of its shell.

A word of truth here: As it is in all aspects of life, the genetic imperfections that fill our world may occur. As an example, a chick may not hatch all the way due to improper development. Or one may hatch, but it did not develop properly. This too is an excellent opportunity to teach a child the facts of disappointment and grief. As adults we know these are a part of life, and what a great time to teach a child how to deal with them in a manner that promotes healthy minds.

Best Option Hatching Eggs vs. Chicks?

Hatching eggs are less expensive vs. chicks. Do not expect every hatching egg to produce a chick. It would be an unusual case for all purchased hatching eggs to hatch. I do not always get a 100% hatch from eggs that travel no farther than from the barn to the house. If the eggs are shipped a general rule of thumb is 50% of the eggs will provide you with new baby chicks.

Let's look at the math for a minute. As an example, with shipping and the price of eggs you have $70 into 12 eggs. If you hatch 6 (50%), the price per chick would be $12. If the same breed of chicken cost $15 and you purchased 6 chicks, you would have spent $90 plus shipping. Congratulations you saved money! and had the fun of hatching. However, this is intended only as an example. The hatching result could go either way resulting in more or less chicks. This is where you decide the risk or chance you are most comfortable with.

In conclusion

Knowing your goals and resources will lay a foundation for choosing your first chickens.

Leave a comment, if you found this helpful and share which stage of a chicken’s life you have decided to purchase.

Pin1

1 Shares

October 22, 2020October 22, 2020

Ten Acres Enough, Homesteading in the 1800’s

0 Shares

I slowly digested Ten Acres Enough by Edmond Morris in the summer of 2018. Reading a few pages while I ate lunch or found I needed to sit down for a break. As I read, I often felt renewed energy and motivation to continue, keep on with the tasks at hand staying focued with the big goals.

The end of 2020 is approaching. I find myself looking back at what I accomplished and what goals I want to set for 2021.

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, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support.

Pasture on CG Heartbeats Farm — Current horse pasture, but may serve a new function as the year unravels.

I gained a new perspective for the property I live on reading thorough Ten Acres Enough. My view shifted. Instead of seeing it through the eyes of where a horse barn, shelters, and pasture could go, I began to see where blueberries, grapes, and garlic might produce the best.

Click on the picture above to purchase your copy of Ten Acres Enough

The mistaken ambition for owning twice as much land as one can thoroughly manure or profitably cultivate, is the great agricultural sin of this country.
Edmund Morris in Ten Acres Enough

At least one of the areas chosen to grow grapes

At times, this homesteading journey can feel a bit lonely, but reading Ten Acres Enough I found a kinship with a man and his family now passed. After living and owning a business in the city for 20 years, he fulfills a longtime dream of owning farm ground in the country.

His farm, he purchased in the 1850’s. This is no typo. Nor is the price he paid, $1,000.00 for 11 acres, with a house and barn on it. The land I have is 11.7 acres and believe me the price was well above $1000.00.

I found myself inspired as I read Edmund’s account of creating food and an income to support his family by farming 10 acres of land.
Maria Graber

Click on the picture above to purchase Ten Acres Enough

Interesting Facts found in Ten Acres Enough

Edmund Morris shares not only of his personal experience, but also of farming practices and the economic impact of the last half of the 1800’s.

Facts to Ponder

produce and fruit prices at that time,
the price they paid for manure (that they even paid for manure),
weed control methods,
how they used manure,
how they dealt with insects and worms that damaged crops,
their experience (or perhaps inexperience) with chickens.

Eventually, Edmund hired not only one, but 2 people to help on only 11 acres. This was a family with 6 children who also helped.

Click to order Ten Acres Enough

The words he used to share his story have added to my vocabulary. Some I have never heard in this day and age and likely will not.

This book provided me with a new view of our land and produced many new ideas to ponder on. I intend to reread Ten Acres Enough, as I plan for 2021. In the coming months and years I will reference certain practices mentioned though out this book

It takes a man a great while to learn the way of Providence, and to understand that things are better contrived for him than he can can contrive for himself.
Edmund Morris in Ten Acres Enough

Click on the above picture to purchase Ten Acres Enough

Winter is Proverbially the farmer’s holiday. But it was no idle time with me. ….. The careful man will find a world of fixing up to do for winter.
Edmund Morris in Ten Acres Enough

I recommend this book to any and all who desire a homestead lifestyle. If you read or have read this book, I would be trilled to hear what stood out to you.

If you can not afford a physical copy, good news! Written in 1864, prior to copywrite laws, it is considered public domain. It can be read free as an e-book in downloadable PDF form: https://archive.org/details/tenacresenoughpr00morriala/page/n5

0 Shares

September 4, 2020December 15, 2022

Janoel 12 Incubator Review and Helpful Tips

Pin2

2 Shares

Read what I like and do not like about the Janoel 12 Incubator. I share a few tips I have used to help this incubator work for me.

While I have used different incubators, I have found the Janoel 12 to be my go to incubator right now. To be open here, I have used the Incuview (plastic), and the Little Giant Styrofoam incubator with the addition of a fan. I have listened to others experiences with different incubators. Of course, the price has influenced my personal incubator purchases.

My flock of 3 heritage breeds consists of breeding pens made up of 1 or 2 roosters with 1 to 6 hens. To clarify I do not put one hen with 2 roosters. Due to the smaller pen sizes and my desire to track what chicks hatch from each pen, I like the incubators that hatch a smaller number of eggs. I share this to provide a picture of where I am coming from with my current goals.

What I like about the Janoel 12 Incubator

1. Price

I find it hard to beat for the price of slightly over $50.00, based on what I see available on the market. This incubator has an auto turner, temperature settings can be modified and a display of real time temperature.

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, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support.

Learn more by clicking the picture above.

2. Auto Turner

The auto turner provides room for 6 to 12 eggs. I say 6 because with larger eggs that is about all that fits on the turner. Given the fact I may only have 5 or 6 eggs from a specific breeding pair, this incubator serves an important purpose on CG Heartbeats Farm. I have found a way to place close to 30 eggs in the Janoel 12 incubator. See my Tips for the Janoel 12 Incubator in this post.

3. Bottom Half Cleans Easy

I love the how easy cleaning the bottom of this incubator is. To start I dump out the water and mess. I spray outside with a garden hose. Next, I put apple cider vinegar in the bottom and the amount varies based on how dirty it is. I fill almost to the top with water and allow it to soak for several hours. The mess simply does not stick to the sides or interior bottom. The tray takes a bit of scrubbing with a brush to get the stubborn stuff off. I wipe the legs of the hatching tray with a paper towel. I also wipe the bottom half inside and out to dry it.

4. I Hatch Chicks with the Janoel 12

Examples include a hatch that started with 14 eggs, 2 were not fertile, at lockdown there were 11 viable eggs and the end result was 9 chicks. In another (1 time) instance, all 10 eggs hatched. I generally have a decent hatch rate with this incubator. There are several factors that influence how well a hatch goes. I will share that the first couple times I used this incubator I was not successful. I needed to determine the right amount of water to add at lockdown and I share that later in this post.

5. 360 degree View

The sides provide a view all the way around the incubator.

6. Adjustable Spacing in the Janoel 12 Turner

The spacers in the turner allows the width of each row to be a custom fit.

A way to adjust turner spacing on the Janoel 12

7. Durable

The longer I use this incubator, the more I am impressed with its durability. I have hatched in my original incubator for 3 years, gaining multiple batches of chicks each year.

Purchase your own Janoel 12 Incubator by clicking the picture.

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, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support.

What I do not like about the Janoel 12 Incubator

1. Cleaning Inside of the Top

Cleaning any part of the top requires a screw driver to remove parts. It is simple to take part and put together, but more time consuming due to needing to remove several screws. I do not clean the top every time.

2. Lack of Setting Options

While the temperature is displayed and can be changed, that is the only setting. This model does not provide other settings such as a count down to hatch day, or a setting based on current room temperatures. There is not a humidity reading or a way to automate humidity levels. I have experimented with how much water to add at lockdown, based on the climate here in northern Indiana.

3. Not made in America

I like to purchase products made in America. This incubator is not.

4. Harder to See

While there is a 360 view of the eggs, the durable plastic has a bit of smoky haze when looking through it or taking pictures. The view is not as clear compared to other incubators I have used or seen used. I have noticed after several hatches the plastic becomes scratched, clouding the view.

Tips for Using Janoel 12

How to fit 20 plus eggs in the Janoel 12 Incubator

If I remove the tray the turner sets on and place in the hatching tray, the Janoel 12 holds 20 to 25 eggs. The eggs need to be hand turned. I try for 6 times a day, but fall short some days. This starts a larger group of eggs. Often when I use this method, I know that it is likely not all eggs will be fertile. If the number of fertile eggs drop low enough after a week, I begin to use the turner. If not, I am committed to hand turning the eggs until lockdown. Either way, I end up with a higher number of chicks compared to only using the turner from day one.

Adding Water at Lockdown

I have found the best hatch results by adding ½ cup to ¾ cup of water at lockdown. The room humidly plays a part in my determination. To date, I use the dry hatch method. I may add a ¼ cup water on day 17 depending on the size of the air cells when I candle. If I do, I would only add ¼ cup to ½ cup more at lock down.

Note the incubator in the picture is not on a level surface. The water level is not equal but this is a general idea of what it looks like.

Maintaining a Hatch

The eggs often become bunched when using the auto turner. Maybe I do not have the spaces set correctly? I am not sure if that is the cause. I check the eggs once a day when they are on the turner and place them in a better spot.

“I like this incubator so well I have three.”
Maria Graber

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, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support.

In Conclusion

The Janoel 12 has been my go to incubator this year. I even purchased a second one in April, to hatch out different batches in. As I said, knowing the chicks correct parentage ranks high for me and the Janoel 12 helps me meet this goal. Is it a perfect incubator? No, but when I consider the small amount I invested in each one and all the ways it serves my purposes. I am excited to use the Janoel 12. I would love to hear your experience with the Janoel 12. Please reach out using the form below to send me an email with your questions or leave a comment at the bottom of this post.

Pin2

2 Shares

May 28, 2020May 28, 2020

Roots and Wings ~ Joy or Heartache?

0 Shares

A homestead lifestyle, raising food and caring for animals brings joy and hardship. Today, I struggled to find the good.

I recently read a quote from the last chapter of Old Yeller.

What I mean is, things like this happen. They may seem cruel and unfair, but that’s how life is a part of the time. But that isn’t the only way life is. A part of the time, it’s mighty good. And a man can’t afford to waste all the good part, worrying about the bad parts. That makes it all bad.
~Fred Gipson, quote from Old Yeller

Today I am watching a kitten die. I found I lost a hen. I cried about the kitten. I have been nursing him daily I feel those familiar words creeping in, ‘You are a failure.’

He happens to be a niece’s favorite via pictures. I do not look forward to telling my niece, but a voice inside reminds there is a life lesson for my niece in the story of loss. A silent prayer, ‘Lord, May I have the right words?’

I quoted the following Bible verse to myself.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever is pure, whatsoever is noble, whatsoever is just, whatsoever is true, whatsoever is noble, whatsoever is of good report, if there be any virtue, if there be anything praiseworthy, think on these things.
~ Philippians 4:8 NKJV

A reminder to focus on what is of good report and praiseworthy. I almost forced myself to think on the fact it was time to take Aneta for a walk. Spending time with the adorable Great Pyrenees puppy decidedly brings joy to my life. Time with her has already proven an antidote for any dark mood I might be facing.

As I prepared to head outside, I thought, I am thankful 4 of the 7 eggs in lockdown are pipped already. It was late last night when I set up the lockdown. I skipped candling them. I have no idea what to expect from this hatch.

A long list of work awaits me. Our wet weather in the last week has proven a challenge to do any planting or working the ground. The chicken barn is over due for a good cleaning and the list goes on.

Again, I have a choice to look around at all the blessings and good or carry a weight of frustration. Where will my focus be? On this day, the battle rages minute by minute, hour by hour. Yet, Do I really have a right to be discouraged? My friend recently lost her mother. Now there is a reason to grieve.

I recall a specific night I worked at a foaling barn. On one side of the 30-stall barn was a baby who would be gone by morning. Mamma had kicked a, soon to be fatal, blow earlier that evening. On the other side of the barn a healthy foal birth, new life. The contrast of life and death sharply burned in my heart.

As living people, we are free to make choices in our thoughts and actions. There are moments a hard choice will bring a good emotion down the road. Choices might appear good under present circumstances that down the road create a terrible emotion.

Our world may saturate us with feelings of fear and unknown future. I am thankful for a God who sits on the throne no matter what. He sits there when I lose a chicken, when I watch a kitty die, when we lose a loved one and when a family member struggles.

I am thankful for all the good around me, watching other kittens play, watching a puppy romp in the grass, the chirps of newly hatched chicks, the whinny of a horse, the warm breath of a trusted horse, and wet puppy kisses. Life’s blessing surrounds us, we choose to see them, or not.

Jesus said he goes to prepare a place for us. I am thankful this broken world I live in is not my final destination.

Perception, a powerful word when put into action.

May I encourage you to focus on all the good you are surrounded with today?

0 Shares

April 17, 2020April 17, 2020

Hatching Baby Chicks

0 Shares

Do you know what you need to hatch your own baby chicks? If not, read on. If items you will need may be obvious, may I encourage you to give thought to a few details when preparing to incubate chicken eggs.

4 Items to Hatch Baby Chicks

Hatching Eggs
Egg Candler
Incubator
Brooder (for chicks after they hatch)

Hatching Eggs

Yes, to hatch chicks you need hatching eggs. I am sure you all are aware. Let’s consider, for a minute, where you will get chicken eggs.

4 Places to Obtain Fertile Hatching Eggs

Hatcheries
Private Breeders
Local Private Breeders
From your own Chickens

Hatcheries

Commercial operations often offer many different breeds to choose from, both hatching eggs and chicks. If you are looking for a variety to hatch, here is where you often get the most choices. Sometimes the quality of the breed may not be top notch as hatcheries often go for quantity over quality. If you are not planning to show your birds, or breed your birds to a breed standard and want a pretty back yard flock, consider this option.

Private Breeders

Private breeders offer a smaller selection of breeds., but there may be several to choose from. Another option is ordering from different smaller breeders. This can be coordinated so that the hatching eggs arrive at the same time.

Local Private Breeders

If you find a local private breeder producing the breed of chicken you are looking for, you will not have to have your eggs shipped. This should potentially should increase the number of chicks hatched. Shipping hatching eggs can reduce the viability. The local breeder hopefully will package the eggs similar to if they were shipping them. Even a car ride can cause the eggs to be shaken up a bit.

From your own chickens

If you have a rooster, most likely you will have fertile eggs, needed to hatch chicken eggs. It is possible for a rooster to be infertile, but if so, you have the option to find a different rooster. The way to find if your rooster is fertilizing eggs is incubate them.

If you would like to learn more about hatching chicken eggs amd other homesteading practices consider joining the Facebook group, Hatching Eggs, Ideas, and Homesteading Practices.

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, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support.

Incubator

Incubators imitate a broody hen to the best of technologies ability. There are many to choose from in today’s market. Some are produced in the USA and others are imported. Incubators come with different prices tags and corresponding functions. Often the more automated the process the higher the price. Particular brands carry a higher price, but with that comes an expectation of superior performance.

If you are interested in hatching a large number of eggs at one time as in hundreds, investing in a cabinet incubator may be the route you choose to go.

Features of Incubators: Air quality, humidity, and turning the eggs are all critical for proper incubation.

Fans

Forced air meaning an incubator has a fan moving the air around in the incubator. This feature promotes incubator air to be a consistent temperature throughout. It also pulls in air from any available air vents.

Humidity

The humidity levels are controlled by adding water. Tools are available to automate that process. Or another feature may be a exterior port to add water so the incubator does not need to be opened when adding water. A hen will generally get off her next one time per day so I am not convinced that opening a lid to add water is a terrible detriment to hatching success. In fact, there is a newer incubator on the market that can be programmed to intentionally cool the eggs one time a day.

Turners

A tray attached to a motor will turn eggs for you. If an incubator does not have an automatic turner you are responsible for turning the eggs approximately 6 times a day. Many incubators can be fitted with a turner. However, a draw back is the number of eggs that can be fit into the incubator at one time. As an example, one of the incubators I use is set to turn around 9 eggs, but I can fit around 25 eggs with out the turner

Egg Candler

From setting the eggs to trouble shooting a hatch once it has ended, an egg candler with be most useful. When I started I used a bright small flashlight and went to a light marketed for the sole purpose of candling eggs. I am all about using what you have and when I started a small bright flashlight was what I had. A candler plugs into an outlet instead of using batteries as a small flashlight would. I now use a small bright flashlight once again. I have at times used the light on my phone. If you are interested in saving money, use what you have on hand.

Brooder with Food and Water

Once a chick hatches and dries, they will need to move into a brooder. Brooders come in different forms, material and shapes. On a homestead they often are a product of using what one has available and develop out of creativity. There are commercial brooders that can be purchased at stores. They all serve the same purpose, to provide dry shelter, heat, food, water, and protection from predators.

Newly hatched chicks need to be provided with a heat source of 95 degrees in a shelter safe from predators. Dry clean bedding, clean fresh water, and chick starter should be in place near the heat source. The temperature in the room needs to be a match for the heat source. A pen that meets the above criteria will qualify as a brooder. What creative ideas have you seen, thought of and possibly used for a brooder? Leave a comment below.

Purchase now and receive the E-book, Plan Your Hatch as a bonus.

The course content is already available with additional videos, resources, and printables to be added soon. Begin today!

0 Shares

June 21, 2019June 21, 2019

Summer 2019

0 Shares

Spring of 2019 is nearing its end, although some days have reminded me that it is indeed still spring as the temps have been unseasonably cool. In this post, I am going to share some of my homestead goals for the coming summer months and take a look back at the past three here on CG Heartbeats Farm.

A Look back at Spring 2019

Our Indiana spring produced a lot of rain. The saturated ground has created a delay in getting crops seeded, including on this homestead. While I have planted some seeds, there are several that still need to be planted. The big hold up is getting the ground ready as my plan was to have some ground plowed. There are a couple back up ideas floating around in my head that will be decided on soon.

I am excited about trying a new to me way of planting corn, beans and a third cover plant. Right now, I am using watermelon and squash, but more on that later this year. For now, here is a picture of what it looked like as of the beginning of June.

My first 3 Sisters Garden… This picture was taken June 10. Would you believe now, 10 days later, the plants have doubled in size!!

Using wood chips has proved effective in week control in the garlic gardens. I planted candy onions in between the rows of garlic. So far it appears to be working well. The garlic will be harvested in another 3 to 4 weeks.

Sweet Potatoes

9 Sweet Potato plants with 3 more to be added this week.

I used 3 different methods to start sweet potatoes this year. I, spontaneously, tried removing the sprig from the potato and planting it directly in soil. To my surprise, the little plant thrived. Thus when it was time to plant sweet potatoes in buckets I removed springs from a potato and planted them directly into the soil. They are doing well. Look for more info on this year’s sweet potato crop on this web site after harvest this fall.

Shipping Chicks

I shipped chicks for the first time this year. This is a first for my journey and I look forward to successfully shipping additional chicks in the future. If you want to pre-order chicks(deposit required) or have your name added to the list(no charge) be sure to send an email.

Shipping Eggs

I have continued shipping eggs and to the credit of the Post Office, the eggs arrived in great condition for every shipment this year.

Broody Hen

A Swedish Flower Hen went broody for her second time. One of my breeding goals is to increase the number of broody hens in my flock. As I understand this is a genetic trait. I intend to keep all pullets from the group of six chicks she hatched to add to my breeding stock. The first time this pretty hen went broody she was less than a year old and there was no rooster in her pen, yet. I ended up giving her fertile eggs from another pen. You can read about how that ended up in the blog post titled: A Broody Swedish Flower Hen Breeding goals aside, I find the tenderness demonstrated between a momma and her babies endearing and the beauty of it all warms my heart a way nothing else does.

Silver Gray Dorking

I am excited the fertility has improved in the Silver Gray Dorking eggs over earlier this year. It is not as good as last year, unfortunately, but then summer isn’t over. Due to the eggs not staying viable long enough to hatch, my next step is going to be adjusting the temperature on the incubator slightly.

Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiner

I am still facing difficulty with fertility in the Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiners, unfortunately. I intend to continue to work with this pretty breed.

Grapes

I admit to feeling a bit disappointed to ending up with only an additional 2 grape plants after caring for almost 20 starts over the winter. I will say I am happy to have 2 more plants in the ground outside. My latest experiment, if you will, is taking this year’s new growth from a grape plant outside and placing into a jar of water. My hope is that it will grow roots. Look for a coming post about the process.

Summer 2019 Thoughts

Finish Planting

For a stretch of several weeks northern Indiana experienced excessive rain. The first round produced over 5 inches in less than a week. After the ground was saturated, the rain continued to fall almost daily, or often nightly. Thankfully, I was able to get some seed in the ground as I mentioned above. I find I enjoy this venture, planting and learning as I go. Onion bulb(yellow and white), potatoes, carrots,

Attending local farmer’s markets in Bremen and Culver

One of CG Heartbeats Farm spring market display.

Last year I attended a local farmer’s market for the first time in Bremen, Indiana. I also attended another on in Nappanee, Indiana on Saturdays. Over the winter, I found a local indoor market to attend in Culver, Indiana and have continued to attend their outside market. Their summer market occurs on Sat and Tue. CG Heartbeats Farm plans to have a vendor booth at Culver on Tuesdays (5 pm to 7 pm), Bremen on Wednesday’s (4 pm to 7 pm) and back at Culver on Saturday mornings (9 am to 1 pm). Products available include seasonal items such as black raspberries, black raspberry plants, mint plants, farm fresh eggs, 4 varieties of garlic, soup beans, decorative and edible popcorn, black walnut tree seedlings, popular tree seedlings,

Maintaining Gardens

Keeping up with weeds and my case, the weeds are actually grass that works hard to take over, seems to be continuous, but using wood chips and chaff, helps to keep them at bay.

Pasture Maintenance

Summer always brings the need for pasture maintenance. Mowing down weeds (I do not use chemicals on the pastures) and keeping the fence rows cleaned out seem to be 2 jobs that I am always behind on. There are new fences to construct if I am to continue with my plans. These jobs are a bit tougher for me now as I work to balance my activity level with getting enough rest.

Black Raspberries

I am looking forward to eating these soon! The extras will go to the local farmers markets and my freezer!

This spring I pruned 3 of my 4 Black Raspberry patches. I am impressed with the berries that are appearing on the pruned plants. I will also be offering black raspberry plants for sale at the farmers markets I attend. One of my goals is to also look into shipping plants and selling from this website.

Garlic Scapes

Notice the curl on the top of the garlic plants? These curled tops are the scapes.

As of this week the garlic scapes are almost ready to harvest. Garlic scapes, you may ask? These are the top part of a garlic plant that will produce a flower and seed if not removed. The plants energy is directed into producing a larger garlic bulb instead.

Ongoing Projects

There are always chicken pens to clean. I have started a new manure pile leaving the previous one to compost. I started work on a container garden area, but the progress has slowed in the last 6 weeks. I want to continue working in the beds near the house. They were intended to be flower beds, but I have been using them for planting vegetables too. There is an area back of the chicken barn that needs to have old boards removed to the burn pile. The hold up is I want to remove the hardware on the boards It seems I have accomplished that step, yet.

Personal Goals

One of my personal goals for this year is to spend some time riding again, even if it is only a short jaunt in the round pen or around the pasture. I intend to enjoy these summer months. A final (personal) goal is to begin playing fiddle again, perhaps practicing on my fiddle again would be more accurate. What are your summer plans? Leave a comment below to share your plans.

0 Shares

June 15, 2019June 15, 2019

Horses of CG Heartbeats Farm

0 Shares

Five horses live on CG Heartbeats Farm. In the past I continued to challenge myself with horses I found tougher to connect with, lead and train. Now I don’t mean the actual act of leading a horse with a rope, but rather the act of leadership in the process of teaching a horse to respond in a safe, trusting manner. After my traumatic brain injury in 2011, I found a had a strong desire to branch out my activities and knowledge to include other topics besides horses. Somewhere along the way I began to wonder who did God create me to be? Who was I beyond who I was as an equestrian? The idea of having horses was my sister’s idea when she was 6 and I was 7. I loved my sister that was 13 months younger. I wanted to help her in her desire to have a horse or pony. I jumped on board. Now here I was over 30 years later, realizing for the first time this passion of horses did not originate with me. I had to wonder who I would have become if I had found my own direction, what would I have developed into if I had not been concerned with those closest to me as a child. I do not recall exploring what I liked in any depth. Most of my thoughts concentrated on those around me. Well enough of all that, for now. These ponderings led me to begin looking around.

Horses still put a smile on my face even if all I do is feed and care for them right now. I am not in any way, shape or form ready to no longer own horses. Thus I have found one way for now they can contribute to my homesteading journey. Meet the horses of CH Heartbeats Farm.

Roses Casino

Out of an appendix Quarter Horse mare named Mismatched and a Quarter Horse stallion with Sugar Bar breeding. I purchased Mismatched pregnant, so I have owned ‘Rosie’ her entire life. I spent many hours riding her first training her to be ridden, trail riding, training and conditioning her to run barrels, of course, competing on her at more shows and rodeos than I can remember, team roping practices and simple rides down the road. I would have to stop and count, if I can even remember, the number of little girls we have provided rides for. The longest was one of my nieces when she was only 3 years old, we rode 3 and a half miles before she was tired.

One of my nieces riding with me several years ago.

Brave Diamond Dust

‘Dusty’ is the only horse I bred myself, meaning I picked out the stallion to cross with her dam, Melanie Lynn. This mare is another I have raised from a foal. The story about her that stands out to me the most was the injury she sustained as a 4 or 5-year old. A puncture wound that required surgery to flush out the hock joint to give her a high quality of life. It was a long 4 plus months of rehabilitation. She has a cute, knows what she likes, personality.

Dry Doc Drifter

Drifter before I started riding him with a bit.

‘Drifter’, who was purchased as a 2-year-old was foaled in South Dakota. He was the horse I was riding when I came off and sustained a TBI. He has wonderful stamina and I have yet to truly tire him. He has the breeding to do a job all day long. When he doesn’t have a job to do, he seems to spend his energy behaving badly.

Zips Country Bar Maid

‘Cider’ was bred by one of my sisters and I purchased her as a yearling. She is an intelligent horse who learns quickly, but I have not spent much time riding her. She needs more training, only because I have not made time for her.

Navajo Bo

One of many photos taken the summer we prepared for the 2015 TCA Thoroughbred Makeover.

‘Bo’ was bred to be a racehorse and fulfilled her job at Indiana Grand. A timid mare, on the track, she would back off trying to win if she was bumped. She has a personality all her own. Expressing her displeasure, when not happy with her circumstances, she has proven her willingness to learn. She looks for a leader, but likes to challenge the leader. She is a bit nosey always wanting to know where all the other horses are at and unhappy when they are out of site. My favorite story with Bo is the year we competed or rather participated in the Thoroughbred Makeover at the Kentucky Horse Park. I was not riding at my best level that year, but I enjoyed the entire process. The experience of showing at the Kentucky Horse Park proved to be my favorite venue to complete at. I was sponsored by an amazing grooming product Espana Silk and others helped to make my trip to Kentucky possible. As a part of the competition I was given a blog to share my journey. I wrote 140 posts and, in the process, realized that I liked to write. As a result, the desire to blog about my homesteading journey was beginning to form.

How Horses Contribute to the Homestead

Horses collectively contribute to the soil I use for container gardens. The manure they have produced several years ago now provides a rich fluffy (from the shavings) place that I dig up dirt any time I need to plant in any containers. Basically, this is where I dumped manure, located under trees. I have 2 other piles composting now for future use. These newer piles have more chicken manure compared to the first so time will tell which produces the best.

This is another example of how I have been able to use what I have. I wonder how much money I have saved using my own composted soil instead of buying bags of potting soil? Like everything else one produces themselves, this is the way to know what is in what you are using, or eating. How are you using what you have on your homestead?

0 Shares

March 19, 2019March 19, 2019

Land of a Homestead

0 Shares

A homestead lifestyle can be created by almost anyone. Those with a small lot in town can produce some of their own food. With today’s technology grow lights even provide a way for people to grow food inside of their houses. Some towns allow hens for producing one’s own eggs. Even if that is not allowed one does not have too look far to find a local farmers market where often farm fresh eggs are available. A drive in the country may reveal signs posted, ‘farm fresh eggs’. There are co-ops to join from which you may purchase farm raised food from both plants and animals. How can you make little shifts in your lifestyle to create more of homestead life style? How have I?

How can I use what I have to produce my own food? This question has been bouncing around in my head for several years. Not always about producing my own food, but always about using what I have. CG Heartbeats Farm is made up of 11.7 acers.

The last week of February 2019 I started a new practice of walking around the property to observe and gain a new perspective. The walks are most enjoyable. I have found them a nice break from getting things done. I allow my mind to wonder and give my imagination wings. I pick a certain area to walk. I have yet to walk it entirely at one time. One day I may get an idea about one area and other days I simply take mental note of what I see. There are several subjects I pay attention to as I walk. Water, air flow, wild life, trees, are observed for future or present potential. Not only do I think about current use of land and use of current buildings, but sometimes give thought to how they could be used in better ways. As I walk, I ask myself is this pasture best located here, or would this ground be better for growing vegetables. I also get ideas for projects I want to do immediately and in the future.

Water

How the water runs, low spots, where it looks like a creek used to be, where water collects after heavy rainfall, how fast does it drain off,

Air Flow

Our climate is not extremely windy most days. We get occasional winds of 50+ mph, but not that strong. I have noticed where the wind seems to tunnel between buildings where the trees block wind from a certain direction and other spots with block, trees or buildings to influence it.

Trees

Almost half of the acreage is currently woods. While I enjoy walking in the woods in different seasons, I question if there might not be a benefit of scaling it back along the edges. Unfortunately, a few years back the Ash bore came through destroying all the Ash trees. A couple must have been getting close to 100 years old.

I am always on the lookout for fallen trees. Several years ago, as I was driving down the road, I could see the topline of the woods looked different. This prompted me to go look for fallen trees. Sure enough, one or more had fallen in that area. It is good to know your property no matter how large or small. Trees provide a break in the wind to help prevent soil erosion and give shelter to animals. I like where the trees break up the property into sections. I think it gives character to the homestead. Where are trees growing that could be harvested and that space would be used for a better purpose. What do I mean by better? I consider income, sustainability and producing plants or housing animals.

Land

As I have been walking around, I have been looking for flat spots to plant garlic and other edible plants. I realized that many areas are not as flat as I would have thought. In fact, most of this ground has some kind of slope. Length of slope and how far it falls over that distance determines how steep a slope actually is. I have not taken any measurements at this time, rather noted the areas that are flat enough to plant in. I have thought a terrace might be in order where the ground is not as flat. I am looking at how a given area is used now. How can it be used for a better purpose?

Wildlife

Not only do I enjoy seeing signs of wildlife, it also keeps me aware of potential predators. I already know many of the animals that spend time in the woods. The most common are dear, turkeys, racoons, ‘opossum, squirrels, chip monks, and ground hogs.

Buildings

There are buildings that need work and others that are newer. I like all things old including old barns. I long to fix up one that needs some TLC. From a practical standpoint, I let my imagination come up with what kind of barn would prove useful. I have an idea for chicken coops that has only manifested in my own mind.

Soil

Top soil and sub soil influence how well an area of land drains. Some plants need a well-drained soil while others need greater moister retained in the ground. In the past while digging fence post holes I have observed areas of this property that has a sandy subsoil and other areas that has a clay subsoil. This is another place I am giving consideration to the best places to plant specific plants.

Projects

I have come up new ideas for changes I want to make. One of them was to clean up an old cement pad. I have plans to use cement blocks I already have to create some container gardens in this location.

Going Forward

This process is a journey. Not all of the changes I want to see happen with happen this month or this year. I have a clearer picture of what this land can do. I expect I will have new ideas and plans while some current plans will turn into better ones. I plan to continue walking the property several times a week. I find it relaxing. In addition, I am provided with an over view of what is going on. I have come across assets I forgot I had. Seeing them may spark an idea for a project or a new way to use what I have.

0 Shares

February 6, 2019February 6, 2019

New Farm Activities

0 Shares

Winter Thoughts

January was full of ideas and planning the year, as I wrote about in Winter 2019. I also gave thought when the idea of this homesteading journey was just that an idea. I commented on a post on FB recently how a few years ago I was foaling out mares and now I am hatching eggs. Hatching eggs is far easier to do on my own. I do sometimes miss the excitement of foaling mares; the tender nickers between mare and foal and all the anticipation, for mares have a much larger window to deliver a foal, as in weeks. A chick on the other hand has a few days in which it may hatch.

As I look around my farm, I am continuing to give thought to the best places for various plants I intend to grow. It is easy to look at it as the land is currently being used and work around that, but I need to be looking at it from the ground and below ground. Where does the soil drain best? Where is the soil retaining water? I need to overlook the fact that trees are growing in certain areas. I did not plant them there and in some cases no one did. That area was not mowed at one time and trees came up on their own. Are random trees really the best use of this homestead? Perhaps not.

I also need to research specific plants to know what will grow best in certain soils. True, some I already know and for those I need to decide a variety.

Attending the farmer’s markets last summer and this winter has given me insight as to what I intend to plant specifically due to customer requests, my own observations and the advice of fellow vendors. I also found a community to interact and share ideas with.

A Look Back at January

The added work of dealing with frozen water and the extra chores to ensure the animals are cared for in the bitter cold has been the first daily priority. After that and sometimes while doing chores, my mind continues to toss ideas around. The last half of January came with bitter cold temperatures. In order to care for the animals I found myself in and out all day. It is a season that can sometimes be enjoyed for the slowdown. Recently I was reminded of the importance to enjoy the winter beauty, in spite of the challenges cold weather presents. I enjoy planning and soon will be ordering seeds for the coming growing season. In only a week or two I will be planting seeds indoors.

My time spent on homesteading activities is divided between planning, learning, caring for grape starts, incubating eggs, caring for chicks, preparing eggs to sell both eating and hatching, caring for animals, and working online. I like to take a few moments to sit and cuddle a cat or watch cute little chicks scamper around in the brooder. They grow up fast and in a week, they will not be as tiny.

New for 2019

As I mentioned, I have spent time over the last month tossing I ideas around in my head. Adding more than subtracting from my plans for the year. I started a farm journal this year to keep hatching notes and document other farm activities, extreme weather conditions and plans. The idea came to me when I learned that Thomas Jefferson kept such a journal that is available to read today. Now I am not Mr. Jefferson, but I may want to refer back to lessons I have learned. I do anticipate the notoriety he acquired, but certainly no one will read my notes(including myself) if I do not write them down. I have found it helps me to remember when I write an idea or fact down. It also gives me reference should I forget a detail. I share some of these pages from time to time on Instagram and Facebook.

Another, new for 2019 aspect of the homestead is a Facebook group I recently started to share in more detail specific ways to help people get started on a homestead lifestyle. From time to time I will offer free challenges in this group as a way to offer support to those who are not quite sure how to get started on a homestead goal. If this sounds like a benefit to you, consider joining the group titled Hatching Chicks, Ideas, and Homestead Practices. To easily access this group click on the graphic below.

I believe one of the biggest changes for this year is less tangible. It is the fact that I have a better picture of the direction CG Heartbeats is going. Attending farmer’s markets, played a large part by giving me a broad view of what might be possible. I learned from what I have seen others doing. Not that I will do things the way they do, but that found encouragement in what is working for them. Slowly digesting the book Ten Acres Enough provided a shift in my thinking. Learning a bit more about online business, including marketing online, has given me confidence. I have also learned to invest in myself, after all the one thing constant, no matter what I do, is my mind. For as long as I am alive on this earth, I intend to do my best to keep my mind with me.

I started hatching chicks earlier this year. The second hatch is in process as I am writing. I have a love of all farm animal babies and their birthing process. I know foaling out mares will always have my heart, but when my life choices take me a different direction, I seem to find a way to enjoy babies in any way I can.

CG Heartbeats Farm plans to attend additional markets during the week and look into a new Saturday Market. Currently the choice of which Saturday Market to attend is under consideration.

These are a few of the ideas implemented and others are still being organized. Likely this process will continue throughout the year. What new aspects of homesteading are you adding this year?

0 Shares

January 23, 2019October 25, 2019

Why Pick Swedish Flower Hens

0 Shares

A conversation with a friend a few years ago had me thinking seriously about owning chickens. I was looking for ways to use what I had. On the homestead stood a 30 by 60 chicken barn with a fairly new roof thanks to my spouse. It served a place to store hay and many other items. We called it the shop. I begin looking at chickens online. I came across a picture of a hen that reminded me of a pet chicken my sister and I had as a child. We called her Debbie. A bit of research and I learned the breed of the chicken I had seen Swedish Flower Hens. The practical side of me held back wanting to learn other characteristics of the breed besides being pretty.

What I Learned

Swedish Flower Hens(SFH) came to the United States in 2010 and have been imported at least 4 more times since. This has allowed for a decent size gene pool to work with as a breeder. I have always enjoyed the process of breeding and genetics no matter the species. In the 1970’s SFH’s were found in 3 villages in Sweden. At that time, they were the only ones in existence in the whole world. They are considered a landrace breed similar to a wild mustang or the Chincoteaque ponies where the breed developed on its own. A natural selection process in which the healthiest birds survived and the ones who escaped the cook’s pot. In that manner, humans did intervene to some extent by culling (cooking) the birds of their choice. That would of course remove a bird from further reproducing of said bird’s genetic makeup. However, who is to say if that bird had already reproduced and the line carried on? Swedish Flower Hens developed over years of old from different breeds brought into Sweden.

This breed has a 20% broody rate among hens according to documents from Sweden, but certain breeders in the United States have seen a larger percentage in their flock. There is not a Standard of Perfection (SOP) for this breed, as they are a landrace breed. In the United States, many enjoy showing their chickens. There are certain traits found undesirable for the show ring that do not affect a chicken’s ability to survive in the wild. An example would be a sprig on a comb. The breeding goals of those who raise SFH’s are almost as diverse as the bird itself. Some who raise this breed in the United States work to eliminate springs in the gene pool. Why you might ask? Springs are undesirable in the show ring. Others freely breed those birds who demonstrate this trait or the ability to pass on sprigs on combs. For this reason, I have posted my Swedish Flower Hen breeding goals at CG Heartbeats Farm for this gorgeous breed.

This breed is known for being an egg laying breed over a meat bird. They do not carry a heavy muscle compared to the Silver Gray Dorking, for example. It has been said they are better stew birds. I have eaten roosters that were harvested at 5 months of age. The meat was not tough, and had good flavor. I am certain how it was cooked also played a part. I read the hens lay through the winter and mine have proven that to be true, even when temps are down around 0 degrees. I have not documented the number of eggs specific hens laid in a year, I have read the numbers are 150 to 200 eggs per year. They do not, of course lay through a molt.

I read Swedish Flower Hens tend to demonstrate disease resistance, but not a specific disease they were resistant to. They have certainly proved to be a fertile breed. Not only here at CG Heartbeats Farm, but for other breeders as well.

My first Swedish Flower Hen chicks. I drove 3 hours one way to pick them up. Might be I was well on my way to becoming a crazy chicken lady. I was hooked,

The more I read about them, the more I learned, I wanted to purchase this breed!!! In May of 2016, I purchased 13 chicks, driving 3 hours to pick up them up(pictured above). I was well on my way to earning the title of crazy chicken lady. I remember the excitement as I drove home and the feeling of starting a new adventure. I continue to learn about this breed and chickens in general. All a part of my homesteading journey, I even took a class to become a NPIP tester in the state of Indiana.

Colors of Swedish Flower Hens

The beautiful color variation in the SFH breed often draws a person’s attention, as they did me. The flowery appearance creates a bouquet of beauty in the chicken yard. I have repeatedly seen questions about the colors of SFH’s. My goal is to provide picture examples to clarity these different color patterns. This is not an in-depth article on color genetics, but rather a picture guide. If you would like your own printable PDF containing more pictures and examples consider signing up for the newsletter. As a thank you, the PDF on SFH colors is yours to keep. You may unsubscribe at any time.

Black, blue and splash make up the 3 base colors of Swedish Flower Hens. The secondary color can present in various ways, but one factor remains the same the tips of the feathers should be white giving these birds an appearance of a flower. Hence their name. Mille fleur, and snoleopard are secondary colors, if you will. They may present themselves on different base colors such as a black based snow leopard verses a blue based snow leopard. The same is true for all the base colors and secondary colors. To make it super confusing they don’t always present the exact same way. Both pictured are snoleopard, but the first is blue base and the second is black base.

Blue Base Snoleopard
Black Base Snoleopard

I have seen folks new to breed interested in learning the colors. I am a visual learner and so instead of giving a bunch of genetic info to wade through I want to provide a quick guide. Consider joining the newsletter for CG Heartbeats Farm. The emails will notify you of new blog posts, farm updates. At times, I may make you aware of items that are for sale.

The purchase of Swedish Flower Hen chicks was one of the first steps I took in living a homestead live style. I was already planted on 11 acres with older buildings and a variety of soils. Bloom where you are planted they say…

Why would you pick Swedish Flower Hens? Leave a comment with your answer.

To see the 2019 Breeding pens at CG Heartbeats Farm use the links below.

Return to Swedish Flower Hen main page or view a different pen by clicking on the pen page you wish to visit.

Silver Gray Dorking

Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiner

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, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support.

Read in this blog post about my go to incubator in 2019. I include tips I use with this incubator.

The Janoel 12 incubator with chicks I hatched from Pen # 7.

Click on either picture. Purchase your own.

0 Shares