Back when they were cute.
The red rangers are now 10 weeks old and looking delicious. Feeling like the witch from Hansel and Gretel I have taken to picking them up and mentally checking their meatiness. To be sure, I took a kitchen scale out to the yard and weighed a couple of the roosters this week and they were all about 6 lbs. The hens are considerably smaller. We've gone through 300 lbs feed for 10 rangers and I need to get more today. That number isn't totally fair though because I am also feeding 4 ducks, 2 meat silkies, 6 hens and my rooster with the same feed. I got the rangers by mistake at TSC, they were labeled Cornish crosses, but I am so happy that mix-up happened. These chickens are a joy, and gorgeous.
Rangers at leisure.
The garden is about 3/4 planted and we've been eating asparagus, lettuce and radishes. The straw pathways look good so far and I hope they hold up for part of the summer at least.
Last night we moved the beehive out of the garden an into the chicken yard and added a second swarm. Dad has caught an unreal number of swarms this year, 5 or 6 already and it's only May. So happy to have bees on the property again.
The three peeps hatched earlier this spring are doing great and the 10 in the garage will be moved outside probably Monday. 5 are going to live with a friends so that will give me 8 home bred chickens to put up for fajitas, soup or pot pies.
Quails are laying 2 or 3 eggs a day, which the little man has for breakfast. It's adorable cooking up quarter sized eggs for the baby. I managed to give myself a black eye this week getting the quails water. I put the waterer on the ground and stood up in time to catch the door latch in the eye as the door swung back open. It looks like I was in a bar fight, so pretty awesome. I've learned this week that as a woman it's interesting to be out in public while sportin' a big-ol shiner. People sure give you some strange looks.
Chaos with the ducks this morning. I let them out and fed them and went to take care of the chickens. How long does that possibly take? On my way back up the yard I see that the 2 runner hens have gotten out of the fence (over?) and are chased by a very enthusiastic mallard drake. We don't have mallards. Then I witnessed a host of things that I really didn't need to see that early in the morning. As in duck humping. All over the place. Mission accomplished, the drake then flew off over the yard. Aside from having to witness the event, this is actually awesome because I've been sticking duck eggs under my broody hen the last couple of days and I'll do the same with tomorrow's eggs. I can't wait to see what hatches.
I love May.
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