New coop!!

Loss of Gladys

Poor Gladys Bunny had been acting poorly the last few days.  She didn't want to eat, wasn't foraging and was happy to just to be held.  We added electrolytes to her water, fed her baby food with a dropper, and tried to coddle her.  Sadly, she passed away this morning.  We think its what happened to our little hen Pan last year and what we call Failure to Thrive.  Its as if some chicks just don't quite get enough umph to move into adulthood.  We shall miss her.

Don't forget to check past posts

If you are like me and just figuring out this fast moving electronic world of texting and blogging, you may have not noticed that posts can be back dated.  Like for example, I just put a bunch of new photos and canning stuff on the blog but dated each post according to the day it happened.  So....you'll have to scroll down to see some of the new posts.  Or you can use the links on the right for different months/years to view what was posted then.  You can also plug in your email and "subscribe" so that whenever a new post is added you'll get an email to let you know about it.  I like that method for my favorite blogs.  Hope all of you wonderful family and friends out there are doing well!

Why does a full cupboard look so wonderfully warm and secure?!

Canning frenzy!

Southwestern soup....

Pesto....

Hmmmm...what can we do with celery?!

Love peeling onions

The fruits of our labors

Blueberry preserves - ah heaven!

Peach Jam and Canned Peaches

After the success of our first canning expedition with potato leek soup (thanks for Bambi and Diana's careful preparation), we decided to try peaches since they were in season.  We ended up with 24 pints of peaches and 12 jelly jars peach jam.  Yum!!

The watermelon that wasn't...

Well it looked perfect, didn't it?!  Gorgeous green with a pretty pattern.  Upon opening it the inside was white and the flavor was non-existent.  What a bummer!  Luckily the hens do not seem to have our high-level of standards regarding taste and therefore they enjoyed it thoroughly. 

Weeks later we tried another one and luckily this one was bright red inside and tasted wonderful.  Strangely this "seedless" variety had a ton of seeds...but who doesn't enjoy a little seed spitting?!  

Chicks at one week and half

 I was out of town for three days this week.  Upon my return, the chicks looked so huge!  Their wings have feathered out and their legs and beaks are lengthening. Its incredible!  Diana and Natalie put a sand bath in the brooder for the babies to try, but they would have none of it.  Maybe next week!

Pussy Cat's long wings

Camilla

Poppy

Gladys Bunny

Hen Taxi

Natalie is s good with the hens and has been sure to give extra attention to the big girls now that we have five new babies to watch over.  She took Little Red Hen for a ride in her taxi the other day.

Chicks are a few days old and growing so fast already!

Pussy Cat and Gladys Bunny resting together

Natalie's new chick - Camilla - is delightful and loves her mama

Poppy is learning to perch.  She has the longest legs
and stands tallest right now

Curious Camilla

Pussy Cat in Natalies' lap

Poppy and Camilla

Augusta is the quietest and loves to be held.

All five chicks are learning to snuggle together under the warm
red light above their brooder - we keep it about 90 degrees right now

Loss of Fannie Mae

Sadly Fannie Mae died suddenly on Wednesday.  That morning Natalie noticed that Fannie was "doing poorly" and called Diana over to look at her.  Fannie Mae was panting, her eyes were wide.  Diana called the vet though the avian vet on call would not be available until 2pm. Only about 30min later, Fannie Mae gave a honk and then passed away.  We're stunned to have her seem completely healthy one minute and then gone the next.  We think it was an aneurism or a problem with her vent that was very suddenly an issue.  All the other hens seem fine but we are all mourning the loss of our sweet Fannie Mae.

Day two with the wee hens

The chicken babies are doing very well so far! If yesterday was about resting from being born and the journey that followed....taking the first samples of water and food....and being cuddled by Ali, Evelyn, Erin, Natalie, and I.....then today is like watching "reindeer games." All 5 are testing their legs by running a 24 inch dash, bumbling into one another, pecking at the sides of the brooder, and then doing a face-plant in the pine mulch for a nap. They are beginning to nap as a group as well as individually.....and also look to each other for good ideas about kicking little bits of mulch behind them (as they'll do outdoors to scratch for bugs and such), when it's a good time to eat or drink, and where there are fun things to peck. 

Physically, they are already changing--everyone but Gladys Bunny and Poppy had lost their "egg tooth" by this morning. We can see the beginnings of different feathers growing from the tips of their wings. And they are not quite as wobbly on their legs as yesterday. Camilla and Gladys have the loudest, most insistent voices so far....but it seems the alpha position is still up for grabs...but who knows exactly when these things already begin working themselves out?? 

The new brooder that Erin built for them is working out very well--it's secure, has features here and there that we would only know to include after raising our own babies a couple of times, and gives the chicks plenty of space to grow into. Thank you, Erin!!

Hugs and congratulations to all!

New baby chicks!

We are pleased to introduce to you the five new baby hens!

Meet Augusta the Columbian Wyandotte...  

Poppy the Barred Plymouth Rock...

Gladys Bunny the Salmon Faverolle 

Pussy Cat the Australorp (left) and Gladys Bunny again (right)...  

And Camilla the Easter Egger!

Blog Name Change!

We've decided that our blog is expanding!  This means we will post about our farming, canning and other adventures on the blog too.  The new title will be Eastway Farm and Co.!!  (the concept and name--thanks Holly and Bambi--are new.)  Does it sound okay?  Please give comments and feedback!

Eastway Farm and Co update

Aloha to all of us who collectively make Eastway Farm and Co!! 

Firstly, I just watched a delightful, fairly short video on how to give a chicken a bath.  Her little bantam hen is so docile and obviously well-cared for.  Here's the site:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sucK2pwuMeI

Secondly, Erin says that our new batch of 5 wee chicks will arrive sometime in the window of July 23-26th.  It depends on when they're all born and the outdoor temps--they won't be sent if it's too hot outside!  We are working on building a new brooder for them that will be easier to manage as far as cleaning and moving them around.  Anyway, once they arrive at the post office, they will give us a call.  One of us will go get them and make sure that everyone made the journey.  And any of the rest of us who would like to see them when they first arrive home, just let me know and I'll keep you updated--all are welcome to come be with the babies!! (especially our out-of-town loved ones:) I want all the chicken mommies to feel they can come see them anytime, even if we aren't home or have other stuff we're doing!

As for the big hens, I think the cooler weather makes them so much more comfortable.  And we've had a great time being able to hold them, swing with them, carry them around....they really do seem to enjoy and thrive on the attention.  I read another woman's blog last night who has raised chickens for 12 yrs....Buff Orpingtons are her favorite....and through her I figured out that when Buffy pecks lightly at my crocks, it's her way of telling me she wants to be held!!  Who knew chickens could be so affectionate and personable??  Anyway, it looks as if Natalie and I will be giving her a bath and a blow-dry indoors very soon :)

Hope you all are doing well and that your plants and gardens are loving the rain!!

 ps.... Is Evelyn still naming her chick "pussy cat"?  Natalie wants to name hers "lily camilla"--honestly, where do they come up with this stuff??  

Potato leek soups - our first canning foray

From the garden - leeks galore!

Yukon gold potatoes

Beautiful produce!

Green peppers

Hurrah for 20 pints of potato leek soup!! and 22 pints of vegetable soup!