Hi All,
It's been a busy time of the year around here. The new chicks are now old enough to start blessing us with their egg laying abilities, and have been allowed to go into the hen house to lay, when they aren't bug hunting and digging in the dirt. The old hens (3 years old) are now retired and spend their days pecking and hunting bugs as they roam our property. I love pulling in the driveway and seeing healthy white hens hunting and pecking. It is so idyllic farm-like to me. These gals have worked hard laying eggs for 2.5 years for us, and although they were never forced into a life of industry confinement, they are beyond their laying years and can live out their remaining years happily roaming.
The piggies are in their final growth stage before market. They are super happy and run around in their pasture playing tag and rooting up the earth. They love to watch me mow the grass. I feel like a celebrity as they come and stand side by side watching the lawn mower pass! As our butcher says, "You raise such happy healthy hogs! No wonder their meat is so amazing!" That, my friends is a huge compliment, since she sees hundreds of animals pass her way. Yes, ours run and play, frolic in the pasture, roll in the mud puddle and drink from their own water fountain. Their waterer is so fun and makes for happy piggiess! No free standing bowl of water that can become contaminated. Their waterer is attached to the fence up at snot level, they use their nose to push the button, fill up the small bowl of water, happily slurp it up and then refill it by pushing the button again.
The ducks are adult and all beautifully feathered! They have decided, that since they live by the side of the house that allows them to see everyone when they come out of the door, they are "greeters". Each bred has it's own voice and sounds that it makes. As we come up the sidewalk or walk out the door, they all go from a quiet state to a very happy greeting/announcing mode. They start their chorus of voices and quickly let everyone know that we have guests! Pretty cute indeed!
We love that our animals are raised with tender loving care. We purpose to raise our meat in a happy, healthy environment and to treat each one very carefully to ensure the best quality from birth/hatch to maturity. You will not find any unhappy or unhealthy animals here. We love animals and appreciate the purpose and beauty that each one has. It feels so awesome driving into our little farm that has happy animals lounging in the shade, or basking in the sun, or enjoying their mud bath. Sadly, this isn't the case on many farms. In fact, just a few miles away, there are many commercial farmer's raising chickens, turkeys, hogs in very traditional pens. The smell is bad and sadness hangs in the air. I grieve for those animals that are locked up all their life and are fattened up with unhealthy growth hormones and medicated feeds. I know that is traditional, but it's just so very sad to drive by and see. It again makes me thankful for what we have chosen to do.
