Chicama Run Farm Blog

Well, this week 100 cornish x jumbo chicks are showing up. Fingers crossed on these as it will be our first go around with pasture raised meat birds. Ok, so it’s not really the season to be doing this type of bird in an outdoor enviroment, but we think as a first try it might be worth it.

Next coming in are 50 quail eggs. These should be fun. I am thinking gourmet here. I have a memory of the first time I ever (and I think only time) ate a quail and 2 little eggs. In Washington DC there was a restaurant called “Dominiques” where my parents took me for my high school graduation dinner then to National Theater. It was an excellent place with a HUGE menu which was mainly just for looking at I think, but the items it had were incredible and exotic. Rattlesnake, alligator, and then my little quail. Well now into reality, I think that the eggs will sell nicely as a gourmet type item. Hey from what people have told me, Martha Stewart has been talking about quail lately and she has a whole section about them somewhere. Even my wine club magazine had a quail recipe this month to go with my wine. So it must be the new “in” thing to be eating. What’s great is that the little birds start laying in 6 weeks vs 5 MONTHS for chickens. The kids are excited about the little birds and I can’t wait to show them the little spotted eggs!

In a couple more weeks 100 new layer chicks are showing up. That will bring our total up to 300 layers. So if all goes well in the spring we will have about 150 eggs or more per day in the spring and summer months. Fingers crossed on that one.

We are going back and forth about a new building too – just for the chickens. Mainly it’s the cost of the whole thing that’s holding us back – and of course I know Joe could build it – but time is also an issue (we never have enough). I just know I wouldn’t be that great of a help with building it. I can plan – but don’t ask me to do that type of work – I stink at it – and I’m not nearly the perfectionist that he is – which is probably why his buildings would never fall and mine would topple if the wind blew. I think now it’s just the size of the building – cut down the size and cut down the cost a little, or add on the 8ft overhang. Who knows? All I want is the chickens away from the house by summer time. I love them running around my front yard – but at the same time I’m tired of the poop all over the place and in the summer I want to enjoy the pool without having to step around all of the poop on the patio and decks. At least it’s not just me – I think sometimes Joe is ready to shoot them all because of it.

The saga continues – and it will never end!

Yep – we completely goofed off. We took the kids up to Frederick, MD to do this “goofing” I figured they needed it some. Ok, that’s an excuse – but one I can live with.

First – went to Chuck E Cheese (hell on earth – but the kids like it and that’s what mattered)

Then went to go see a movie – Open Season – wasn’t too bad but I know why we don’t go to the movies often after the cost of the movie was DOUBLE the cost of going to Chuck E Cheese! Over $60 for the movies, 2 candies, 2 SMALL drinks, 2 medium drinks and 1 medium popcorn. Unbelievable – for the rest of the year I’ll wait for stuff to come out on PPV and record it on the DVR system and the kids can watch it whenever.

We also stopped by Best Buy – what a toy store that is…Joe and I picked up Final Fantasy XI – so we’ll see if we like it.

The day was worth it – the kids had fun – and though nothing got done around here and I know we have a lot that needs to be done, sometimes you need to take a day and blow it. Joe doesn’t feel like it very often and I usually have to convince him – most of the time I loose that battle – but today he went, however reluctantly at first, I think he enjoyed it. It’s funny to see the kids acting so much like him in an arcade. Jacob especially – man does he go for those tickets to win!

We did discuss somethings about the farm – such as possibly butchering poultry here. I don’t know – I would like to – but the plucker is expensive and I’m not sure if I want to put that type of money out for one. I thought I had read a COMPLETELY different price but it’s not for the type I would want – which means it’s time to shop for a used one most likely. So we’ll see what happens…

Til next time!

Well we need a bigger chicken coop to expand egg production. Plain and simple. Ours now is about 12×20 and we are debating on getting a new building built or to expand what we now call the “Garden Shed” which is 12×24 – but we can actually extend it to 14×24 with the build out or we would spend a ton on a new pole barn but it would be 30×40 with an 8ft overhang.

As much as Joe says I love to spend money – I see the quotes for the new barn and shiver. I would have sworn last year it was $5000 less! But then again – I think we increased the size of the barn and added the overhang.

I liked the option of expanding the current garden shed and adding a run outside for the birds also. Yes, they free range – but on days when we are not here (yeah right) and stay away overnight – I would feel better if they were in an enclosed run area. On top of that it would add an additional 10×10 area for them at least on top of the 14×24 building.

We’d use the old chicken coop (the current one) for a brooder then (raising chicks). That’s be nice as it’s an excellent size and I can use 1/2 for meat birds as well since they don’t travel too far and I’d like them to be able to go outside.

We’ll see what happens as we wait for more proposals for the job.

Til next time – we’ll add some more decisions! (Ugh – I dread the seed catalogs coming in!! So many choices!!)