Change is in the air!

Please note that Bearfoot Hollow will be changing it's name to mjd poultry.

Please visit us at our new blog location!

mjd poultry

Thank you so much!

( *)>

Mark & Jen

Black Magic

(or the feeding and care of Bearfoot Hollow)

First of all I want you to know that this is what works for US, and our set up.  Yours might be very different and you have to take that into consideration when coming up with a care plan for your own feathers.  That being said, I have had a LOT of requests for what I call 'Black Magic' ..  so called because it's just a little of this and a little of that all mixed together in a bucket/cauldron ;)   I am not a nutrition expert, I do not know the nutrient ratios although I should research it, so please do not approach this recipe as a be all end all.    What I can say is that I have noticed molts go easier,  undernourished animals bounce back quickly, we don't have fertility issues and feather quality is always beautiful.

I am also going to add that we feed Purina Flock Raiser to ALL of our birds -yes, it may be more expensive but it is totally worth it.  If you do nothing at all with the information I give here except understand that feeding the highest quality feed alone with none of the other voodoo ingredients will give you healthy happy animals ~ you will be very happy with the results.  I can not stress enough the importance of a balanced high quality diet for your birds or any of your animals in your care.    I also try to make sure that any bird in a pen without access to pasture gets some sort of greens as often as I think of it.  That can be the sorta wilty lettuce/salad mix in your fridge or picked dandelion leaves or whatever.  Sometimes, somehow sod comes up in the flower beds (imagine!) and I will dig that up and toss it in the pens-dirt and all-and the chickens go crazy for it.  Sometimes, joy of joys, there will be the occasional earthworm for them ;)  

We are also very lucky in that we have an area that allows our birds to free range as much as possible.  All of our ducks, in the off season, are in the front pasture. We are blessed with a year round creek and a seasonal pond.  A muddy duck is a happy duck ;)

Late Fall on the Pond

Winter time Creek

So, now on to the good stuff 

~ The Recipe ~

Start with crumble (like I said we use Flock Raiser) I think it just mixes better than pellets.. but certainly feel free to try pellet! :)  I tried to be good and actually measure this time around ~ there are 6 of those scoops in the cauldron.  

Then add the other stuff:

a scoop of Black Oil Sunflower Seed(a good source of vitamins and minerals)

a small cup of lentils  (we get this from a lady in Toledo) friends will use the lentil mix from the store.. so, do what you have access to.  It's not an essential ingredient I don't think anyway.

1/2 scoop of soaked COB (Corn Oats Barley) and because we had it, a small scoop of the 'sweet COB' (it has Molasses)  Molasses is good because it has minerals in it, and from an old timer helps prevent botulism.  I don't know if that is true or not but I know the birdies like it anyway.  I will sometimes add Molasses to dry COB.  I figure that real unsulfured molasses is probably better besides.  

1/4 cup each of:

kelp

fish bone meal

brewers yeast

2 tsp each of:

turmeric  

garlic

red pepper flakes (because of the antioxidents/dewormer qualities)

1 tsp of:

cayenne pepper 

I also will toss in chick grit and some oyster shells. 

Top it all off with enough Wheat Germ Oil to moisten the whole mess.  

Then Mix and Mix and Mix!
**I only mix up small batches, enough that it will be used up within a few days.**

 **Eye of newt, tail of Salamander**

...this, that n the other...

I always have the best intentions 

to order Pure Wheat Germ Oil..

but end up running out and just 

buying at the local feed store ;)

                                    A lil drizzle will do!

                                    

and voila! it is Feeenish!

~~~so what is for desert around here you ask?~~~

Scratch, BOSS and mealworms of course!

I also like to give everyone plain yogurt, canned kitten food, and melons on the half shell when the season is in.   Another thing that I like to use is Apple Cider Vinegar in their drinking water.  A couple mL's/gallon.

I hope this all helps and or gives you an idea of how to be creative in making sure your poultry get good nutrition!

It is FINALLY Summer here in the beautiful PNW

While I must say all the rain certainly saves on a water bill.. you know, ya don't hafta water the flowers.    Ever.  At all.  It rains n rains.  Then along comes July 5th and we get SUMMER!  It has been absolutely beautiful here ~~ sunny, hot days with some fabulous Thunder Storms thrown in for good measure.

Hope everyone had a great 4th of July.  :)

Buns of Stone in the Secret Garden

yumalicious Strawberries!

Hydrangea is starting to bloom ~ it is SO pretty!

ummm.. where's the ice cream?

BlueBERRIES! wowza this bush puts it on!

the yard smells soo good right now

Persian Jewels and Lavender from my Momma's garden.  ;)  

an amazing shot of the the Thunder Storm from the other night
--taken by a friend of mine--Thank you Friend, for letting
me use this beautiful photo! :D
 

...changes...

There have been a lot of changes in the face of what I consider 'farming' in my life.

First of all.. this year.. no Garden.  My 'farmin' has downsized to a few strawberry plants in pots.. a coupla blueberry bushes in the cozy back yard of my little cottage in town.  I didn't put in a garden at all, although I DO have two nice raised beds.  My schedule and life right now just wouldn't allow for good care.  Growing things is important to me, and I have satisfied that need by planting easy to care for flowers and hanging baskets.   I do still have my ducks and chickens, no longer the goats.  They have an EXCELLENT new home and I am very happy of where they went. :)
As far as the ducks and chickens ~ I am still raising, breeding, showing Bantam White Cochins, Serama, and Butterscotch Calls....  Hope to see ya at the Fall fairs and shows :)

Things will even out again, in this crazy messed up adventure of life.

It's been pretty quiet here ..

I will start blogging again..

More regularly.. later.

:)

For now.. I am taking a short break.

Winter Solstice

One of my favorite times of year. Imperceptibly ~ the days will now start to lengthen.

The dark of Winter makes people celebrate light in other ways--candles, fires, lights. Somehow, someway we need our spirits lifted from the vespers of Midwinter's Eve.

Today most people maybe don't realize the importance of the Winter Solstice. We, for the most part, don't really have to worry about not having enough food, or warmth to make it through the next few months. But, for some reason this day still resonates with me.. maybe it's the gardener inside. ;) I get to look out at the sleeping garden, planning it's design for next year. Seed catalogs will start coming in any day ~ perfect for thumbing through, picking out new varieties to try. My garden clothes are clean for days at a time. It's a period of rest and reflection. Solstice actually means 'Sun stands still'. So what better time of year to do just that.

Amid the hustle and bustle of these last few days before Christmas ~ I hope you can take a moment and pause to catch your breath.

Merry Christmas

Happy New Year

xo

On Farming...

I saw a man,
An old Cilician, who occupied
An acre or two of land that no one wanted,
A patch not worth the ploughing, unrewarding
For flocks, unfit for vineyards; he however
By planting here and there among the scrub
Cabbages and white lilies and verbena
And flimsy poppies, fancied himself a king
In wealth, and coming home late in the evening
Loaded his board with unbought delicacies.
- Virgil, The Georgics (29 B.C.)