Comments for Organic Spark

Comment on Raw Honey Lemonade by Susy

Susy — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:44:39 +0000

This is really super refreshing. I didn’t have fresh squeezed and just used some I had in a bottle and it was still very delish! I’m guessing the fresh squeezed would be even better! Simple and easy!!

Comment on Building fertility. by Mom

Mom — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 02:48:54 +0000

“nature’s dehydrator”…just loved that word picture. And I too, can’t wait to get there for another visit. This place is a tiny city of its own.

Comment on Building fertility. by Dad

Dad — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 02:31:50 +0000

I can’t wait to get out there and stick my hand in a pile of manure. You are something!

Comment on Breakfast Kale by rpl

rpl — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 02:09:44 +0000

My 7 year old LOVES kale for breakfast. I think I’ll do this with a pastured pork sausage and a scrambled egg for her tomorrow- with HVBO instead of ghee. Thanks!

Comment on Homemade Organic Sweet Feed by Leanne

Leanne — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 01:13:34 +0000

Thank you, Tami!

Comment on Technique: Sprouted Wheat by Brooke

Brooke — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:48:27 +0000

I have tried grinding the sprouted berries in the Vitamix dry container 6 hrs after I let them dry and they turn to mush. They need to be fully dry from a dehydrator for the berries to grind to flour. Hope this helps!

Comment on Brilliant orange yolks. by Mom

Mom — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:22:02 +0000

Your dad always used to tease me when I had my female friends over. He said that he’d have to collect the “eggs” after their visit. In this new farm context, I now consider that a rave compliment! Just love all the experienced advice on the care and enjoyment of these precious critters. I can’t wait to get back to the farm.

Comment on Brilliant orange yolks. by Theresa Loe

Theresa Loe — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:39:01 +0000

Congrats! I love having chickens here in the city and my friends fight over who gets our extra eggs when we get too many.

Thanks so much for the links on the feed. I was afraid to try the fish meal feed for fear of fishy taste. So glad to hear that is not the case!

Comment on Brilliant orange yolks. by Diane

Diane — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:26:38 +0000

We’ve kept multiple roosters for years without a problem. If you have more than just a few hens, a spare rooster is a good thing. As mentioned above, they’ll sometimes split the flock and divide the duties. Sometimes, they’ll stay together and act as president & vice president. Most especially if you’re keeping the girls pastured, an assistant rooster is an good asset to have. Of course, if you only have four hens, two roos are overkill. LOL The guys will do their thing to establish who’s boss but it’ll be too tense with only so many girls to go around.

Congrats on your first egg!

Comment on Brilliant orange yolks. by Leslie A.

Leslie A. — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 01:24:41 +0000

I know that I have given info before, but I have a couple of comments. Keep an eye on them when the days get longer. They might tend to want to start roosting in nearby trees. Mine did that as they got older and loved to roost in my junipers! Fortunately they were within a fenced yard, but occasionally a couple would fly into my neighbors yard to grub. Speaking of grubs……..I would go to a local feed store occasionally and buy grub worms for my ladies…….they LOVE them! I put a bench in the chicken yard and trained them to jump up on it and eat out of my hand. Doesn’t work in a yard with a rooster though. The first rule of rooster owning is there is only ONE rooster per hen house!! They are VERY territorial and will fight with anything that they perceive as a threat. I had one who absolutely HATED my adult son and would crow every time he heard his voice. They didn’t coin the term “cocky” for nothing. I actually had two different roosters who got so uppity that they tried to attack my dogs!! Duh! It was four years apart and one was a banty rooster too! Neither one survived — if they get an injury to the comb or waddle — they don’t make it.

Speaking of roosters still…..keep an eye out for them. As they get older and breed regularly……they may get nastier. No matter if you raised them from peeps and fed them by hand, those critters are ornery! I had a big Rhode Island Red who constantly eyed me when I went to gather the eggs. The one time I took my eyes off of him — he spurred me in the knee…..BUGGER! It hurt too! After that I always had a rooster stick that I kept between me and him and if he got to close, I just pushed him away with it.

I used to mix flax seed in with my feed. It helps lower the cholesterol of the yolk of the eggs. They won’t eat it on its own though. Also…….don’t forget to give your chickens all of your wet garbage from your kitchen. They will eat EVERYTHING you give them, I would just toss it around the yard every morning, and they would grub through it all. I would split it up between them and my pot belly pig, Chickens will eat meat scraps too, but I avoided meat products so that the scent wouldn’t attract carnivores and because if you feed meat to a pig, they tend to get aggressive.
Anyway….I enjoy your posts…….have fun with your farm and critters!!