by Susan | May 31, 2013 | Chickens, On the Farm
The new girls on the block are ready to leave the brooder and be introduced the the rest of the farm critters. Last year taught us that a gradual approach is the best way to merge new chickens with an existing flock. So Paul built the new girls a mini-coop – a...
by Susan | May 21, 2013 | Ducks, On the Farm
The ducks have provided lots of inspiration for posts lately. Broody ducks, cute ducks, new ducks. No ducks. That’s what I found when I arrived home – no ducks. Nada. After checking with Paul who said, “They were just there a little while ago,”...
by Susan | May 20, 2013 | Ducks, On the Farm
The baby ducks started out with a basic chick waterer. I wanted to give them a waterer where they could dunk their heads, but keep things as dry as possible. After doing a bit of research, I cut a hole in the side of a gallon milk jug. I guess I should have cut a...
by Susan | May 19, 2013 | Chickens, On the Farm
Shadow, our broody Banty, takes a moment to stretch her legs. While she enjoys her break, Salty temporarily takes over the broody duties. The two Banty hens seem to be taking a tag team approach to sitting on this clutch of eggs!
by Susan | May 18, 2013 | Ducks, On the Farm
Hannah named the first ducklings to hatch at Downeast Thunder Farm “Peep” and “Squeak”. Here they are taking their first swim in my bathtub! They are the cutest little...
by Susan | May 16, 2013 | On the Farm
I locked myself into the chicken coop this morning. On accident. But that’s not what this post is about. Just thought I’d share. I arrived home late last night from a week in Pennsylvania only to have to turn around and leave again on business this...
by Susan | May 14, 2013 | Backyard Birds, Photography
I don’t see many Robins at my house. That’s probably because I don’t really have a lawn. I’m hopeful that someday I will have a tiny patch that might require mowing instead of scrub and clover. While here in Pennsylvania I’ve enjoyed the...
by Susan | May 12, 2013 | Ducks, On the Farm
Four weeks ago, we tucked twelve duck eggs into an incubator. For 27 days Paul accepted egg duty and faithfully spritzed and turned the eggs multiple times a day. While in Pennsylvania for Mother’s Day weekend with my mom, I received a phone call on Saturday to...
by Susan | May 9, 2013 | On the Farm
The egg on the left is from an Orpington Buff. The middle egg is from bantam hen. Paul delivered the third egg to my desk yesterday, collected from the chicken coop. At about 1.5″, it’s the tiniest egg I’ve ever seen outside of an Easter...
by Susan | May 8, 2013 | Backyard Birds, Out and About in Maine
I “captured” this beautiful hawk on my way home today. Any idea what type of Hawk she is?
by Susan | May 5, 2013 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
A beautiful day spent puttering in the yard. I was kept company by this pretty pair of House Finches fluttering about.
by Susan | May 3, 2013 | Chickens, On the Farm
The 50 meat chickens moved out of the garage this weekend at 3 1/2 weeks old. They grow so fast that they’ve run out of space in the brooder. These little Cornish X Rock chickens are so ugly, they’re kinda cute. Don’t you think?
by Susan | Apr 30, 2013 | On the Farm
I finally got a picture of my mystery bird through the kitchen window this morning. She perched just long enough for me to snap this single photo. My best guess is that she’s an Eastern Phoebe.
by Susan | Apr 27, 2013 | Garden, On the Farm
Last summer I lamented that my raised bed gardens didn’t do as well as my neighbors’. He told me his secret is lining the bottom of the raised bed with moss – plain old moss from the woods – to retain moisture. Eager to begin planing, I decided...
by Susan | Apr 22, 2013 | Ducks, On the Farm
Dilly the Duck resting among the lilies – a picture of Spring.
by Susan | Apr 15, 2013 | Ducks
With a flock of four female ducks, two frisky drakes are a bit too much for them. And particularly for Dilly, our physically challenged duck. We are looking for a new home for Puddles. Puddles is a Pekin drake, almost one-year old. He’s a good duck – very...
by Susan | Apr 14, 2013 | On the Farm
While cooking dinner tonight, the heavens opened up and the rain came down in buckets. In the middle of pan frying turkey tenders I looked up to see this rainbow out the window. I grabbed my camera and ran outside – totally forgetting about the skillet on the...
by Susan | Apr 12, 2013 | Chickens
I heard that the local feed and seed had Silver Laced Wyandotte chicks in. Excited about adding a couple to the flock, we went for a visit. Somehow a pair of Wynadotte’s turned into: two Silver Laced Wyandottes two Rhode Island Reds two Delawares How did that...
by Susan | Apr 8, 2013 | On the Farm
Birdbaths are not only for birds. A little privacy, please!
by Susan | Apr 7, 2013 | On the Farm
This is our second year producing Maple syrup for our family at Downeast Thunder Farm. We tapped 12 Maple trees in early March. Forty-three gallons of sap later, we’re boiling. With only one reference year, this is a good year compared to last year’s 25...
