Field Trip, Chicks to Pasture

Another load of firewood over the weekend. On Monday we moved our first batch of over 300 chicks out to the field, filling up 5 shelters. The daily chicken moving begins. It took a bit to set the shelters up beforehand: putting shelters in place, untangling hoses, getting out lids, feeders, and waterers. 

Then we spent the rest of the afternoon getting ready for Rich Valley and Saltville kindergarteners visiting the farm for a field trip on Tuesday. Amy got the pressure washer out. The kids helped round up some square bales for the hay ride. Then they got tires, pallets, and boards to put together an obstacle course for the kindergarteners. 

Hosting field trips is not something I really look forward to. It requires a lot of work that’s not actually productive or beneficial to the farm. But I think it was beneficial to the kids. I heard several kids say, “I’ve never been to a farm before.” The kids were genuinely sweet and interested in the cows, pigs, and chickens. As always, the main point of emphasis we wanted to make was that farms produce food. Pigs produce sausage; cows produce hamburgers, chickens produce chicken tenders. Overall, it was a good day.

Farm work for the rest of the week was minimal and miserable to be honest. A stomach bug ran through our family mid week sparing only Carter and baby Leon. We got done what we had to but little more. 

Thankful for this week’s rain. 

Meat was delivered from the processor on Wednesday. We got it all in the freezers but didn’t feel up to sorting and organizing it all as we usually do. 

Amy made a couple batches of chicken bone broth this week. She also spent a couple hours sorting through bones and organs in the freezer. 

Ms. Desiree helped with the field trip and with getting chicks to the field. We’re going to miss her when she leaves the valley tomorrow. 

Carter was my farming sidekick this week moving cows. While checking a group of heifers we sorted out to breed as replacement momma cows, Carter asked, “Are these baby calves?”

My response, “No, these aren’t babies. These are heifers that we’re going put the bull in with, so they’ll get bred and be mommas.”

Carter: “So they’re mommas?”

Me: “No, they’re not mommas yet, but hopefully one day they will be.”

Carter: “Oh, so they’re like kids.”

Me: “Umm… yeah, I guess they are kinda like kids.”

Carter: “I bet those kids are homeschooled.”

Have a good week.

Will