Homesteaders at heart, we've always had the strong desire to be as sustainable as possible, sourcing as much as we possibly can from our own herds.  Establishing these programs takes time and careful planning along with great tenacity. 

We began with our rabbit program then moved on to the goats. Pigs came next and after an adjustment mid-stride, the breeders are now in place.  We then brought in a large number of ducks and began working our way through to pick the best of the best and the first of the duck eggs are happily humming away in the incubator.

Now it's time for the chickens.  Though we've experimented with various breeds and crosses over the years and have hatched eggs to raise birds for our personal consumption, we are now shifting the focus somewhat to slowly grow this program to the point of being able to completely source all of our poultry, both meat and eggs, from our farm.  This will take time and great care.  Some crosses will work, some will not.  But, we will gain great knowledge along the way and feel it is a most important and worthy cause.  We've placed orders for chicks of various breeds, all with an exact purpose, and expect the first of these newbies to arrive next week. We're starting small with the hatchings to allow us time to test and adjust as needed.

One breed we are adding to our flock will be the Delaware.  To learn more about this heritage breed and its significance, please click the following link:

http://www.livestockconservancy.org/index.php/heritage
/internal/delaware

Hatching our own ducks has been one of our goals from the very beginning.  We keep ducks for both egg and meat production.  Why would we put forth this effort when it is easier to simply order them? 

Here are a few of our reasons:

-minimizing stress on the ducklings.  Shipping can be hard on the animals and hatching them here will completely eliminate that.
-we want to keep duck on our land year round.  Why?  They are incredible foragers and a great benefit by consuming large volumes of bugs and weeds that chickens tend to overlook.  In fact, running ducks in tandem with chickens and turkeys helps ensure we get the most out of the available grazing as each has their own preferences.
-duck feces is rich in nutrients and adds an additional natural fertilizer which is slightly different chemically from others.  The broader the mix of manures, the more benefit it is to the land.   
-hatching will help us ensure the health of the animals.  We have raised the parent birds since they were day-old ducklings and they are healthy and happy.
-birds hatched on the farm will naturally have more resistance to parasites and illnesses when compared to those which are shipped in, partially due to lack of shipping stress.  This will help us limit losses, making us more efficient.
-we will have complete control from breeding through hatch through processing.  The birds will never leave our care.
-we can more easily control our numbers which will help us meet customer demand more efficiently.
-ducks help deter predators.  Being that female ducks can be quite vocal, their noise can help abate some attacks and their alertness to their surroundings helps make the other birds more aware of any threats.  Ducks combined with turkeys make for a great security team.  They let us know ANY time something changes.  This is due in part to a duck's natural need for consistency.  They like to eat the same food, at the same time, in the same pan, given by the same person...every single day.  Flexibility is not their strong suit.  This trait when managed properly can be a valuable asset.

We have a wonderful group of birds who call our farm home, both egg laying and meat birds alike.  We simply cannot wait to hear that incubator humming and the peep of new ducklings.

We believe animals are happiest and healthiest when allowed to live as nature intended.  Appy the Speckled Sussex hen is living proof of this.  Appy came to our farm in 2011, as part of a 4-H poultry project.  She was brooded in Taylor's bedroom and soon became the favorite as she had quite the personality and loved perching on your lap.  Once Appy was moved outside and grew large enough to leave her protective tractor, she free-ranged throughout the day and would still come to be held from time to time. 

In 2012, Appy hatched four chicks and successfully raised one to adulthood.  Appy's daughter, a beautiful white Ameracauna cross, is still part of our flock and a personal favorite with her patterned plumage and spunky ways.  Like mother, like daughter. 

Now at 4 years of age, Appy's egg production rate has dwindled quite a bit and she tends to get broody often so she is no longer as productive as she once was, but, she remains a vital part of our farm family and no one could imagine a trip to the barn without hearing her soulful clucking.  There's just something special about Appy.   

Farmer Johnny was feeding the laying hens yesterday evening when he heard Appy's familiar call and turned to see her dutifully leading her TEN newly hatched chicks to the feed pan!  Surprise!  They appear to be by our Ameracauna rooster.  I think she must have something for those guys, lol.  All ten appear healthy and strong but we don't recommend getting too close as Appy is quite the protective mama!

Our flock grew by 10 yesterday and we couldn't be happier.  Seems no matter how many animals you have on the farm, there's just something special about newly hatched chicks...especially Appy's. 

The farm is now ours and work has already begun on the pastures.  We met with an agronomist from NC State earlier this week and discussed proper field drainage (a must after the flooding this past winter), soil health, diversity of plant life and quality of grazing.  We also began to spread rabbit manure as it is the most complete, all-natural, non-chemical fertilizer available.  Being that it was sourced from our own breeding herd, we are assured of its purity. 

You might think the term purity has no place in a discussion with manure...and in most instances you would be correct...but once you begin to look at farming as a partnership WITH nature, the science and components of manure become of major importance.  

The original purpose of adding rabbits to our homestead was for the use of their manure in our gardens and fields.  The healthy meat was an added bonus.  While many modern farmers might scoff at the notion of hauling manure to spread on fields, we have experienced first hand the endless benefits from this practice and are committed to its use.  After all, the proof of its value will be evident soon enough in the quality of the grazing and the overall health of our animals.  Stay tuned! 

It all started 7 years ago when our family was on its way home from a Sunday morning church service.  After a quick stop at the grocery store, we decided to take a different route home and turned down a local, dirt road.  The path wound its way through the woodlands where unfortunately numerous people had decided to dump a good deal of trash.  Off to the side of the road, we noticed a small, terribly frail, tan-colored puppy making his way out from under an abandoned sofa which lay straddling the ditch.

We decided to stop and leave some food for the tiny, little guy.  Grabbing some bread and a can of soup, Johnny walked to the side of the road and bent down to lay the food on the ground.  Next thing we knew, the puppy came running up and basically jumped into the front seat of our car!  And as the story would go, the dog had chosen his forever home.  His namesake is the popular character Special Agent Gibbs from the television show NCIS, a family favorite.

This guy weighed a mere 30 pounds and was missing some front teeth.  After a few weeks, he travelled to the vet to be neutered.  He was up to an amazing 55 pounds!  We were told he was full grown and most likely a Chow/Yellow Lab mix.  His feet still appeared to be two sizes too big for his body and after months of care and tons of food, Gibbs topped out around 80 pounds and is simply the very best farm dog ever.  Bar none.

Fast forward a few years.  We began to notice Gibbs chewing the soles of his feet.  Nothing had changed.  Same food, same farm, same flea treatment...same everything.  Yet the dog had become miserable.  What was going on?  Gibbs had developed a food sensitivity.  We started reading labels and searching the kibble aisles but nothing seemed to help.  It was slowly getting worse.  After vet trips and prescriptions with no visible improvement, we got on the internet and started searching for an alternative.  What we found has literally changed all of our lives!

We began studying what a dog's diet would naturally involve.  What do they eat when they have a choice?  Bones, meats, dead animals and an occasional plant.  After careful observation, we noticed Gibb's was self-medicating using plants, specifically herbs.  My Echinacea was in full bloom when I observed some of the leaves were missing.  I thought some wild rabbits had taken up residence so I started keeping a close watch on that area of the garden.  One afternoon I caught Gibbs chowing down on the leaves!  Echinacea is a powerful immune boosting plant.  He had never bothered my herb before.  Something was up.  We had already been using herbs to treat certain people conditions and after observing Gibbs, we began to look more into the amazing benefits these plants can bring to our four legged friends.  After a trip to the local herb store, Gibbs started on a journey to restoring his health. 

We have since added a puppy to the farm.  Lucas, named after another famous television personality- the Rifleman- is a Great Pyrenees.  He is heir apparent to the farm dog throne and spends his days in 'training', under the watchful eye of the big, tan, general.  Gibbs is a tough act to follow.  Lucas has now began his own natural journey and is readily consuming health building foods on a daily basis.

Just what exactly do our dogs eat?  Can this be done reasonably?  Our doggy-friendly base diet is detailed below:

1.  Raw eggs.  Our dogs eat these every single day.  Our eggs are from pasture raised and kept hens which means the nutrient levels are extremely high.  We simply crack two in a bowl for each dog.  A single egg will work as well.  We feed two as our dogs are active and work really hard on the farm all day so they need the extra calories.

2.  Food-grade diatomaceous earth, more commonly known as DE.  These microscopic diatoms are fantastic when it comes to parasite and toxin removal.  They are completely chemical free, are naturally occurring and very effective.  This can be purchased at your local Tractor Supply or ordered online.  We keep a small, covered container of DE in the pantry within easy reach.  We use this extensively on our farm.  All of our livestock as well as our pets and even us humans use this amazing powder.  For more information on dosage, please click the link below:

http://wolfcreekranch1.tripod.com/defaq.html

3.  A powdery mix of herbs we call Critter Powder is a blend of nutritional and medicinal plants including alfalfa, kelp, garlic, black walnut hulls or neem.  The black walnut hulls and neem are interchangeable in this recipe.  The alfalfa and kelp are loaded with vitamins and minerals.  Garlic is a natural antibiotic and anti-parasitic.  Black walnut hulls are a natural form of iodine, which is extremely effective against illness or disease.  It is also a very strong anti-parasitic.  Neem has many health benefits including the boosting of the immune system and repelling of both internal and external pests.  All of these can easily be ordered online, in bulk.  We mix equal parts of each dried herb and store in an airtight container.  The proper dosage is 1/8 tsp per 10lbs body weight but more can be fed if needed with no negative side effects.  Remember, these are foods, not chemicals.  We have found this mixture to effectively control heartworms, fleas, ticks and internal parasites by essentially making the animal taste 'bad' so the pests naturally go elsewhere.  For more information on these herbs and online ordering, check out the link below:

https://www.mountainroseherbs.com/

4.  Simply mix all the raw ingredients together and feed as is, one time a day.  This can also be used as a top-dressing for your regular food.  The best advice we ever received was to take it slow.  Add a tiny pinch and gradually work your way up to the full dosage.  This allows the pet plenty of time to adjust to the flavors and before long, he won't even leave a speck behind.  Being that we own a dairy cow, we add approximately 1/2 cup of raw milk for even more wholesome goodness.

5.  Want to get additional mileage out of the pasture raised chicken or duck you had for dinner last night?  Make broth.  This liquid gold is not only healthy for you, it is also wonderful for your dog.  After we remove and discard of the cooked bones, we allow the liquid to cool and then store it either the freezer or in the fridge.  When it comes time to feed the dogs, we simply pull it out and pour it in their bowl.  You can also use this in place of the raw eggs though we highly recommend feeding those at least a few days a week.  Using broth made from your regular meals gives you tremendous bang for your buck on those regular, farmers market purchases. 

All of this can be added to your every day dog food.  We feed our dogs twice a day but it is important to choose whichever schedule works best for you.  To remain effective, the herbs and DE must be given daily.  Again, introduce the foods slowly, in tiny amounts.  Don't make any drastic changes. 

You will also begin to notice a difference money wise.  Because you are giving such nutrient dense foods, you will find that your dog doesn't need quite so much food to meet his needs.  When adding organ meats and bones, start with smaller portions.  Just a bite or two.  Because they are packed full of wholesome goodness, a little goes a very, long way!  Our products are sold in packages that are approximately one pound in weight and the product is frozen.  For ease of use, simply thaw the entire package in a sealed container in your refrigerator.  Pull out individual portions, leaving the remainder sealed in the fridge until the contents are fully used.  Use caution when handling raw meats and eggs.  Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly.

What other products do we offer that can benefit your four-legged friends?  Chicken necks, backs, hearts, livers, kidneys and more. Click on the slide show below for additional options.

***IT IS UNSAFE AND NOT RECOMMENDED TO GIVE COOKED BONES TO YOUR DOG.  WE BELIEVE RAW BONES TO BE SAFE AS THEY DO NOT SPLINTER WHEN EATEN.  THIS ENTRY WAS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND THE DETAILS SHARED ARE THOSE EXPERIENCED PERSONALLY ON OUR FARM.  THE ABOVE LINKS WERE GIVEN FOR INFORMATINAL PURPOSES ONLY AS WE DO NOT ENDORSE THESE COMPANIES NOR RECEIVE ANY BENEFITS FROM LISTING THEM HERE***

Holiday turkeys have now been processed.  They will be available for pick up at both upcoming Saturday markets, November 15.  Emails are going out right
away!

FRESH MEATS ARE COMING TO THE MARKET TABLE SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15!  Lots of fresh chicken, whole rabbit and organ meats will be available.

We are very excited to be adding various chicken parts this weekend for the very first time!  Available cuts will be featured in our weekly newsletter and on our updated website as of tomorrow afternoon.

Thanks again for your continued support as we continue to 'Grow All Things Beautiful!'