The students and staff of HHS will be taking the dates of December 21 - January 5th off. But as you know the farm never takes a day off, this holiday season will be no different. On the farm, we have four goats and the following chickens.
Oct 19 - 5 (there was six but one of the chickens got caught in a door cage and was crushed last week)
Sept/Aug 19 - 6
Jhamir group - 8
Roosters - 4. Godfather, Big Red, Black, and Rockstart
The original - lost count
We continue to get approx 6 eggs a day. On Sunday found a green egg for the first time in a long time.
EGGS PLACED IN INCUBATOR
On December 12 approx. 30 eggs were placed in the incubator, the expected hatch date is January 3rd, 2020. The large number is to provide baby chicks to a goat handler friend and Mrs. Haver expected to move to the central valley. It could be as early as Jan 2020.
Tuesday, December 24, 2019
Monday, December 9, 2019
Hawk Attack
On Thursday, Dec 5 a hawk attacked one of the October chickens. After football practice, I was on my way to close up the coop when I noticed a hawk on the ground over one of the chickens. I shewed the hawk away but the chicken was already dead. It was one of the new Barred Rocks.
Thursday, November 7, 2019
Chicken Rotation
On Monday, November 4, we rotated chicks to different coops. The Oct 23-28 chicks were moved outside room 1 coop.
The Silkies which had been in the room 1 coop were moved into the main chicken coop small room.
The Aug 27 and Sept 11 chicks are now free-ranging with the main flock of chickens.
The weird 8 chickens that we received from Jamir Bravo are also with the main flock.
Egg production has dropped from 16 - 18 eggs a day down to about 5 eggs per day. We have at least three broody hens. We have not received a blue/green egg in a month. We should have 3 hens laying this color egg.
We still have Rock Star our Polish Rooster. He is separated from the flock because the other roosters don't like him. The other 3 roosters will pick on him, especially the Black Maran rooster we have.
The Silkies which had been in the room 1 coop were moved into the main chicken coop small room.
The Aug 27 and Sept 11 chicks are now free-ranging with the main flock of chickens.
The weird 8 chickens that we received from Jamir Bravo are also with the main flock.
Egg production has dropped from 16 - 18 eggs a day down to about 5 eggs per day. We have at least three broody hens. We have not received a blue/green egg in a month. We should have 3 hens laying this color egg.
We still have Rock Star our Polish Rooster. He is separated from the flock because the other roosters don't like him. The other 3 roosters will pick on him, especially the Black Maran rooster we have.
Thursday, October 31, 2019
Chickens on display at Fall Fest!
Many of our chickens were on display at the Fall Fest Festival Wednesday night October 30th.
The biggest hit were the baby chicks that hatched over this past weekend.
The biggest hit were the baby chicks that hatched over this past weekend.
Friday, October 25, 2019
Lost a Hen last night
Turns out after a headcount, we did not lose any chickens. We have had some doves hanging around the farm recently.
Today we found part of a wing from one of the hens, it appears we had an attack last night by some type of predator in the garden area. It appears to have been one of the Plymouth Barred Rock hens. We found the wing and other feathers near the kitchen sink area of the garden. Earlier this quarter I had purchased leg tags for the chickens, we will be placing them on the chickens so we can identify who is whom.
We have 4 new baby chicks!
Three chicks were born on Wednesday, Oct 23rd and one was born this morning Friday, October 25th. All four chicks are mostly black in color. two have
Thursday, October 10, 2019
Not familiar with this breed
We had a student bring these chickens to school awhile ago. We have had them in isolation. We do not know the breed of the chickens
Around the Campus
The chickens are making their way on to the campus early in the mornings.
These 6 chicks were born on and around the first day of school Aug 27-28.
These 6 chicks were born on and around the first day of school Aug 27-28.
Tuesday, October 8, 2019
Another batch of eggs placed in the brooder
On Monday, Oct 7th we placed eggs into the brooder. These eggs should provide us chicks for the Fall Festival being held on Oct 30th.
Updates:
We have 8 unidentified breed chickens currently in one of the pens. These chicks were provided by Jamir Bravo's family.
We have 6 baby chicks that were hatched on Aug 27/28 in another pen. We have two white, three barred rock hens and a greyish mixture hen. I am assuming now that they are all hens.
We have 3 baby chicks in a cage by room 1. These were hatched on Sept. 11th. Originally there were 5 but two were given to an HHS family.
NOTE: We have not had a blue/green egg laid in several weeks.
Beth Boswell the school secretary has been providing the chickens dry mealworms in the AM. Now every AM we have a group of chickens visiting the office.
Updates:
We have 8 unidentified breed chickens currently in one of the pens. These chicks were provided by Jamir Bravo's family.
We have 6 baby chicks that were hatched on Aug 27/28 in another pen. We have two white, three barred rock hens and a greyish mixture hen. I am assuming now that they are all hens.
We have 3 baby chicks in a cage by room 1. These were hatched on Sept. 11th. Originally there were 5 but two were given to an HHS family.
NOTE: We have not had a blue/green egg laid in several weeks.
Beth Boswell the school secretary has been providing the chickens dry mealworms in the AM. Now every AM we have a group of chickens visiting the office.
Friday, September 20, 2019
Friday, September 13, 2019
Quarter 1 Week 4.... On the Farm
Week 4 - September 16-20
We placed one chicken in the bachelor pad to check out its safety. Last week we had a predator attack and kill one of our roosters. The students made significant repairs to the pen to keep predators out! WTF. It made it through the weekend without any predators but it died. No apparent reason.
So we began making two separate cages inside the old chicken coop which is inside the new chicken coop.
Egg production is slowing....and we are not able to keep up with demand at school for eggs.
Just a note to myself......
So at the moment on the farm, we have 5 baby chicks, 3 Marans and 2 Easter Eggers that were hatched between Sept 10-12th. We have 6 baby chicks that were hatched between Aug 28th - 30th. We had 16 baby chicks hatched between Aug 15-17 that was given to our goat babysitter for there services over the summer. And back in June, we had 6 chicks hatch Brahma/Leghorn mix that was given to a family in Upland.
Hatchings: Reviewed
Sept 10-12 produced 5 chicks
Aug 28-30 produced 6 chicks
Aug 15-17 produced 19 chicks
We placed one chicken in the bachelor pad to check out its safety. Last week we had a predator attack and kill one of our roosters. The students made significant repairs to the pen to keep predators out! WTF. It made it through the weekend without any predators but it died. No apparent reason.
So we began making two separate cages inside the old chicken coop which is inside the new chicken coop.
Egg production is slowing....and we are not able to keep up with demand at school for eggs.
Just a note to myself......
So at the moment on the farm, we have 5 baby chicks, 3 Marans and 2 Easter Eggers that were hatched between Sept 10-12th. We have 6 baby chicks that were hatched between Aug 28th - 30th. We had 16 baby chicks hatched between Aug 15-17 that was given to our goat babysitter for there services over the summer. And back in June, we had 6 chicks hatch Brahma/Leghorn mix that was given to a family in Upland.
Hatchings: Reviewed
Sept 10-12 produced 5 chicks
Aug 28-30 produced 6 chicks
Aug 15-17 produced 19 chicks
Wednesday, September 11, 2019
Eggs For Sale on the Farm!
This week we sold 8 dozen eggs. In fact, we did not have enough eggs to supply our guests.
Sunday, September 1, 2019
Chicken Update
Well, the 2019/2020 school session has begun. On the first day of school, we had four chicks hatch with another to follow the next day. We have two new Orpingtons, two Plymouth Rock, and one Wyandotte.
Thursday, August 15, 2019
Chicken update
Well, I have been gone from the farm since Thursday, Aug 8th with today being my first day back. I collected 105 eggs today, eight days worth for an average of 13 eggs a day. Also noted we have the Amereaucanas producing again, found two green eggs and more dark brown eggs from the Maran. A noted difference in egg size too. The difference I believe is that before I left on my most recent leave was I changed their food to greater protein content.
Wednesday, August 7, 2019
Thursday, July 18, 2019
Summer Update July 18th
The summer season is going quit well. Students have been helping out with the collection of eggs, monitoring of the chickens and picking the vegetables in the garden. To date we have lost only one chicken.
In late May we lost two baby silkies and one baby Brahma/Americana mix leaving us with just one of each. It appears that the older birds killed them. (Lesson learned) The baby chicks were placed into the chicken coop overnight.
On my July 8th visit to the farm I noticed a lot of feathers in the field and upon counting of chickens found one of the orpington chickens to be missing. It appears to have been a Hawk attack.
An automatic chicken door was installed at the beginning of the summer. The chickens appear to understand the concept of how to get out the chicken coop. We have one young silkie and one young brahma/Americana chick that have figured the door out.
On July 18th, 29 eggs were placed in the incubator for an early August (Aug 8) hatching. Most of these birds will be given to the young family that is taking care of Felicia for the summer .
In late May we lost two baby silkies and one baby Brahma/Americana mix leaving us with just one of each. It appears that the older birds killed them. (Lesson learned) The baby chicks were placed into the chicken coop overnight.
On my July 8th visit to the farm I noticed a lot of feathers in the field and upon counting of chickens found one of the orpington chickens to be missing. It appears to have been a Hawk attack.
An automatic chicken door was installed at the beginning of the summer. The chickens appear to understand the concept of how to get out the chicken coop. We have one young silkie and one young brahma/Americana chick that have figured the door out.
On July 18th, 29 eggs were placed in the incubator for an early August (Aug 8) hatching. Most of these birds will be given to the young family that is taking care of Felicia for the summer .
Monday, May 20, 2019
Shelving Installed in Sheds
Today Mr. Connor's classes installed a shelf inside the new Tuff Shed! This shelf will add greater storage.
New Sheds Installed
Tuff Sheds were installed on the campus! Today my students added a shelf inside the shed.
Laying Update
We are now into the month of May. Our laying chart is as follows per month.
We have 19 hens laying eggs currently.
Egg Production
June 2019
May 2019 394
April 2019 313
Mar 2019 151
Feb 2019 118
Jan 2019 103
Quantity Hens and types Egg Color
3 Orpington cream to light brown
1 Brahmas cream to light brown
3 Rhode Island Reds cream to light brown
5 Plymouth Barred Rock cream to light brown
1 Amereaucana light green
3 Leg Horns White
3 Wyandotte Cream to speckled brown
Up Next
2 Amereaucana Light Green
1 Maran Dark Brown
1 Brahma/Wyandotte mix ?
1 Silkie/Leghorn mix ?
We have 19 hens laying eggs currently.
Egg Production
June 2019
May 2019 394
April 2019 313
Mar 2019 151
Feb 2019 118
Jan 2019 103
Quantity Hens and types Egg Color
3 Orpington cream to light brown
1 Brahmas cream to light brown
3 Rhode Island Reds cream to light brown
5 Plymouth Barred Rock cream to light brown
1 Amereaucana light green
3 Leg Horns White
3 Wyandotte Cream to speckled brown
Up Next
2 Amereaucana Light Green
1 Maran Dark Brown
1 Brahma/Wyandotte mix ?
1 Silkie/Leghorn mix ?
Sunday, February 10, 2019
Saturday, February 9, 2019
Saturday Check of the Goats!
While at the HHS Family Farm the young goats are beginning to get around.
Friday, February 8, 2019
Thursday Feb 7
We have 12 nesting boxes and the chickens fight for the use of one.
We cleaned some of the chicken boxes and replace the hay with wood shavings. Guess what they like best.
We cleaned some of the chicken boxes and replace the hay with wood shavings. Guess what they like best.
Monday, January 28, 2019
Update:
Picked up a couple of chicks at the feed store today to round out our flock. Picked up two Marans and two Easter Eggers. The Maran chicken is known for its dark brown eggs and the Easter Egger is known for either blue or green eggs.
Sunday, January 27, 2019
New batch of chicks
Wednesday 1/23 First chick to hatch was from a blue egg (Amauracan) suspect father to be one of the Brahmas.
Thursday 1/24 Three other eggs hatched last night. One from a brown egg (Brahma) father appears to be a Brahma as well. Other two were small white eggs. Momma's are Leghorn
father appears to be Boy George our Silkie. Both chicks look like they are wearing Tuxedo's.
Friday 1/25 Last day of Quarter/Semester - Waffle Day - Chicken Video due. Last night the last of the eggs hatched. This guy was in distress. Somehow the egg was cracked not from his pecking. Started to dry out. Did an emergency C section on the egg around 8 PM. Came in this AM to find the chick still alive but with egg glued to is wing/butt. Removed stuck shell, it had difficult time standing and when it fell could not roll back over. Wings are critical to their balance. Right wing was not working quite right. By the end of the day all was well.
Thursday 1/24 Three other eggs hatched last night. One from a brown egg (Brahma) father appears to be a Brahma as well. Other two were small white eggs. Momma's are Leghorn
father appears to be Boy George our Silkie. Both chicks look like they are wearing Tuxedo's.
Friday 1/25 Last day of Quarter/Semester - Waffle Day - Chicken Video due. Last night the last of the eggs hatched. This guy was in distress. Somehow the egg was cracked not from his pecking. Started to dry out. Did an emergency C section on the egg around 8 PM. Came in this AM to find the chick still alive but with egg glued to is wing/butt. Removed stuck shell, it had difficult time standing and when it fell could not roll back over. Wings are critical to their balance. Right wing was not working quite right. By the end of the day all was well.
Wednesday, January 2, 2019
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