Quick Update on Lilly

At the end of July I posted on Lilly being attacked, She was in really bad shape but I use a really bizarre method of doctoring on her.  I let nature take care of most of it.  I just wanted to give a brief photo update of her now that all is well.



You know she is all better when you pick her up and hear “wracccccccck” that really weird squawk she makes.  Then she just sits there and lets you pet her, loving every minute of it.  Alyssa (a little angel from church) petted a chicken for the first time you can see Alyssa was concerned and needed help deciding to really touch her.  Lilly was herself and let everyone pet her, you can even touch her beak and she just sits there. 
She takes the fear out of petting a chicken for the first time.

How do you know if you are accepted as a farmer?

Growing up when I went to the co-op with my Uncle Hooley, he was treated as a regular there.  That told me they recognized him as a farmer; it was only a hobby for him, he was a welder for DuPont.  He passed away earlier and in his eulogy, in addition to be being a grandfather, dad, etc, he was called a farmer.  Again showing me he was accepted as others as a farmer.
1-1/2 years ago, when I began Rosebriar Farm I purchased my first feed and supplies at Tractor Supply because of their location.  I asked another hobby farmer at work if there was a local store to get cheaper supplies.  He referred me to Cagle’s, it is in Bryant but I pass it on my way home but had never really paid attention to the store.
On a much smaller scale than my Uncle Hooley, I had that first accepted farmer feeling a little while ago.  I stopped by the local feed store. 

Cagle's Feed & Farm Inc

31245 Al Highway 71

Bryant, AL 35958

256-597-3372

As I parked a young man asked what I needed, I told him and my truck was loaded before I made it into the store.  Since I do not carry cash, I handed the gentleman a debit card, and believe it or not, I actually had money in the bank.  He asked debit and I said Yes.  The card would not run, he asked if he could run it as credit because they had been having trouble with the machine.  When he ran the card as credit it still would not work.  He then opened a ticket book and began writing, as he explained the machine must not be working and he would just put the feed on a ticket.  He said you can just pay it the next time you are in here.  I told him several times how much I appreciated it.  His only response was that is how we take care of our customers.
Like a little child, as soon as I was far enough away to get cell reception, I call Jen and said “I believe I have been accepted as a farmer”.

What a handsome fellow

 
 


I would like to take the opportunity to introduce you to Mr. Darcy; he is a Japanese Black tail Bantam. Not only is he beautiful, but so sweet. All of the other roosters are jealous of his tail.  He seems quite proud of it himself.

Unlike most of my chickens he is very photogenic.  He will sit wherever you want him for a picture.  Here are a few photos from a photo shoot we had the other day.

The picture below is an example of how wonderful he is he sat there and looked straight into the camera. 


 


My wife has convinced me to step out and join a "linky" party and signed me up.  My house isn't full of barnyard decorations, but you don't need it when you have the real thing.  I am joining the "Barnyard Bash" @ Happier than A Pig in Mud.

My how quickly they grow up…..

Here are a few then and now pictures of the animals around the farm.


Hamlet at one week; old (Christmas 2009)...


Hamlet in the Spring...




These were the pics of the goats e-mailed to me when I asked about each of the fellows before purchase.


THAT WAS THEN, THIS IS NOW:

Hamlet and Romeo having a shoving match.

Look at those horns (Romeo)! Maestro has no horns, he was disbudded (the horns were stopped from growing at just weeks old).



Hamlet now weighs about 75 pounds and can lift that or more with his nose.


 

Maestro and Romeo working climbing on the bush hog.
While they are growing up, they are more funny to watch now.

“Do right because it is right, not because you are compelled to.” James Warren

I am a graduate of South Pittsburg High School, class of 1989 and EVERY morning we heard the above quote until Mr. Warren retired at end of the first semester of my senior year.  Well my neighbor just recently did just that as my dad offer to pay for the replacement chickens and turkey fresh food feast of Wishbone.  Here is what I purchased in the designed chicken category I lost a couple of frizzle bantams and replaced them with Japanese Black Tail Bantams.  We bought a rooster and a hen just under a year old and some chicks
along with a couple of Aracuna chicks, if they are hens they will lay green eggs.  I also purchased a young bronze turkey (3-4 months) about the same age as the one I lost. 
Incase you are wondering about Lilly; she has no signs of infection, no more maggots, and is eating and drinking normally and most importantly when I open her cage (still in isolation) she meets me with a squawk as she always has.  When he was in the worst shape she would not squawk when picked up which was really out of character for her.  She loves to be held and petted but is vocal.

How fresh should chicken be?

I have often heard it said that fresh food is the much better than processed food that has bee in a package for no telling how long.  Where now I raise the question of how fresh is too fresh?  If you travel up the road from me you will find a young lady, who likes fresh chicken…VERY fresh.  As a child I bet you were told to “clean your plate” and if you have children I bet you have also made that statement. 
This is a case where she did not “clean her plate” and the Jones’ household is so glad. 
The young lady I’m speaking of is Wishbone, a dog my dad rescued from the pound.  She did eat several chickens and a young turkey but she left Lilly severely injured. 
Lilly is a feather footed bantam, who has a great demeanor, you can pick her up and hold her, without being pecked.  She will patiently sit on eggs for the required 21 days and protect the new chicks until they are ready to live on their own. 
Having been an EMT, I have worked on a few people.  I have doctored on dogs and cats in my ALMOST 40 years, but since the establishment of Rosebriar Farm, I have had to learn to doctor on chickens.  I by no means consider myself an expert but if you have many animals a trip to the vet for everything is not affordable. 


Here are some picture of where Wishbone attacked Lilly and the areas where Brad and I, have had to try to keep Lilly from getting infections that could eventually kill her.  We must be doing ok because Lilly is getting better and I getting back to her friendly self. 

New on the Farm

Last August Jen posted [Just Look!] on Fiddle Dee Dee, where she shared with you about my father-in-law getting me a female Beagle, Sasha.

She has also posted  {Talkin' Turkey} where you can see the highlight of Winston’s (Jen’s male Beagle) day is chasing turkeys.  Well he obviously chased more than turkeys because last night Sasha checked into the Jones Labor and Delivery ward.

She was given a clean crate, clean towels, and a little classical (soothing) music, and the lights were turned down.  I will now share photos of her three little ones.