The Rowdy Palace

The chicks moved into their new palace last night. We couldn't find anyone who would part with their dryer or refrigerator boxes so we taped some together. They have a bit more space, but still not enough to make the short flights they are itching to try.

Many are asserting their personalities these days and growing so fast. Most of the fluff on their wings has feathered our but their bodies are still covered in softness. The one checking out the camera is the dominant one, the most rambunctious, and is likely a rooster. He provides endless entertainment with his curiosity and willingness to peck anything. We've been trying to train them to eat out of our hands, to tame them. Consequently they'll peck anything that comes into their space.

First Sprouts

First sprouts! We've got carrot tops, lettuce hearts and onions and chives growing. We're waiting a few weeks to plant the broccoli, kale, collards, and cabbage so that our plants don't get too leggy before we can move them outside. These are the first ones. The sweet potato put out a few roots and we're waiting for the top part, the 'slip' to sprout. The carrot is just for fun, but the lettuce hearts produced a tiny little salad, from something we otherwise would only have composted.

These are Clear Dawn onion sproutlings from Fedco seeds. They took a bit longer than expected to germinate, at temps of 70-75 degrees F in the daytime and 60 at night.

"(104 days) The best open-pollinated storage onion, Clear Dawn was bred out of Copra by biodynamic market growers and continues to be improved by Turtle Tree Seed. Dawn is slightly smaller than Copra with thicker necks, darker bronze skins and the same great storage capability."

Coldframe Numero Uno

Our first coldframe at Sweetpea Hill Farm... Our neighbor stopped by last week to ask if we'd like her old storm windows; they are perfect for a set of coldframes or a greenhouse! This one is 3.5' by 5.5' and is heavy but the glass comes out and we can move it over beds to warm them up, or just to start seedlings, or to grow lettuces! Today we'll clear the last of the woodpile which is currently sitting in the sunniest spot, then move the coldframe onto the site.

Fuzzies

The chicks are getting lively! Now that they can stand up for more than a few seconds without wheeling over and then taking a quick nap the chicks are quite a rambunctious little bunch. They seem quite content in their bright little box, but they also love it when we take a couple out and let them run around in our laps. They still snooze a lot in a big pile most of the day, but I love coming home to hear the sound of cheep cheep up in the loft. Here's another video and some pics of our fuzzball gang:

A chick's eye view

Having a little snooze

Standard huddle.

Terrace garden

We got a bit of snow in the storm, but not enough to warrant the hype! Everything closed early Wednesday afternoon. The sun is shining now and it will likely be melted by the end of the day in the warm sun. This photo shows the steps we built down our hillside in the back of the house and the terrace garden. I will reinforce the rock walls with wire and concrete either in spring (if I find time) or later in the fall after crops die back. Right now we don't have enough good stones on the property for a proper terrace but eventually it will be the herb, sorrel and strawberry bed. Its the least sunny spot in the garden so in the plans we moved the blueberries to a better location. The grapes will grow up an arbor which we will build over the stairs. Hops will grow up the posts of the deck.

Chicks!

They've hatched! And still hatching! Seven are out of the shell and running around like mad-chicks, peeping here and there. One is close to emerging with a ring pecked circumferentially, and the final three have tiny pips in their shells. That's all eleven. I know, don't count my chickens before they hatch. They're still wet and weak, making lots of noise with short bursts of energy and then sinking slowly down to sleep for 15 or 20 seconds. The first two were very exciting and led the pack by a few hours, then the next two seemed to take their time and struggle a bit. The last few seemed to hatch very quickly. We put a camera in the corner of the incubator and its product is a cute video showing the birth of the second chick. Lots more where that came from! If you have trouble with it, let us know. Enjoy the show:

These two raced to the finish, with 'Triangle Man' in the back losing out by a long shot. They look so scrawny when they're wet.

Another video with all of the chicks (almost)!

Emerging

When I woke up this morning I could hear the sweet 'cheep cheep' of chicklets inside their eggs. I raced home this afternoon to check on their progress and it looks like 5, maybe 6 have started to peck their way out of the shell. They're working hard, then taking a rest. I don't know how long it will take but we've got a 'brooder' set up with a light, some starter feed and water. They can live for a while, 24-48 hours, on what's left of the yolk inside of them but then will need to start eating and drinking water. They'll remain in the incubator to dry off and be warm for the first few hours, then we'll transfer them to the brooder.

Magical Peas and Garlic

Peas! Spring is almost here. Each January I start to get garden antsy and fill a few potfuls of soil with pea and bean seeds. This year I threw in some garlic cloves with the peas for them to climb. The garlic tastes so fresh and delicious in a broth or sprinkled on top of salads. Even if I don't get any peas the tendrils and shoots are divine, just like a crunchy garden pea. The beans are growing up their strings toward the rafters and are in a bit of a straggly stage, so are less photogenic and didn't make a photo.

I organized my tin of last year's seeds today, based on family and when they'll be planted. Hopefully we'll find some rich soil for the coldframe so I can get some greens and cold-weather crops started under lights and move them outdoors. Compost and soil will be our biggest challenge this first year. Nights are still in the teens but inside a coldframe I'm sure it will heat up quickly - I can already feel the sun's warmth!

Planning the Garden

More planning the garden today. I did manage to trim down a few unruly existing shrubs, represented below by the red splotches next to the compost. My seed order should arrive soon and I'm ready to start the first seeds: onions and celery 12 weeks before the last frost. I'm having trouble deciding whether to till or not to till. The soil is pretty hard-packed and it would be great to loosen the holes for the fruit trees and shrubs before they get into the ground - as well as the enormous garden. I think it will depend a bit on whether the spring is a wet one, and whether we can safely work the soil before the fruit trees arrive in early April. Ambitious, I know.

Tonight the eggs come out of the automatic turner and they'll spend the weekend without turning, settling into position to better peck their way out. I haven't candled in a few days but will do it again tonight to check in. Just a short post, and back to planning the beautiful garden!

Hatching the Chooks

These are the Momma's and the Poppa Chicken. They are Rhode Island Reds from Fairhaven, a town about an hour south of us near New Bedford. I drove down just about 2 weeks ago to pick up the eggs from a really nice family. They are exceptionally excited about their chooks and have a young son who may like to borrow the incubator, so we may work out a trade over the years. He has a lovely rooster (if roosters can be considered so) and I got a good photo of him strutting his stuff.

The eggs went into the incubator late Monday night just over two weeks ago. We've got a Hovabator incubator which holds 48 eggs - although that would be just too many chickens for us so we're only trying for a dozen. The eggs need to be kept at 101.5 degrees (measured at the top of the eggs) for 21 days. The yellow plastic bit into which I'm settling the eggs is an automatic turner, which slowly rotates them so that we don't need to open or touch the eggs with our oily fingers 3 times each day.

This photo shows an egg being 'candled'. We hold it up to a pinpoint of bright light in a dark room to visualize the embryo. On day 6 you can just make out the tiny embryo in the bottom left corner of the egg. Today it would be a bit more difficult to see as the chick takes up most of the space in the shell and is more opaque. I can see their hearts beating though and when I gently roll the egg they rustle around a bit to get more comfortable. They should hatch in 5 days, on Monday night so make sure to check back for photos and a video of hatching chicks!