Hello Darling Farm

05/29/2026

Let's be honest, shipping hatching eggs can be hit or miss-- this makes me so happy and recharges my soul!!

05/25/2026

🦨🦨Score Board👩‍🌾👩‍🌾

Skunk - 2 Hens 1 Rooster and countless Marsbars and Opal Eggs- 1 Human nose ruined

Holly- Tagged a skunk in the pouring rain... Then... Carried said skunk out of coop with nesting box (NC has no bag limit or season- may take said skunk legally)

🚨Refrained from getting sprayed... But may never regain a workable nose

🥚Also- carried eggs to house in two cardboard 30 egg flats... That disintegrated as I went up the stairs and dropped 60 eggs...

Good Gravy- going to bed after bath

05/15/2026

Beak & Feather Farm - Challenge Accepted .... Cleaned Biddy Barn!

I was a bit jealous after seeing Sheila's- work in her chick barn. Thanks for getting my ADHD brain back in check-

The Dust...the dander... Was getting too much! We utilize fans to help pull out during the mid day- we're still having crazy temperature gaps with it being chilly in the evenings.

These babies- are growing so fast! Mine have always been chunky monkies- but this year we switched to Kalmbach chick feed and wooh.... I really didn't think it would make that big of a difference...

But- good gravy it has...

Now if I could only train them not to kick it out in the floor that would be great.... Anyone have any tips?

Also- looks like I am buying some more hatching time brooders- overall, I like them... I like how lightweight they are -- But am I the only one that doesn't trust the automatic waterers... ?

If I could figure out a way to hang some rent a coop waterers that would be great- anyone do an alternative to that instead of using the watering system. Right now I'm using like chick waterers and grow out waterers in there but I'd love to give him a little bit more room.

We're headed toward a hot summer... So looking at getting one more window ac... Last season I have a fancy ductless split but it had electronic issue no one can fix. -

I'm just killing them. I did put external filters to help with the dust and dander... But looks like I maybe replacing them every year- I go in and I clean and vacuum all the dust and dander off of it almost everyday....

Oh... The woes of keeping baby chicks with clean air- But it's getting warmer and we'll be moving some of my grow outs out soon... They are fully feathered but I am always really hesitant about putting them out too soon...

Stress...equates to issues!

Happy Friday ... Ya!!

05/10/2026

Happy Mother's Day- from the free-range chaos crew!

May you have a few moments to yourself!

My secret is I just hide in the bathroom 🤣

All kidding aside...Can I tell you the last couple days have been the busiest of my entire life... Too blessed to be stressed

So if I seem a little bit frazzled you'll know why...

My darlings we know the dreams, stories, the magic wouldn't happen... If we didn't do our part- I raise a glass to all who raise lives-- we're in this thing together... Love ya😘

05/08/2026

Happy Fri-ddddddday!

Well- - when things hatch early we just roll with it....

These are some super cute legbars- multiple varieties...

We separate by hatching baskets- so this busy lady does not get confused.

Now- off to do the chores I have been putting off...

I have a give and take relationship with my chickens....

Just so you know they are the real boss. I work for them..😘

05/02/2026

Sad day on the farm

We lost our sweet "Momma-Martha." She was over 7 years old and a Black Copper Marans.... That is quite a milestone.

She was still laying eggs... Not as many as her flock mates.

Momma, although this picture doesn't show it was incredibly large and over the last few months she had been losing weight.

But, lately she had been going off by herself more and more. I knew in my heart it was coming. I did check her a few weeks ago to make sure that she didn't have mites or there was some other issue that was causing her to want to self-isolate.

Because we have such a big flock. I do twice a year treatments for mites and parasites on all of my breeders to prevent issues and at that time we always do health checks to make sure that there's nothing that might pop up later.

She was the daughter of my original flock from Cottage Hill- those boogers retained their dark coloration into their older years. So I've tried to do my due diligence and keep some of that line going because they are so special in the Marans world.

If you had the pleasure of receiving some of her eggs or babies, she had the most soulful eyes, and all of her offspring retain those beautiful eyes.

And while most people will look at her and say she was just a chicken.... She was the start of something amazing and will always carry a place in my heart.

04/17/2026

I'm not sure why I have to be one of those people that always has to do things the hard way..

Okay, maybe it's not the fact that I do it the hard way, but the fact that I'm frugal and I try to use what I have ... That make do or do without attitude..

I have been using the heaviest 6-ft table on the planet to hold my cabinet incubators.. (excuse my mess)

So every single time I had to move and clean it. I was having to move that heavy table and I'm talking About the old school 6-ft tables....

Some of you may be old enough to remember that those mothers were heavy...

So like before Christmas I ordered some movable racks- shelving.

They're supposed to be industrial and be able to hold like 250 lb per shelf.

So after months of it's sitting in my carport decided it was time. I needed to move some things and make some room... For something special..

(If you've picked up lately I might have told you so if you know... Ssshhh... Zip it).

Anywho... , back to the shelving unit. - If y'all didn't know it, I am one of those that's undiagnosed ADHD so I have squirrel brain ...

Now I can move my incubators... They are shelving with wheels and I can lock the wheels and I can get behind there and clean them like I need to...

Hallelujah! Sometimes it's the darn simplest things that make your life easier...

We could all use a little bit easier right now, couldn't we?

Stay out of trouble and keep hatching my friends!

04/14/2026

Well ....that was better than expected - when your trying to send all females- and one rooster- But they all end up as pullets.... Wooh... I'd call that a win

Well I think Spartan the Rooster is going to need a new name since he's a she 🤣Hello Darling Farm knocked it out the park selecting hens for me and did her best to help me finally select a rooster, but it just wasn't meant to be this round. 🤷‍♀️

Super thankful for the quick results from Knights Poultry and Lab LLC!

04/12/2026

Ahhh...we are so proud to be included - with all these amazing breeders and eggs-