Rustic Red Poultry

02/04/2023

I’ve been soaking and sprouting wheat for my poultry feed for a few years now. It’s good to know zoo professionals do it too.

01/31/2023

Hoodie Day 45. Six degrees Fahrenheit and really not bad, with no wind. Illinois: Could be worse!

01/27/2023

Here’s a well-produced short video on sheep shearing, with a reference to the “slow fashion” movement. There are folks working to reduce the prevalence of cheap, throw-away fashion, and domestic fiber production is part of that effort.

We have so many people to thank for their contributions to our film, How to Shear Sheep & Why It's Important! Thank you to Isabella Rossellini, Executive Producer, and Jody Shapiro, Director of our sheep shearing film - you can watch the film here: https://livestockconservancy.org/resources/how-to-shear-a-sheep-and-why/

So much hard work and dedication went into the making of this film. Dr. Temple Grandin gave an amazing introduction to the ethical and humane handling of sheep for shearing. brilliant animal behavior knowledge and care. We’re especially grateful to Stephany Wilkes and Tabbethia Haubold for sharing their skilled knowledge of shearing with all of us. Thank you to Robin Lynde for hosting the shoot on the farm.

Watch and share this film with your communities 🐑

01/24/2023

Some of my White Dorkings for the 2023 season

01/05/2023

The Duck Area is a low-lying part of the pasture that drains a bit more slowly than the rest. This is where I place most of the pools for the waterfowl. I’ve also planted shrub willows and other native trees and shrubs that are well adapted to moist soil here. They provide shade in the summer and cover for the birds, even in winter. Shown are a pair of American Blue geese, who have a coop in this area, and Shetland ducks and Muscovy-Shetland crosses, who come here to bathe and hang out.

12/18/2022

When green forage is scarce, I try to add variety to my flock’s diet by mixing up what I call “Goose Cous” (even though it’s for all the birds). Sprouted wheat, soaked yellow peas, a concentrated protein pellet and some cole slaw mix from the clearance bin are what’s on the menu today.

12/10/2022

Here’s the new Beltsville Small White flock sire, Pale Face. He’s still just a kid.

12/07/2022

Guineas live a life of drama. This guy is waiting until dark to go in. He must be avoiding pecking order conflict.

10/20/2022

The first tree may look good, but the ripe fruit are over yonder. Turkey self-service. Beltsville Small White turkeys and American Persimmons

10/15/2022

The American Persimmons are ripening weeks earlier than previous years. Maybe it’s the combination of the hot summer and early frosts we’ve had. The poultry that hang out under the persimmons are getting a real treat right now. Usually, they taste so much underripe fruit (fooled by the orange color) that, by the time it’s ripe, they won’t try it.

10/14/2022

Commercial pie pumpkins left in the field. My poultry and sheep will sure enjoy them! Some of these are huge, which may be why they were left to rot.

09/27/2022

Happy to be buying pork from someone who cares for their pigs like I do for my birds!

09/14/2022

Here’s the ephemeral wetland created by the irrigation system in the field west of my poultry yard. The run off from the poultry shed creates a series of puddles that typically disappear within a day. The last pic shows the rain garden I recently planted with native wildflowers well adapted to this microclimate. Bees and butterflies will benefit from the flowers, and I will get to enjoy all the beauty! The wire cages are used to keep the birds from destroying the plants. They won’t be as visible when the plants fill out.

08/31/2022

These Muscovy-Shetland ducklings are turning out to be adorable!

08/24/2022

Just because I haven’t shown the Cotton Patch Geese for a while, here they are. I sent a group of young females off to a new farm this spring, leaving a big imbalance. Eight ganders and just two geese. Surprisingly, there were very few problems with this mix. The boys came to an understanding and just hung out with their buddies. It was telling the geese “No babies this year” that was difficult. Still, there are several young ganders who would like families of their own some day. If interested in making this historic American breed part of your flock, please email me.

08/14/2022

This is a test. I haven’t been able to post here for months but am trying again.

10/27/2021

A good rooster keeps watch while his lady friend eats. Russian Orloff gentleman, Wiley, is kept as a pet.

10/27/2021

FYI: I can’t access Messenger. Contact must be by email listed.

10/11/2021

The Saxony waterway is done. Look at what they’ve accomplished!😄

10/06/2021

The Saxony Corps of Engineers is working on a project in back of my house. Whenever it rains, they skip breakfast and run right over to the site. They’re devoted to their work. 😁😜

09/29/2021

Teenage troublemakers! Beltsville Small White turkeys
The gap in their tail fans is normal. Those feathers are the last to grow out.

09/27/2021

GUINEA KEET GIVEAWAY!!!

We’ve had around 70 keets hatch on pasture this season and most have survived and thrived. In order not to be overwhelmed by the critters, I’ve decided to give groups of the young guineas away to appropriate homes. The most recent hatch is around 6 weeks old now and ready to rehome. Guineas are very effective at controlling ticks and insects on a homestead. They must be able to free-range safely to do their job. Keets will be straight-run and must go in a group.

Please email inquiries, because my phone can’t download Messenger. (sonjasolomonson) & (gmail)

Inquiries will be vetted.

09/04/2021

Carmella and RH (top pic) produced some beautiful babies this year. Saxony ducks. RH is shown left in his eclipse plumage.

08/13/2021

First day for the new squash bug squad!

08/11/2021

We have squash bugs under control this year. Two Squash Bug Control Teams! Choose insectivores, not insecticides🙂

08/11/2021

August surprise! A new Squash Bug Control Team! Just when I thought we were done with babies, my helper found this mama turkey with new hatchlings in the weeds. This is a mixed group of guinea keets and Beltsville turkey poults.

07/27/2021

Pawpaws coming along. There are six on this young tree. There were a lot more, but young trees often drop fruit. These should ripen in September. Pawpaws are a native fruit with a mango-like flavor and custardy texture.

07/22/2021

Dog tired! Gus keeping the sweet corn patch safe from raccoons 🌽 🦝 🦝 🦝

07/19/2021

Survivors. Mama Beltsville and her guinea keets have survived several bouts of heavy rain, because they’ve been living in the pasture 24/7. I finally had to intervene and capture and coop them up for a few days, because Mama kept bedding down for the night in a potential flash flood area. Eight babies remain. She lost one to a torrential rain. The white patch on her back is from where I removed her worn saddle when I caught her. Think she might need another to protect her from aerial predators.

07/16/2021

Four plus inches of rain within 48 hours, making it 8-9 inches of rain on the farm so far this month. Pretty wet out here, but the apples and peaches are enjoying it. Not to mention the ducks!

07/08/2021

Sixteen bundles of turkey energy this year. Eight are still with their moms, but these guys are with the older group that have been “weaned”, and they’re running wild and getting into everything. Some other poultry folks who have tried heritage turkeys have told me “I’m not sure if turkeys are right for this farm”. I think what they really mean is turkeys can a be handful and are relatively hard to manage. Now that I’m getting arthritis, I’ve started to feel that way myself. I plan to downsize to just a few turkeys this fall. If you all know of any aspiring FFA students or older 4-H kids who need a project, send them my way.

07/08/2021

Gem marigolds are pretty little flowers. No more than an inch across with ferny foliage, they make a charming front of the border flower or ground cover. Wonder why I don’t see them at nurseries. Maybe it’s a licensing issue. I got these through Johnny’s Selected Seeds. These are Red Gem.

07/02/2021

Ducklings need niacin for motor development. Without enough niacin, they go lame and will sometimes give up and die. That why chick starter feed is not nutritious enough for ducklings without supplementation. Green peas are a good source of niacin. Bucky the Shetland duckling here is enjoying a nutritious snack of green peas and a splash in the pool at the same time. I call it “peaing in the pool”. 🙃😆

06/21/2021

Saxony duckling update: getting BIG!!

06/11/2021

Shetland duckling mealtime stampede

06/07/2021

The Shetland mama duck I can’t catch. She nested in the gooseberry patch. Clever girl!

05/30/2021

Saxony ducklings in their thicket

05/28/2021

Fifteen Saxony ducklings were hatched out of the one pair of Saxony ducks this spring. Credit goes to the three intrepid broody hens (2 Muscovy ducks and one Russian Orloff hen shown), who are doing their best to get along and share the space. It’s interesting to see the influence of the mamas on the babies’ temperaments. Even though they’re all full siblings, the oldest group of six are quite shy, while the younger nine are growing bold and sassy. The bio parents, in the last pic, share the nursery house at night, but have no interest in raising babies and are leaving it to the professionals.

05/27/2021

Guess I should wait to clean this pool. Occupied 🐸

05/26/2021

Party in the brooder! Last night there were 7 Beltsville turkey poults, 3 Saxony ducklings and one imperious White Dorking chick in attendance. The ducklings have gone back to the hen who sat on them until 2 days before hatch. She was happy to take them back. The rest will be placed with moms over the next few days.