Van Cleave Ranch and Hatchery

Van Cleave Ranch and Hatchery A small hatchery focused on rare, endangered and hard to find breeds. We strive for the goal of APA SOP
See us for dependable quality.

Willing to meet in Abilene when in the Big Country Area

Farm and Hatchery are closed to the public.

As you can see o haven’t been posting much lately. I greatly appreciate all of you and all of your support. However, at ...
05/04/2026

As you can see o haven’t been posting much lately. I greatly appreciate all of you and all of your support. However, at this time, I’m not going to be hatching anything this year. It’s a lot of work, a lot of trouble and even just feeding them all is a lot of trouble. Those feed bags are not getting any lighter an I have to carry several out there for each time I feed them. So I’m cutting back on the number of chickens. I’ve got some empty pens that I’d love to find some show quality silkie pullets and also some show quality self blue ameraucanas. But other than that, I think I might be done. At least for now. I can still post about the horses from time to time they are still growing. The mustangs are 2 now and looking beautiful. And Thunder thinks they do as well.

When what to my wandering eyes did appear…. 3 brown eggs in a nest of 8 tiny reindeer. No, but the silkie pen nest which...
12/21/2025

When what to my wandering eyes did appear…. 3 brown eggs in a nest of 8 tiny reindeer. No, but the silkie pen nest which has only four silkies and they are all roosters!!! 😳😱

Take a guess where these eggs came from???

Yes I need to clean the pen. But that will need to wait until after Christmas.

Meet Buch! Sweetest lovable rooster ever! My best moment with Buchanan Belgians. Ft Worth Stock Show! Susan, I need more...
08/11/2025

Meet Buch! Sweetest lovable rooster ever!
My best moment with Buchanan Belgians. Ft Worth Stock Show! Susan, I need more!

Buchanan Belgians

You know that movie “Holes”.Well that’s about what ive tirned this place into. And that’s just a few. This summer has ...
08/10/2025

You know that movie “Holes”.
Well that’s about what ive tirned this place into. And that’s just a few. This summer has been so strenuous. I remember my Mom always saying, “What doesn’t kill you will make you stronger.” Well, let me tell you. There’s a fine line between getting stronger and death.

This! But I’ve never seen a fox out here. That would make sense though.
07/19/2025

This! But I’ve never seen a fox out here. That would make sense though.

07/18/2025

And with each day that I spend so much time on this; I think about the man who build bigger barns. 😱

Long post alert. I haven’t updated like I should be doing. All summer thus far has been spent on trying to build new bre...
07/18/2025

Long post alert. I haven’t updated like I should be doing.

All summer thus far has been spent on trying to build new breeder pens.
It doesn’t look like much. It’s not pretty. But it’s going to serve the purpose. So far has remained standing and covered in all these storms and winds. Aside from the twins building the roof for me, I’ve done the rest all myself. 9 posts set in concrete. It’s going to take a lot to pull all that up!!!!

Today working on adding the corrugated plastic panels from the last construction that landed in the field. Putting them on top of rolls of composite that the boys put up. We used two rolls and ran out. Took them the whole week for their part. I can’t last very long roofing due to going up and down a ladder in the heat. Plus I’m afraid to get on top of it. Securing the bottom has taken most of the time.

1. Welded wire panels wrapped in chicken wire.
2. I had used some concrete along the bottom edge before laying the hardware cloth.
3. Hardware cloth above ground wrapped up the edges of the chicken wire and zip tied.
4. Then leftover logs on top of the hardware cloth.
5. Considering putting wood inside the bottom edges of each pen.
6. Motion detector lights on the corners and security camera inside.

Those little varments don’t know who they are dealing with here.
If they are determined to get in, they are going to have to work at it.

I want to plant marigolds in the area between the inner and outer logs.

Edited to add eggplant. It’s the one I couldnt remember. Black Diamond watermelonHales Best CantelopeMintSageBasilOrega...
05/18/2025

Edited to add eggplant. It’s the one I couldnt remember.

Black Diamond watermelon
Hales Best Cantelope
Mint
Sage
Basil
Oregano
Lavender
Cilantro
Rosemary
Tomatoes
Zucchini
Yellow squash
Turnips
Cucumber
Okra
Collard Greens
Brussel Sprouts
Butter Lettuce
Broccoli
Cabbage
Eggplant
And one more, which will be a surprise as i cant rememberedr

I may have over planted for the area.

And on the otherside- fresh eggs as I’m rebuilding breeding pens.

They grow so fast!
04/24/2025

They grow so fast!

04/24/2025

Looking for signs of life and watching it grow is always amazing ! And addictive!

Address

Tuscola, TX
79562

Opening Hours

Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 9pm
Friday 9am - 9pm
Saturday 9am - 9pm
Sunday 1pm - 5pm

Telephone

+13256653057

Website

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