It has been a couple years since we got our chickens. While they are still laying a tolerable amount each day I can tell they are slowing down. I got the idea of getting a couple replacements about a month ago but it seemed like way too much with everything going on planning and plantingwise. However the children have really been clamoring for more baby animals, chicks especially. So yesterday it was raining. I decided it would be a good day for a drive. I took out all our chick supplies and after dropping Proeun off at work we began our journey.

To Anoka Ramsey Feed and Seed. It’s not too far past the sprawl, actually right on the edge of it and about 40 minutes from our house. For those in the cities it has been the key for keeping a connection with the country. They have become the spot for chicks and baby bunnies and plants for all kinds.

Back behind the old barn they keep adult chickens, geese and ducks. This is where we got our chickens 2 years ago and have been very happy with them.

Here’s Two picking out one from a mixed group of chicks and ducks.

The children were very disappointed that bunnies were not on the shopping list.

We brought a box to transport our chicks in. Two wanted to hold the box all the way home. I knew there was no hope for a nap after getting those chicks in the house, but I needed a break so I went to take a nap. I knew I should have made the kids put the chicks in their home before I laid down but I was exhausted. When I woke-up I didn’t see any chicks. I asked Two where they were. He said, “they are in their ship.” I thought he meant the box we brought them back in .

I was wrong. I am so glad we selected chicks 2-3 weeks old rather then the day olds we originally planned on. The chicks have been real troopers but I do have to remind the children to put them down frequently for a break and water. When we picked Proeun up last night 2 chicks came with. Proeun said, “you didn’t bring the chicks did you?”

Two has been really working on being responsible, cleaning up after them and keeping them safe. I told Proeun when we move to the farm we probably better try to have some baby animals every year.

Two kept saying, “I can’t believe I have a baby chick.”

One of the hardest things about farming on rented land is having to maintain two properties. I love being home and long for days that we can just be in our own home. I can’t wait until our farm and home are in the same place! For the past couple weeks the only time we have all been home together is at night and when it is raining. Last year we tried growing things in our backyard but decided it was too hard to maintain both.

However we still have strawberries we planted several years ago. It is only about 7 plants but enough to get a taste. Normally we have to compete with the rabbits. So seeing alot of rabbits around I haven’t even been looking for strawberries. In the meantime our weeds have been coming up and the yard is growing. Finally last night Proeun came home from work and mowed at 9:00 just to get something done. It is supposed to start raining this afternoon and through the weekend so we had to get something done. That is when he discovered a wealth of strawberries. It was dark already so it was picking strawberries by flashlight.

Here’s the children eating their stash.

When living on a single income with 3 children and a 4th on the way, while farming and trying to save money for land there are some skills that are really important. Being able to survive and be content on a little, or at least much less then the mainstream culture tells us is necessary (otherwise known as frugality) and knowing how to fix and make things yourself (in men this is known as the handyman).

Garrison Keillor wrote an essay called, The Book of Guys, in it he writes a list of his strengths and weaknesses–

Useful Things I Can Do
Be nice
Make a bed
Dig a hole
Write books
Sing alto or bass
Read a map
Drive a car

Useful Things I Can’t Do
Chop down big trees and cut them into lumber or firewood
Handle a horse, train a dog, or tend a herd of animals
Handle a boat without panicking others
Throw a fastball, curve or slider
Load, shoot and clean a gun. Or bow and arrow. Or use either of them, or a spear, net, snare, boomerang, or blowgun to obtain meat
Defend myself with my bare hands.

While frugality is not on his list as a useful thing i am sure he intended it. I am happy to announce that my husband can do all but three things on the list–sing alto or bass, throw a fast ball, etc. (but he can shoot baskets), and handle a horse, etc, (yet, but that is on our list of things to learn).

And you can add to that list, fix a dryer and oven. For a total of $127.13 in parts my husband was able to fix both wayward appliances in one morning. Maybe the nesting instinct is getting to him too and the desire to wrap things up before the baby comes is growing. So what else would you do on a rainy morning, but fix stuff around the house. Yes I am so thankful for my handyman! Note I took a picture of him working but since he was still in his pajamas he vetoed its addition to the blog.

A few days ago we noticed birds displaying some very interesting behavior in our field.

It would fan out its wings revealing a reddish colored back.

And sort of wobble around.

At times it would flatten itself almost completely out on the ground.

It was really quite the act. I had seen these birds in a neighbor’s field last year doing the same act. Actually we are now farming in that same field. I did some research and discoverd it was a killdeer trying to lead predators away from its nest. Earlier this year I noticed the birds again, but assumed they must have their nest in one of the neighboring cover crop fields. I didn’t think that recently the fields had been mowed by our farm manager and the birds were still there doing their act.

Today Proeun was weeding between our broccoli when he discovered the nest.

Of course I wanted to show it to the children but was a little hesitant to say the least. Two is very very interested in animals of all kinds. At times it is like he can’t help but reach out and touch them. So this will be a good learning experience for him. Earlier in the day Two was scolding Avril for abandoning a worm in need of help he said, “we have to help animals, we have to help God take care of animals.” He did save that worm. Now we just have to keep an eye not necessarily on him but the younger children, especially once the baby birds pop out.

My bird book says they nest mid-April through mid-May so these little babies are a little late. The book also says that the babies won’t fly until they are 20-30 days old.

I feel a great deal of responsibility for wild animals that our human policies and behaviors disrupt, even if we mean well as in the case of organic farming. Luckily it seems like Two has a similar idea, now we just have to see how things pan out.

In any case we read in the bird book about the behavior or trying to lure predators away from their eggs but we experienced it.