Cream Brabanter

Here's a Cream Brabanter chick. This rare breed originated in the historic region of Brabant which straddles the Netherlands and Belgium. Like the Spitzhauben it also has a crest, but additionally has a muff (beard). It is relatively unknown outside of Europe, and is not recognized by the American Standard of Perfection. They lay white eggs.

Return of the Crop Circle

You may have wondered what's happened to my crop circles project. Well, it's a little embarrassing. You see, the red clover I planted and watered didn't get very big. This is what five months produced. I've been told it grows waist high around here. I'm not sure what this says about our situation. Right now I'm supposed to be mowing and laying it down according to Fukuoka. Instead I'm just planting into it.

Fearing not much nitrogen got fixed by these miniscule plants, I decided to try the Three Sisters planting. We make lots of great compost from our chicken manure, so I built 18" mounds of it 5 feet apart. Don't rack your brain trying to follow my druid geometry. I attempted to line them up with the brutal afternoon sun for maximum shade.

Into each mound, I planted four Oaxacan Green Dent corn seeds. Dent corn, which is more starchy than sweet, is better suited to our dry climate so close to Mexico. We intend to grind it into cornmeal.

Yes, it's really green. It's beautiful stuff. I think Sam I Am would concur, and the Ameraucanas. And for fun, some digital manipulation.

Critter-Proofing the Coop Part One

Today Farmer Rick began trenching around the part of the coop that we will finish first (in order to soon get the ever-growing chicks out of our bathtub).

There sure is a lot of digging in homesteading! --Farmer Rick

We are using 4" x 4" welded wire panels and cutting them to fit. They come in 20 foot long sections, but we cut them down to 5 foot sections to fit in our vehicle. Some people around here call this hog panel, however at the farm store where we purchased it they told us you only call the 6" x 6" hog panel, and this stuff "just panel". It's secured to the rim joist with fence staples. Bailing wire ties are securing them together at the joins, using a brick tie tool. In part two we will use the ties to attach chicken wire over this.

Looks good when it turns the corner.

Because we are building the coop as we have time and money, we must secure underneath and across the foundation for the part we will finish and use first.

Appenzeller Spitzhauben

This week I hope to photograph and share the rare breed chicks with you. Since they are wiggly balls of fluff, this is no easy task.

Here's an Appenzeller Spitzhauben chick. This breed comes from Switzerland, and is actually their national bird. (I believe Benjamin Franklin suggested a turkey as ours, but was ruled out in favor of the eagle. Note that politically Switzerland has been know for peace, and the U.S. for war...) They were named after the local lace bonnets worn by the ladies of Appenzellerland as apart of their traditional dress. As is beginning to be seen in this chick, the breeds' most recognizable feature is its forward crest.

There are very few in America, and they have not yet been admitted into the American Standard of Perfection. They are mainly raised for their white eggs. I can tell these chicks are already full of personality!

Curving Coop Extensions

Here you can see the beginnings of the curved floor joist extensions on the coop. They are attached with joist hangers and corner brackets for extra strength.

The girls came up from the creek to see the construction. Boy are they going to be mad when they find out Farmer Rick is building this for another group of girls!


Ruzina and Georgia at their posts, one on each of my knees. Georgia is a Sicilian Buttercup. According to the Illustrated Guide to Chickens, this breed is from the Italian island of Sicily, having come across from Tripoli. It is thought they originated from the drier climate of northern Africa where they developed the cup-like comb to hold rainwater and become drinking receptacles for each other.

Stride Rite for Chickens

Compared with our first flock (from a different hatchery) two years ago, we've had some problems with this one requiring more of my energy and time. Since my last posting we lost a Buff Laced Polish and Silver Laced Polish, both of which went downhill within a day's time.

The swollen eye of the Salmon Faverolle has since burst. She's been treated and separated with this Cuckoo Marans born with deformed feet. The hatchery is sending the unfulfilled portion of the order with replacements in April, and suggested euthanizing the latter two. I'm willing to work with both of them, and if they cannot be integrated back with the flock they can go live with Teddy Bird in the CWD (Chickens With Disabilities) coop.


At first I thought the Marans just had spraddled legs, but taping them together made no difference, because her crooked, rubbery feet offered no stability. I've since spread her toes apart and taped them down as they should look, and to straighten her feet I've taped half a q-tip from her middle toe up her leg. Although this is forcing her to walk on her toes without bending her ankle, at least she can walk now. I can only hope with nutrition and time everything will grow stronger and straighter.

I will make adjustments every few days, and see how she progresses.

April's Fool or How to Win and Influence Others with a Vintage Rooster Brooch

How appropriate: I started April Fools Day with an automated call from Sears reminding me a repairman was coming to install the dishwasher part (it was after all, a Wednesday). What part? There is no part! I did not schedule that poor repairman to install a toe panel!

Instead, I had to run to town for various errands and decided to wear a fun, vintage rooster brooch I got on eBay as sort of a St. Patrick's day sparkle. (I will point out he does have a green butt). The tail rhinestones actually wiggle when you move!

Half way to town I happened to notice my vehicle's inspection sticker had expired...four months ago! Oops! This is what happens when you work from home and rarely drive anywhere. I joined my coffee clache for a cup and everyone admired the sparkly bird.

Then I hit the farm store, where he was much admired by the counter ladies. After I rung up $100 worth of feed, I realized my checkbook, credit card, and identification were all laying on my desk an hour away! No problem, anyone with a rooster brooch can call back later with a credit card. Next stop, the pharmacy at the big chain grocery. My poultry bling sparked in the assistant's eyes. Sure you can take your expensive prescription and phone us later with payment!

Over at the hardware store it's all men. They do not notice the brooch. I have never seen this manager before, and I'm explaining how I need to pick up a bunch of hardware for the chicken coop Farmer Rick is building and I have absolutely no form of payment or ID. His brow is starting to furrow when my friend, Dickie, who introduced me to rare breed chickens in the first place, gives me a hug and says to put it on his account. The manager smiles and says, no that won't be necessary, just call us later with payment!

I did not feel like pressing my luck with a State Inspections garage who may not have any affinity for chickens, and passed several law enforcement vehicles on my way home without trouble. Later, I called everyone with my credit card number and thanked them profusely for their trust, which I realize would have been impossible in a big city, or perhaps without my rooster brooch!