I'm back up on my soap/chicken box today.

I know, I should have more patients with people but I admit it gets to me when people do not seem to be proud of where they are living, not supportive of their local community, neighbors, and businesses or yes farms. This is honestly something that I do not come across very often but the curmudgeons are still out there, waiting to make it obvious we are not worthy of their reclusive fleeting moments in time. Like I said 99% of the people are wonderful but that one, which is always the same one (by coincidence?), just gets my feathers in a twist!
Thank you to all the happy supportive, caring friends, farmers, teachers, chefs, any one who has supported us, other local farms, neighbors and community. As for that one, some day maybe he will come around, step outside his fenced in box and realize what a beautiful expansive variety of friends and businesses that could be a rewarding resource to tap. Is it the need to push anything or one away for fear of being over shadowed; lack of interest, personality, sense of humor? This all stems from an email that was received this morning. YES, we are Famous! Ahem a different email. Only once have I been requested, via email, to remove a person from our mailing list; by now I'm sure you can guess it was Mr. 1%. Imagine, the nerve? It is done, Mr. 1% will no longer be included in our farmy excitement (yes farmy is a word, now), stories and fun updates, his loss. My secret will go with me to the mucky barn, (unless you ask me) I will never divulge Mr. 1%'s secret, sad identity, in are local area. Liza, you know who he is, just think about it.
There, I feel much better, now let's just hope no one mentions "soy" to me today.

Okay now onto less serious things like our Birdie Updates on the farm! We have lots of eggs; the girls are working like crazy. The chickens are laying blue, green, olive, tan, brown, terracotta and of course white eggs. I'm so darn proud of our hens! I swear those girls are working so hard that now and then (mostly all the time) a few fall asleep in their baskets laying an egg: all sprawled out, wings flopped over the edge of the basket, snoring away, spoiled little brats.Speaking of Spoiled, Freebird is on vacation. Freebi and 6 of his select hens are in a very large private suite in the barn. Can you here the music; chicka bow, chicka bow bow, gonna do a little dance make a little …… Freebi and his girls are Easter Eggers and Americana's, which lay those beautiful blue and green eggs. We have had requests for Americana/EE hatching eggs and chicks. When I told this to Free he was all over that. So in about 10 days those eggs will be available for sale and for those who requested chicks the incubators will be loaded!
Duck, Duck, Goose or I should say Gretel, has been faithfully laying her eggs for this springs gosling hatch. Hansel dutifully follows her around, standing guard, protecting her from any other bird that may wattle, zig zag or stumble to close to his Gretel. She has just two things on her mind, where to lay the next egg and what can she beg off of me at the back door. Gretel loves to munch greens, celery, tomatos from my hand while I gently stroke her with my other hand. She is such a sweet gentle sole. Hansel, so far has mangled a chicken (Gladys) and a duckling (one of my speckled twins) to death because they were in Gretel's nesting area… Yikes. Now we keep her nesting area closed off from the main barn to prevent future "accidents"; Gretel and Hansel have their own egress to the outdoor, hopefully no one wanders in through that doorway.
We have our own "Romancing the Egg", "Jewel of the Turkey", "Indiana Cecil and The Kingdom of the Crystal Turkey Egg"; every spring it’s the same old thing, when and where will a turkey egg turn up? Finally it happened this week, not just one new egg but two! Yes two new turkey eggs appeared in a pile of duck eggs, well hidden (or so she thought) in the main barn, what luck. Clarice our youngest hen finally started laying her first teeny tiny turkey eggs. She is such tame sweet girl; who was raised with ducklings, obviously thought she needed to store he tiny first eggs in the duck nest. Luckily for me the nest is in the main barn, easy to find (three foot pile of chips rearranged, neatly every day) and in an area that can be closed off while she broods her babies'. It don’t get no better then that with a Heritage Bourbon Red aka freaking wild turkey! Meanwhile, back home on the range; I'm still searching for Clover and Whisky's eggs or the spot where they could possibly pick to lay them, hide them, store them, darn wild girls, sigh.
Now for the ducks, we have tons of duck eggs, in the incubators, in the fridge, in the nests; be patient grasshoppers, your ducklings are ducklinging (developing). As for the extra fertile eggs, starting Monday, they will be for sale! If you feel the need to hatch your own and have not reserved your eggs yet, please give me a jingle in the jungle, they will be going fast.
Special update, our little special needs duckling we called Spn, has been placed in a home with a few of her sisters. Bruce and I have been so worried about her for months, watching over this poor little almost blind little duckling. Spn spent a lot of time in the barn unless I carried her outside for tub time in the duck pool. Then I would have to bring her back inside, placing her under a heat lamp to dry off. She is the best little girl who now is on a farm where we do not have to worry about her competing with 50 other ducks.
The Guinea's are coming, the guineas are coming, guinea keets that is. Our Guinea hens are laying eggs every day and yes they will be available for sale in about oh lets say 25 days! They are still the ugliest, craziest, birds that make the most ungodly noise and I LOVE Them. LOL
Well, this pretty much covers all the tips of the icebergs. Once again, Thanks for being supportive friends and customers, a little positive energy can go a long way!

p.s. don't forget we are selling at the Schenectady Farmers Market every other Sunday and yes once again at the infamous New Baltimore Summer Farmers Market. The NB Farmers Market is looking for guest appearances, such as Music during the market and Chef demonstrations. You all know who you are, come one and show us your stuff! (contact NBFM Mkt Mngr Hilary Schrauf 424-8701)