Showing posts with label Backyard Poultry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Backyard Poultry. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Check out our Trusted Business Contacts/Partners Page on Simply Creative by Lily C


Visit the Simply Creative by Lily C Trusted Partners Page

New Website Page, Trusted Business Contacts/Partners


Shameless plug but hey I just worked on this page for about 2.5 hours so of course I'm gonna promote it wherever I can get away with it! :)  Don't hate me for being business minded! lol
 
Hope your Tuesday morning is going great!!!
 
 
Also check out the NEW products we just listed in multiple product sections! 
 
Have a great rest of your week!!
 
OH AND FYI - Expect more promotional blog posts this week! We've been hustling a LOT lately and the fruit of our labor is JUST ABOUT READY to be HARVESTED!!!

Blessings to all my followers!
 
Big Thanks and XXOO's!!!
 
Sarah C

Friday, April 29, 2016

Oops! I Did It Again!!!

Have you heard the old joke, Sarah goes into the local TSP for some dog food and ends up bringing home 26 additional chicks?!?!

lol 
Assorted Clearance Chicks :)

It seems to be a bit of a running joke around my house especially lately since the stores seem to want to practically give away their remaining chicks :)

And today the deal was 2 for $.99!!!  Who could blame me for taking advantage of such a deal?!

So 20 Bantams and 6 Pullets will be meeting the rest of the flock in about 6 weeks, hahaha :)

 

THIS IS SPRING in WEST MICHIGAN!

Once I get these guys settled in with last week's Clearance Chicks, I'll update with more pics :)

 

Have a blessed day!

 

Sarah of Simply Creative by Lily C

http://simply-creative-by-lily-c.myshopify.com/


Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Welcome to Cluckin' Wild Hobby Farm New Chicks!!!

 
10 Week Old White Turkey Chicks and 1 Cedar (Duck)

 The Cluckin' Wild Hobby Farm is starting its 3rd year of existence - where did the time fly (pun not intended)!!! :)


This year sees the addition of 10 White Turkey chicks and one Mallard Duck chick, named Cedar, by my niece who nearly broke my arm with her twisting to get me to agree to another duck :)  Not that I don't like ducks in general but they tend to be less friendly or social especially when compared to Turkeys or domesticated Chickens.

The pic shown is the week old chicks in their new outdoor home. 

Yes, typically, I would have kept them inside under a heat lamp, but Michigan has been experiencing beautiful weather (as you can see) and it has been warm enough at night to leave them in a covered bird cage. 

French Pearl Guinea couple observe new chicks from their enclosure
They seem to love their new found freedom, plus the mature chickens and our Bronze Turkey hen seem to really enjoy watching their shenanigans and clucking!

Yes, these Turkey chicks will be raised for meat and eggs.  Culling, de-feathering and packaging for the freezer is left to the local Amish family. 

Last year our White Turkey's dressed out to be an average of 42 lbs!! Can't wait to see how this year's brood grows!


Speaking of the turkey hen and duck from last year, I also included a "Beakie" of the 2 besties at their 1st Day at the New Pool!! :)

 Feeling blessed to be living this New "Simple" life surrounded by all the animals, fresh air and seclusion I love and crave!


Enamored Bronze Turkey Hen with Duck's 1st Day at the Pool
Have a great week!!!! Thanks for reading! 

Sarah C
of Simply Creative by Lily C

Visit our facebook page  - Organic Coffees, Teas, and Hot Chocolates

Visit Simply Creative by Lily C at Simply Creative by Lily C

 
 

Monday, February 16, 2015

The Short Story of the Inedible Rooster Which Lived on the Van Cunningham Hobby Farm

 

The Van Cunningham Hobby Farm - managed by SC and Lily C of Simply Creative by Lily C has two, loud and silly white Silky Bantam Roosters. They were raised with all of the original day old hatchlings on the hobby farm and were always a bit skittish yet non-aggressive. 

 

One day on a particularly freezing Michigan Mid-February day, the smaller of the two rooster brothers got out of the coop and refused to be placed back with the girls...so SC left him out until he came back in willingly.  Turns out the newly nicknamed Roo was particularly stubborn and silly and disappeared without a trace! Where could he be they wondered!

Lily C and Charlie M ensure Roo is okay

 

Luckily Charlie, the recently rescued mutt, came to the rescue when he began barking and whining by the back corner of the main coop.  Upon further examination, Roo, was discovered coughing and nearly frozen solid underneath the cold metal coop wall. 

 

SC rushed him in to the house and lovely gave him his first warm bath.  He perked up immediately!

 

After spending several hours swaddled in an Egyptian cotton bath towel and set in front of the warm pellet stove, Mr. Roo, was better than new...however, it was discovered that his waddle had a few spots of frostbite and it seems that he had lost the tip of a toe!!!  So of course he just had to recoup for the full night in luxury....see pic of a very satisfied little male Silky :)

 

Now lets get to the "Inedible" part of this story....If you hadn't already guessed it, there is NO way that Mr. Roo could be designated for the stock pot or roasting pan. We had bonded and he was a proven survivor of war...hen-pecking war, but a survivor for sure!  Call us sentimental or silly, but we are happy to know that Mr. Roo will continue to wake us with his insistent and ill-timed crowing daily!

Monday, June 30, 2014

Calming Nesting Mix - Naturally Repel Pests While Keeping Your Flock Happy & Calm!

How do you keep your flock calm and comfortable while nesting and roosting?

A better question is how do you ensure their roosts are free of pests such as mice, spiders, ticks, fleas, biting flies and lice?

I've been experimenting with making my own natural roost and run mixes to help with repel biting parasites like ticks and fleas, but also mixes that repel snakes and a mix just to help the flock keep calmer and smell better!

Shown below is my recipe for Calming Roosting Mix which I welcome you to make yourself - OR - you can order it from me by emailing me at simplycreativebylilyc@yahoo.com, comment below or check out the Simply Creative by Lily C facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SimplyCreativebyLilyC?ref=hl


Calming Rooster Mix (as seen below)


Dried Michigan Peonies and Peppermint - Raw Form
 
Ingredients:
1 c Dried & Naturally Grown Michigan Peonie Flowers
1/2 c Dried & Naturally Grown Michigan Peppermint Leaves
1 c Dried & Naturally Grown Michigan Lavender Flowers
1/4 c Food Grade DE

Directions:
1. Put all ingredients into a blender or food processor and mince until the blend is mixed well.
2. Sprinkle once a week into your hen's roosts and run to promote a calming environment during daily laying.
3. Enjoy the added benefits of the mint, lavender, and DE which naturally repel ticks, fleas, flies and other unwanted pests!

Dried MI Peonies and Peppermint - Processed Form

 

 

Hope you enjoy the Calming Rooster Mix recipe and keep your flock as healthy and happy as mine is!

Sarah of Simply Creative by Lily C



Monday, June 23, 2014

Natural Pest Eliminators or Flesh-Hungry Savages?


Pest control was one of the reasons I chose to raise chickens, right? I didn't realize the carnage I'd release on the neighborhood insect population ;(



One-Eyed Sphinx Moth
I live in Lower West Michigan and recently found this beautiful moth near the chicken coop.  I never knew how quickly the innocent-looking hellions would tear this winged beauty apart.  Let me just say, it would have rivaled any of the bloodiest horror flicks circa the 1980's.

Who knows how long this beauty measuring approximately 2.5" from tip of wing to tip of wing, but they can get as big as nearly 4"! Which I'm sure my ladies would have rejoiced if I can presented a larger treat :)

For those of you who enjoy details, they go by the scientific name Smerinthus cerisyi, but I like the One-Eyed Sphinx name better...reminds me of Cleopatra's exotic beauty. I can see the eye pattern at a 20's style masked gala, can't you?



Horn worm Caterpillar = Sphinx Moth
 
So what did my flock consume, and ultimately what I and my family will be consuming, when they ate it? Basically nothing but juicy sawdust! ;) The favorite meal of the caterpillar is Willow and Poplar trees!

I have noticed the very heavy mosquito population that Michigan is experiencing this Summer has been greatly reduced around the chicken coop, so there's a plus to their blood lust :) Good for the entire neighborhood if you ask me, but I might be a tad bit bias!

Check us out this Friday when the chicks stretch their wings in free air for the first time!!! Should be interesting I think! 

Thanks again for sharing and commenting on this subject and future posts!

Sarah of Simply Creative by Lily C!

  














Thursday, June 19, 2014

Lily C gets a Chick Kiss - See how she reacts ;)



Simply Creative by Lily C's Backyard Chicks

Lily C was born a natural mother and while she'll never have the opportunity to have her own pups, she's taken to "mothering" her feathered babies like white on rice!

Being a mix of Rhodesian Ridgeback and Black Lab, I've realized quickly that her prey chase instinct, esp. for birds is very high and this had me worried for their safety.  But much to my relief she's always been very gentle with her little ones and only very lightly nips or licks them when they try to escape from the safety of their netted run.

Lily C of Simply Creative by Lily C Kisses Chicks

Today, much to my own Mother's delight (laughter heard in video), Lily finally got a taste of her own medicine when one of the bigger Dutch Red Roos gave her a much deserved kiss on the nose :)


The chicks might be feeling their oats today as evidenced by their perky chirping - the recipe is GMO free and always made at home with as many garden treasures as possible!  I'll share the recipe here soon! 
  

Homemade Chicken Feed Recipe



Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Egg or Chicken First? The Chickens Came to this Hobby Farm First!!!

Bought an assortment of day old chicks from the local feed mill hatchery!

Very excited to see how the Dutch Reds, Asst. Bantams, SummerWells and Ring-Necked Quail develop!!

The plan is to only feed them non-processed foods and never chemically feterlized grasses, etc for all natural eggs and meat.

They are going to be 8 weeks old on June 16th!! Just starting to stretch their wings and looking for high perches!
7 week old Ring-Neck Pheasant


More from the chix soon :)
The Hobby Farm Gets Started
I've been wanted to start a composting bin for years and much to my surprise and joy, my supportive parents gave me a starter rotating composter for my birthday!!!

Can't wait to turn my table scraps and yard waste into rich soil!

What will I grow first?
Living Simply Creative by Lily C
Simply Creative by Lily C is a line of all natural, home-made cleaning supplies, beauty products, and other treats for you, your home, and your pets.

This blog will be to share my experiences from the early days of getting back to my roots in rural Michigan. I hope you enjoy and learn something from my experiences.