The issue of feeds is one of those areas in which we will be seeking constant improvement. The eventual goal is to raise much (the majority? dare I say it?) of our own feed on the farm and have the rest be organic/sustainably raised and locally grown. For now, the organic (certified and non-certified) feeds I can find are all raised far away and cost twice as much or more than my current feed. As a beginning farmer, I feel it’s best to set my goals high, but keep my expectations reasonable. I’ll be able to get to a feed situation I am 100% happy with, in terms of its sustainability and (hopefully) cost, but incremental success is the name of the game!

Our 75 hens have settled in and are doing great. They’ve mostly figured out where the nest boxes are and what they are for. They’re happy and healthy and doing all the things chickens do best: picking away at bugs and grass, making silly noises, pooping constantly, and most importantly, laying beautiful, brown eggs!

This flock of hens has been unlike any I’ve ever experienced. They are insanely friendly. They all come running when I show up, which isn’t so unusual. In the first few days, though, they were flying up onto my shoulders, just to sit there and say hi! I quickly decided that would not be pleasant once it’s tank top weather and taught them not to do that. Instead, when I sit down on a bucket to observe the flock, they are allowed to hop up onto my lap and get pets. Some of them will even snuggle their little heads into my belly. It’s very endearing. I’m not sure if it’s the breed, the fellow they were raised by (I got them as started pullets), or my pure animal magnetism, but it’s pretty funny!

My only complaint about these birds is that their beaks are trimmed. I made the decision to buy started pullets because a producer who raises chicks in large quantities can do it much cheaper than I can with a small numbers (I did get these from a great pasture-based farm, in case that sounds scary). Providing affordable food is a priority for me, so I went that route. However, I made the decision a little too late and their beaks were already trimmed. Some farmers are highly opposed to beak trimming as mutilation and crippling of the bird. Whereas others (even in the sustainable farming camp) liken it to fingernail trimming and, since it reduces the amount of harm the birds can do to one another, believe it improves animal welfare (chickens can be big meanies). I was not excited about it when I ordered the birds, and looked unsuccessfully for vendors who didn’t trim, but did not have any experience with it and so didn’t have a very strong opinion.

Well, I can say now that I won’t get birds with trimmed beaks again. I have watched the birds closely and I do believe it affects their ability to forage. They still can and do forage, but it seems like they miss their target more than other chickens I’ve observed. On a purely aesthetic level, they look dumb. But my primary concern is that they get to live out their “chickeness”, as Joel Salatin would put it, as I believe that makes the best food. Lesson learned.

I took a soap-making class yesterday! It was super fun and I was surprised because making soap is not that hard. I read tons online a few months ago and bought all the supplies to make soap. But everything I read made it sound so complicated. I found myself intimidated by the whole process (especially the lye!) and never tried it.

Luckily, Spring Creek Homesteading offered a class on how to make soap for all of 10 bucks. What a great opportunity to take all the scariness out of something like soap-making! If you take the proper precautions while mixing the lye, it’s basically melt fat, mix lye, let them both get to 100 degrees, pour together and stir. And stir. And stir…. and stir some more. There’s a LOT of stirring involved. In 2 weeks I’ll find out if my soap really worked and I can’t wait to make more!

After the class, I was quite inspired to take on a few easy projects I’d been thinking about trying. First, I made solid perfume. Basically, you melt beeswax and whatever carrier oil you desire, then add essential oils. I had a small container, so I halved the recipe linked above. I wish I had added more essential oils, though. The scent is pretty subtle and given that the perfume is very solid, you’ll want it to smell fairly strong.

I do love the scent I chose, though! It was roughly equal parts bergamot, orange and lavender essential oils. It’s a very fresh and pretty scent!

Today’s project was lotion. Looking around the internet, I had a hard time finding a recipe for lotion that wasn’t a lotion bar. I do want to try to make lotion bars, but I need regular old lotion right now! After some searching, I found this beeswax lotion.

The recipe is very easy and adaptable. I skipped the vitamin E oil, and replaced a couple teaspoons of coconut oil with cocoa butter (since the two have similar consistencies at room temperature). I also used a combination of jojoba and almond oil instead of olive oil. I was a little worried I’d smell like an Italian restaurant.

The lotion is very thick and luxurious, so a little goes a long way! It really seems to sink into the skin, though, and does a wonderful job of moisturizing! My elbows were very dry and nasty before trying out the new lotion and now they’re like so soft!

I’m going to claim success on these two recipes! I’ll let you know how the soap comes out, as well, and post about the milling process.