Four Acorns Farm

Four Acorns Farm A specialty farm in the coastal foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains in Aptos, CA. We breed rare/unique chickens with fertile hatching eggs & chicks for sale.

We teach chicken husbandry classes as well as classes in quilting, canning, and basketry.

Looking for your photos to add to some personalized pizzazz my website update! To be clear - I would love you to share p...
12/28/2024

Looking for your photos to add to some personalized pizzazz my website update! To be clear - I would love you to share photos of Four Acorns Farm birds and eggs that you've brought home. (Turns out I don't take as many photos as I think I do!)

Please no people or faces (unless they can be cropped out) as I would really like to showcase the chickens!

All are welcome, but I am specifically looking for:
F2 Olive Eggers in Splash or Blue - feathered legs? crests?
F2 Olive Egger eggs - plain? speckled!
Giant Cochins in Black - smooth or frizzled
F1 Olive Eggers in Splash or Blue - feathered legs? crests?
Opal Legbars
Opal Legbar eggs (notoriously hard to get good photos)

Please pm, add to the comments, or text me.
Thank you!
Laura

(Eye candy: a pair of French Splash Marans eggs.)

Merry Christmas, Peeps!
12/25/2024

Merry Christmas, Peeps!

12/21/2024

New website in the works!
New breeds coming!
2025: whoohoo!!!

‘‘Tis the season!
12/16/2024

‘‘Tis the season!

He has found a new roost - Thanks!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Posting for one of my Peeps…Lauren says“Hatch date 6/8/23. Fed organic...
12/16/2024

He has found a new roost - Thanks!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Posting for one of my Peeps…

Lauren says
“Hatch date 6/8/23. Fed organic layer pellet, never had any health issues. He’s a great rooster to his hens. Always making sure they eat first, finding them little treats in the yard, alerting for predators, fluffing up nesting boxes when they were going to first lay, keeps the peace and splitting up hen fights. Lets me handle him no problem but cautious with strangers until he gets used to them.

I very much want him to go to someone with a flock. I’m worried he might go in a soup pot.”

Very handsome and sweet natured, smooth feathered, mahogany Bantam Calico Cochin rooster. Vaccinated for Mareks. (Excellent example of my breeding program!)

Please reach out if you’d like to know more about this handsome gentleman!

Thank you!
Laura

Just sayin…
12/12/2024

Just sayin…

Question: Have you purchased a coop from Bill Finnegan of www.forthebirdscc.com?I've recommended him in all my classes a...
12/09/2024

Question:
Have you purchased a coop from Bill Finnegan of www.forthebirdscc.com?

I've recommended him in all my classes and to many of my customers - he does a fabulous coop and offers a discount when you mention me or Four Acorns Farm.

Today he installed a second, stand alone coop for me (stay tuned for a new flock coming in 2025!!), and Bill told me that although he's fielded several inquiries based on my recommendations, there were no 2024 purchases.

Please tell me if you purchased from Bill so I can give him that feedback. If you didn't purchase after your inquiry, could you tell me your reasons why? (That can be via pm if you prefer.) I do NOT want to bash Bill.

For those of you who may not have heard about Bill, he lives in Idaho and comes to California with his coops. I leveled the ground and he assembled the pre-built coop components in 2.5 hours. All I need to do is attach the skirting and hook up my ni**le watering system. This is SO painless!!

His prices are reasonable for a quality rodent and predator proof coop - and he offers several designs that can be modified to meet your needs. I recommend him with confidence... which is why I was surprised that more folks didn't choose his coops.

I do not receive a kick-back or commission.

Photo is of my first "Jerome" coop with upgrades before I painted the wire and removed the bear wire. I moved this coop to this property and it houses my Bantam Calico Cochin flock.

Take care,
Laura and the chickens

Beginner basketry classes for 2025 through the Cabrillo College Extension…This is the Mini Round Handled Basket - class ...
11/27/2024

Beginner basketry classes for 2025 through the Cabrillo College Extension…

This is the Mini Round Handled Basket - class will be held 2/22/25. Registration and information will be available online and in the upcoming Extension catalog.

Target has chicken math… in pillows?!
11/13/2024

Target has chicken math… in pillows?!

Wanted:Your uncarved, unpainted pumpkins for our beautiful chickens!Bonus:Smash a pumpkin! (Adults AND kids can smash! V...
11/02/2024

Wanted:
Your uncarved, unpainted pumpkins for our beautiful chickens!

Bonus:
Smash a pumpkin! (Adults AND kids can smash! VERY fun!)

Your choice: either drop off anytime by front steps @ 5752 Freedom Boulevard, Aptos (diagonal from Bamboo Giant)... OR call to make an appointment to drop off your pumpkin(s), tour the poultry barn, and smash a pumpkin!

The chickens and I thank you for your generosity!
Laura Dant Menard
408-375-9639

Took my birthday boy out for breakfast this morning - Happy 6th Birthday, Kai!
11/01/2024

Took my birthday boy out for breakfast this morning - Happy 6th Birthday, Kai!

LAST CLASSES FOR 2024Classes taught here on the farm in Aptos (95003) with registration through Cabrillo College's Exten...
10/29/2024

LAST CLASSES FOR 2024

Classes taught here on the farm in Aptos (95003) with registration through Cabrillo College's Extension. Class size capped to 10 adults for a more personal experience. Relaxed and informative classes held in our 2,000 sq.ft. poultry barn with refreshments, a tour of the flocks, and comfortable seating.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BACKYARD CHICKEN KEEPING FOR BEGINNERS (AKA Chickens 101): Sat. Nov. 9th... 9a-12p ONE SEAT LEFT

This class answers so many questions and may be right for you if: ... Chicken curious? Unsure of what's truly involved in keeping chickens? Want to build a rodent and predator proof coop? Worried that you're not doing it right? Already took the plunge and wondering what the heck you're in for?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

QUARTERLY FLOCK AND COOP MAINTENANCE: Sat. Nov. 15th... 1-4p SEATS AVAILABLE

In this class, I demystify flock management and coop maintenance. This class may be right for you if:.. You hate cleaning the chicken coop. You've never trimmed your chicken's claws or inspected them for mites. You've had an issue with flies, rats, predators, mice, snakes, and/or mites in the coop. Or if you want to learn efficient flock and coop management.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CHICKEN HEALTH AND FIRST AID: Sun. Nov. 16th... 1-4p
ONE SEAT LEFT

This class discusses the variety of bacterial and viral diseases common to chickens. Proactive disease defense and transmission clarified. Chicken First Aid unpacked and a complete First Aid Kit for sale. This class may be right for you if:.. You've ever lost a chicken for no apparent reason. You worry about expensive vet visits. You want to provide better hands on care for your flock.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I expect these classes to sell out and my 2025 classes won't start up again until February. Hope you can join us!

Registration online at https://extension.cabrillo.edu/

Thank you,
Laura
(One of my beautiful Bantam Calico Cochin hens to catch your eye!)

Typically I don’t shop or support TSC… but curiosity got to me and I wandered in this morning to see what holiday decor ...
10/28/2024

Typically I don’t shop or support TSC… but curiosity got to me and I wandered in this morning to see what holiday decor they had going on.

Big stuffed chickens, that’s what!

Adorable!

HENS and COOP READY PULLETS!Updated 11/1/24I am switching up several of my flocks for the 2025 season and have made the ...
10/26/2024

HENS and COOP READY PULLETS!

Updated 11/1/24

I am switching up several of my flocks for the 2025 season and have made the tough decision to let go of several birds.

SOLD - Opal Legbar hen
Hatched in 2023 and vaccinated for Mareks. Just came through her molt and still looks a smidge bedraggled. Currently laying beautiful blue eggs. Stunning opal feathering - her crest will grow back in without amorous roosters tugging on it.

SOLD -F1 Olive Egger hen - Blue Crested
Hatched 3/9/24 and vaccinated for Mareks. Still hasn't regrown all of her tail feathers from her molt. Gorgeous crest, beautiful blue feathers, and lays an olive green egg.

SOLD - French feather-legged Splash Marans COOP READY pullets
Hatched 8/30/24 from dark chocolate brown eggs. Vaccinated for Mareks. Flashy splash plumage and feathered legs. Will lay dark chocolate brown eggs.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Available chicks:

Hatched 9/15/24
SOLD - Frizzle Giant Cochin cockerels (1 splash, 1 blue)

Hatched 10/3/24
SOLD - Blue F2 Olive Egger S/R
SOLD - Splash F2 Olive Egger S/R
SOLD - smooth Splash Giant Cochin S/R
(2) smooth Bantam Calico Cochin S/R
(2) frizzle Bantam Calico Cochin S/R

Hatched 10/24/24
SOLD Bantam Calico Cochin S/R
(7) French Splash Marans S/R

MORE CHICKS HATCHING MID-NOVEMBER.

All chicks are handled often, vaccinated for Mareks, and treated for Coccidiosis. I care enough to give them a strong start in life.

Located on Freedom Boulevard in Aptos, 95003.

Please pm for an appointment to come by. (I keep flexible hours to be as accommodating as possible, but I can't do drop ins.)

Thank you!
Laura and the chickens
www.fouracornsfarm.com
Four Acorns Farm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chicken curious?
Classes taught here on the farm in Aptos (95003) with registration through Cabrillo College's Extension:
LAST CLASSES FOR 2024.. Backyard Chickens 101: Sat. Nov. 9th... 9a-12p.. Quarterly Flock and Coop Maintenance: Sat. Nov. 15th... 1-4p.. Chicken Health and First Aid: Sun. Nov. 16th.. 1-4p
Registration at www.extension.cabrillo.edu

Available chicks:(As of 10/15/24)Hatched 9/15(1) German Bielefelder PULLET(1) Blue F1 Olive Egger S/R(3) Splash F2 Olive...
10/05/2024

Available chicks:
(As of 10/15/24)

Hatched 9/15
(1) German Bielefelder PULLET
(1) Blue F1 Olive Egger S/R
(3) Splash F2 Olive Egger S/R
(4) Blue F2 Olive Egger S/R
(2) Frizzle Splash Giant Cochin S/R
(1) Smooth Splash Giant Cochin S/R

Hatched 10/3
Bantam Calico Cochin s/r
F1 Olive Egger s/r
F2 Olive Egger s/r

All chicks are handled often, vaccinated for Mareks, and treated for Coccidiosis. I care enough to give them a strong start in life.

Located on Freedom Boulevard in Aptos, 95003.

Please pm for an appointment to come by. (I keep flexible hours to be as accommodating as possible, but I can't do drop ins. )
Thank you!

Watch your flock for heat stress,
Laura and the chickens
www.fouracornsfarm.com
Four Acorns Farm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chicken curious?
Classes taught here on the farm in Aptos (95003) with registration through Cabrillo College's Extension:
LAST CLASSES FOR 2024.. Backyard Chickens 101: Sat. Nov. 9th... 9a-12p.. Quarterly Flock and Coop Maintenance: Sat. Nov. 15th... 1-4p.. Chicken Health and First Aid: Sun. Nov. 16th.. 1-4p
Registration at www.extension.cabrillo.edu

Heatstroke for chickens?!Yes, one of the biggest dangers our flocks face is heatstroke. Our birds can't take off those d...
10/03/2024

Heatstroke for chickens?!

Yes, one of the biggest dangers our flocks face is heatstroke. Our birds can't take off those down coats, right? Keep in mind that the chickens can get heat stress, dehydrate, stop laying, etc when the temperatures soar.

Suggestions:
Provide lots of dirt in the shade - in the run and free ranging
Make sure there's ample cross ventilation
Check that all waterers work - add more water
Offer frozen veggies and fruit in water
Or offer chunk fruit like watermelon
Spray the soil to bring temperatures down (or use a mister)
Spray the chickens down in prolonged heat

I just sprayed the soil, the birds, checked my waterers, and turned on the barn fans. It is HOT here in Aptos!

Keep 'em safe!
Laura

Address

Freedom Boulevard
Aptos, CA
95003

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