Glimmerwood Farm

02/21/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/1B7NdFs9yP/?mibextid=wwXIfr

I thought this was so beautiful. 🥚🥚🥚
Photo via Fairytale Garden
Go check out their page. Omg they have the most beautiful photos. They have the most beautiful eggs.
https://www.facebook.com//?mibextid=ZbWKwL

02/20/2025

I just read this in a post my niece sent me on IG. How cool would it be to haul out the coffee maker and some mugs and set “office hours” so local peeps could stop by for a visit? Something to think on anyways.

How about you? Would you do something similar?

02/19/2025

A good explanation to the egg crisis

02/17/2025

On this 287th day of Feb…

02/17/2025

This is getting a little old.

The realest thing I've seen lately! 🤣

02/14/2025

Feels like it most of this winter so far. About the time it dehydrates, here comes more rain or snow.

😖😭😖😭

02/13/2025

I don’t know why I was thinking about this, but years ago somebody asked me to volunteer last minute and I said “I’m sorry I can’t today, I’ve got too many chores.” They acted genuinely confused that I couldn’t just leave the farm unexpectedly to do what they needed. They even tried to convince me that it would be fine cuz I could just farm later. So I learned with those people it’s best to use “real job” speak when saying you can’t do something.

“I was up all night with a farrowing pig” becomes “I had to work the night shift”.

“I’ve got chores planned from sunup to sundown” becomes “I’m working a double”.

“I’m training a puppy” becomes “I’m training a new coworker”.

“I’ve got baby bunnies due” becomes “I’m expecting an important delivery”.

“I’m planting the garden” becomes “I’m restocking inventory”.

I know you don’t have to actually tell people why you can’t do something, but doing it this way usually stops them immediately from trying to convince you further. Everyone inherently understands that most people can’t just leave their job whenever they want but they don’t see farming as a real job. When you use real job speak though, their brain just moves on to the next person they can ask. They don’t even seem to remember that you work from home and are your own boss. I’ve literally never had anyone question me after I say these things. So saves me time and much annoyance. 😂

Picture of my “retirement fund” 💁🏻‍♀️

02/11/2025

Grocery store eggs are expensive right now. And I know it’s got some folks thinking about how they want to raise some chickens so they don’t have to buy the expensive eggs at the grocery store.

Now, I would never deter you from getting chickens. I think the answer to almost every question is “get more chickens”. 😉 But I also want to remind folks that chickens cost money.

I took a gander at some 2025 chick catalogs and saw that chicks (depending on breed and number ordered) are anywhere from $5 to $12 a piece.

Then you’ve got to house them and feed them.

And you’re going to do that for 16-24 weeks before you get a single egg from them.

Add to that the fact that they are NOT little egg factories 365 days a year (and that most slow down a lot when the days get shorter).

And let’s not forget that chickens don’t just make eggs—they also make messes and noise. They need bedding, protection from predators, and—if you live in a cold climate—some extra love in the winter.

And when they get old and stop laying? You have to decide whether they stay on as freeloading pets or become soup.

So yes, eggs are expensive. But chickens? They’re an investment. They’re a commitment. And if you’re diving in just to save money on some eggs, you might be in for a surprise.

But if you’re diving in because you love the idea of fresh eggs, "quirky" personalities, and a little bit o’ chaos in your life… well, then… welcome to the club. 🤣🐔💛

02/09/2025

Don't clear your garden yet!

02/09/2025

ALERT: Your yard cleanup could wipe out an entire generation of native pollinators! 🐝

SHOCKING FACTS:
- 80% of native bees nest in dead plant stems
- One stem can house up to 20 pollinator larvae
- Early cleanup destroys 6 months of bee development
- Native bees are worth $2000 per yard in pollination

What's Really Living in Your "Messy" Yard:

1. Hidden Residents:
- Mason bee cocoons
- Leafcutter bee nests
- Native wasp larvae
- Beneficial predator eggs

2. Critical Areas to Protect:
🌿 Hollow plant stems
🍂 Leaf litter piles
🌱 Standing perennials
🌸 Seed heads

3. How to Help:
- Wait until May to clean up
- Leave 15" stem heights
- Create brush piles
- Mark pollinator areas

YOUR ACTION PLAN:
✅ Stop all cleanup until 50°F consistent temps
✅ Bundle and store cut stems
✅ Create "pollinator corners"
✅ Educate your neighbors

REMEMBER:
A messy yard is a thriving ecosystem!

02/07/2025

02/06/2025

01/26/2025

As baby chick season approaches and the price of eggs keep rising, I’m sure a lot of people are tempted to raise chickens themselves. Before people flock (no pun intended 🤣) to their local farm store and start buying all the baby chicks please consider the following 10 fun facts….

1. Most hens do not start laying eggs until 18-22 weeks of age (that’s about 5 months give or take)

2. For the first few weeks of their lives baby chickens need to be kept at a temperature of around 95 degrees Fahrenheit

3. Chicks need to eat…SURPRISE! And like the price of everything else chicken feed has went up. A 50lb bag of layer is over $20.

4. Chickens molt…what does that mean? Your chicken will become ugly and stop laying eggs for a period of time.

5. Chickens don’t lay as many eggs in the winter months.

6. The average lifespan of a chicken is 5-10 years.

7. Predators such as foxes, coyotes, neighbor’s dogs and even raccoons will hunt your chickens.

8. Chickens will p**p EVERYWHERE and I mean everywhere so be prepared to clean their pen often or if they are free range be sure to check your step or look before you sit.

9. Chickens love to dig holes and destroy bedding around flowers in the yard, good luck keeping them from doing so.

10. Chickens can get medical issues just like any other animal.

I’m not trying to discourage anyone from raising their own food in fact I think it’s great. However chickens are animals, animals that require attention and proper care.

So while I get that you don’t want to spend $7 on a dozen eggs double think your decision before you go gung ho on being a chicken farmer. Just do your research, it’s not like getting a fish 🤦🏼‍♀️

Sincerely,
A fellow chicken owner

01/19/2025

Hello? Anybody here?

I’ve been way too quiet for far too long.

No breeding was the plan, as other things were in the works. Then linear appraisal was announced to be in August for my area. And I jumped at the chance, as it just hadn’t worked out for me in years past

My no-breeding plans for this year quickly turned to breed enough does to make LA worthwhile. So I’ve bred like 17 does for early to mid-June kiddings. Insane, I know.

After appraisal, I will be making hard cuts and downsizing my herd, and planning for some fall kiddings.

Tentatively, these are the pairings I have planned for June:

Springwater OR Mythos *B (pending) is bred to the following

Daylight BB Firefly 2*M
Cascadecreek Mocha 2*M
Gillis Family Farm SmartyPants Elite
Gillis Family Farm Akari
Lil Miss B Haven WM Charmed
Springwater OSR Swiss Sue
Springwater U Lil Firecracker
Glimmerwood LD Cherry Jubilee

SDS Farm Golden Hour has bred the following does:

Novella Farm RS Citrinitas
Glimmerwood LD Sayuri
Glimmerwood LD Summer Moon

Camping Farms Tahitian Sunrise has bred the following does:

Springwater AL Luna Moth Elite
Glimmerwood M Stella Luna
Springwater AL Caliente
Glimmerwood M Plum Blossom

Springwater Calling All Angels has bred the following:

Glimmerwood LS Cocoa
Glimmerwood LS Eclipse
Glimmerwood SUN Corona

Happy to take reservations and discuss these pairings. Will updated when pregnancies are confirmed in about 6 weeks.

01/16/2025

Yep, about right

But seriously, we gear up and are out in the weather every single day. If its still we can deal. However, that wind will cut right through you and can even drive me mad!

12/30/2024

Truth!

A few days ago, I got an email with some pretty intense questions about our farming practices. It’s not unusual, but one question really stood out: “Are they fed a vegetarian diet?”

Honestly, that one stopped me in my tracks. Not because it’s a tough question, but because it highlights just how much misinformation is out there about chickens. Let me be clear, the whole “vegetarian-fed” label is nonsense. It sounds good on paper, but it makes absolutely no sense if you understand anything about chickens.

Here’s the reality- chickens are not vegetarians. They’re omnivores to their core. If you’ve ever seen chickens roaming outside, you know they’re constantly hunting for bugs, worms, and could even go after a frog or a mouse. It’s their natural diet and provides essential nutrients they can’t get from plants alone.

But the “vegetarian-fed” label? It’s usually slapped on chickens raised in confinement, fed a controlled diet of grains and plants, with no access to the outdoors. No foraging, no scratching, no freedom to live like actual chickens. It’s a feel-good marketing term, but it’s completely at odds with how chickens are meant to live.

So where does this come from? A lot of it seems to stem from animal activists who think “vegetarian-fed” sounds more ethical. But here’s the thing: they’re missing the point. If you really care about animal welfare, you want pasture-raised or truly free-range birds. Those are the chickens living their best lives, roaming outside, and eating what they’re supposed to—yes, including bugs.

If anything, the “vegetarian-fed” label should be a red flag. It’s not about the welfare of the chickens; it’s about selling an idea to people who don’t know better. If you truly care about ethical farming and healthy animals, skip the buzzwords and look for pasture-raised or free-range instead. Or even better hit up your local egg farm nearby so you can see the conditions yourself and support a small Homestead or Farm! 🖤

12/25/2024