We are over the halfway mark at 5 weeks old on these Cornish Cross broilers. They're turning out really well and have put on a ton of size. In a few more short weeks our hard work will have paid off and our family will have chicken for the coming year in the freezer.
Raising our own food started with raising chickens and eventually expanded into a few other varieties of animals and it's something I hope to always be able to do for ourselves. The control over what all goes into the animals along with providing the animals with the best nutrition I can provide in the best atmosphere i have available to them, makes everything worth it and that dedication is returned to us through the nutrition in that animal. Even in the smallest of ways I think everyone could be a little more self reliant, growing a few vegetables even inside under a grow light all the way to some scale of backyard meat birds or rabbits.
With the costs in the stores these days it's something we owe to ourselves.
#broilers #meatbirds #broilerchickens #farmerlife #rusticfarmsandkennel #tatfarmer #pasturedpoultry #homesteadfamily
Our roosters watching over our flock while the hens peck and forage the pasture. Their diverse diet available to them while they range throughout the day adds to the nutritional value of their eggs which we collect each day. Aside from what they readily forage off the land we offer our flock a variety of fermented whole grains which includes barley, wheat and oats among others. Sprouts of the mentioned grains and of course help us make use of table scraps. Doing so can help offset the ever rising feed bill for our chickens and the fermentation and sprouting process turns those little grains into nutritional powerhouses that directly affect the hens health but also the eggs that we eat!
#pasture #flock #chickens #chickendaddy #roosters #orpingtons #farmanimals #homestead #farm #farmlife #pastureraised #forage #freerange #workhard #lovewhatyoudo #getafterit #tattoofarmer #tatfarmer #isabelcrele #lavender #lavendercuckoo #layers #eggs
#nutrition #egglayers #sprouts #fermentedgrains #ferment #breakfast
Breakfast 🥞🍳 ☕
#breakfast #hairsheep #produce #reducewaste #pastureraised #homestead #hobbyfarm #sheep #shepherd
The warm weather will soon be starting to arrive. With spring will come mason bee season!
Cocoons will go out around the beginning of April when the blooms start to arrive.
If you'd like to get into these wicked pollinators for your garden or just want to do your part for our environment, please feel free to contact us!
Great project for you and the kids as these are non aggressive bees and don't sting.
Great for even the smallest of outdoor spaces all the way up to your large garden spaces and orchards!
More than happy to talk bees, chickens and lambs with spring ready to kick off! 🐝
Green hay, frosty grass and some happy sheep.
Ever wonder what goes into pastured poultry? Well, it may be easier than you thought! We raise our chicks in brooders to keep warm and safe for the first 4 weeks depending on the season it could be a week longer in the colder months. Once they have started to put out some feathers from their fluffy chick down they can regulate their temperatures a bit better and will be able to keep themselves warm. At this point they are ready to move out to the grass. I find once this happens growth is accelerated. They get their feed, fresh water and a fresh patch of grass daily with all the bugs and foraging they can do. By the following day we top their feeders fill their water and move to the next spot for another free salad bar and bug snacks for them to enjoy. The fresh air and the sunshine alone help produce some very nutritious meat for your table. This, paired with top quality feed and everything the pasture has to offer you will be feeding yourself and your family with chicken packed with great nutritional value that many of the commercial chickens you will find in the large stores just can't quite compete with. These birds will live out their best life safe and spoiled out on our grass for the duration of their life until the time comes to harvest. Some more popular breeds like the Cornish cross can grow out to massive birds in only 7-8 weeks. The birds we raised in this video are the freedom Rangers and took 10 weeks until they were ready for harvest. These birds are handled with care and respect from the moment they come to us to their final moment. This brings myself and my family comfort in being able to provide the best life possible for these birds that in other settings wouldn't have the luxuries they do. Their end is quick and respectful as it should. This process will fill our freezers and provide for our family and friends for the year until we begin the process once again. FOLLOW us if you'd like to know more about how easy it can be to raise your own meat fo
A quick look at the early stages of our first litter here at Rustic Farms & Kennel. It's been a blast being part in raising this first generation of pups and watching them grow. I'm blessed to say how much our family has come together to really make all of this possible. These pups have had an amazing start in life here with us and as they leave to their new homes it's bittersweet for us all. Thankfully we have had nothing but amazing people come through for these guys and an incredible community supporting what we do as well. I look forward to seeing these dogs develop into the fine companions I know they will be and a few that will follow the place of Mila as an exceptional birddog.
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#labradorretriever #puppies #labradorpuppy #canadiankennelclub #farmlife #rusticfarmsandkennel #birddogs #summertime #puppygram
Pups out helping with the chores 🚜
Pups out getting some sun, a drink, playing with some chickens and then back to the pool. Just another day on the farm.
#labrador #puppies #ckc #labradorretriever #chickens #farm #hobbyfarm #rustic #orpington #birddog #duckdog #hunting #mansbestfriend #rusticfarmsandkennel #tatfarmer #gundogs #labradorpuppy #canadiankennelclub
It's been a wild ride here at the farm with our first litter and the next generation of bird dogs and best friends. So thankful for the help of my family and the time spent making memories and doing the things that we do. #rusticfarmsandkennel #ckc #birddogs #gundogs #mansbestfriend #labrador #labradorpuppy #puppies #retriever #farm #family #kennel #rustic #rusticfarms #rustickennels #farmlife #familytime #tatfarmer #tatwife #tatlife
Never a dull moment around here.
First time we've had this surprise believe it or not! A Russell Roaster broiler hen project sat on a hidden pile of eggs we have yet to locate lol.. the hunt is on! Excited to see how these guys develop with their mother.
Puppies all Callard up, weighed and napping. Dreaming of getting outside on the farm and fetching up some ducks during hunting season I'm sure.
#labradorretriever #puppies #huntingdog #birddog #waterfowler #waterfowlretriever #duckdog #rustickennels #rusticfarms #mansbestfriend #canadiankennelclub #ckc #lab #retrieverpuppies
•ORPINGTONS•
these Isabel crele orpingtons are a favorite here with my family. A very robust dual purpose bird, with great size, full plumage and great layers of large eggs with almost a pink bloom to them. We have other color varieties as well including lavender. These birds are friendly, tolerant with our big rooster Stanley being no exception. He's well rounded and trustworthy around children and the family chaos. If you might be interested in starting a flock of your own or just adding a couple of these beautiful birds to your yard contact us directly as we continue to hatch through to August!
#rustic #rusticfarms #orpington #chickens #layers #hens #rooster #crele #isabel #hobbyfarm #chicks #familyfarm #rustickennels
Mila taking a quick break to have some breakfast consisting of some raw quartered chicken off the farm, a couple fresh eggs and some kibble mixed in. Puppies are thriving thanks to their tentative mother. So excited to watch these pups grow.
#puppies #newborn #labradorpuppy #labrador #canadiankennelclub #waterfowlretrievers #retrievers #gundog #birddog #family #companion #mansbestfriend #litter #rustickennels #farm #farmlife
