Farm fundraiser update

Newsletter February 3rd 2023

Exciting News from the Homestead: Update on Ducklings, Fresh Hatched Chicks, and Adding a New Dog

The Power of Resilience: From Loss to New Life at the Homestead!

 It’s been a wild ride, but we’re thrilled to share some incredible news with you! After losing our ducks to a predator, we were able to recover the last week of eggs and put them in the incubator. With a bit of doubt, we eagerly awaited the results, and we couldn’t be happier with what happened next!

Our little incubated eggs hatched into 28 healthy, happy ducklings! They’ve been growing big and strong, and oh, are they cute! We’ve been marveling at their progress and enjoying watching them waddle around and play.

While it will still be 8-9 months before they start laying eggs, this is a positive step forward and we are so grateful for the new life that has come out of a difficult situation. It just goes to show the power of resilience and determination.

Thank you for your support, and we can’t wait to share more updates with you as the ducklings continue to grow!

Next Actions to Secure and Grow Our Coop

With the recent challenges in managing tensions between our female pitbull and the new Livestock Guardian Dog (LGD), our priority is to ensure the safety and well-being of all our animals, especially in the coop. Our next actions include:

1. Researching pine martens and their potential threat to the coop, and what fencing requirements are needed to keep them out. We will look into getting fencing locally or from the closest source.
2. Redesigning the coop and planning to tear down and rebuild in the next couple of weeks. This is the best time for this as there are only 5 ducks in the coop right now, and they can be easily relocated while under construction.
3. Upgrading the ducklings to a bigger brooder and setting up a brooder for the new chicks that are hatching today.
4. Working with the dog trainer to determine if Winter, the LGD dog, will be able to stay on the farm. This is a critical step in ensuring a harmonious coexistence between all our dogs.

We are determined to create a secure and thriving environment for all our animals, and we will keep everyone updated on our progress.

Newsletter February 18th 2023

The ducklings are growing bigger and happier each day in their new home in the greenhouse. They are just as cute as ever and seem to love exploring their surroundings. We’re so happy to see them thriving and can’t wait for them to grow up and start laying eggs.

We have some exciting news about our new hatching chicken eggs! Out of the 24 eggs we bought, 5 have successfully hatched – 4 beautiful Silver Laced Wyandottes and 1 stunning Blue Lace Wyandotte. They are now 2 weeks old and are growing fast. They are much cleaner than the ducklings and have been full of energy, even trying to jump out of their brooder. We can’t wait to see how they develop over the coming weeks!

We wanted to update you on the progress we have made in securing our coop to protect our birds. After extensive research, we have identified all the potential predators in our area, including pine martens, coyotes, birds, cats, and bears. We discovered that pine martens are particularly agile and can squeeze through a 2″ hole and climb a 6′ tall fence in just 3 seconds. Cougars can also easily jump over a 10-12′ fence without even touching it, and coyotes are nimble diggers. To combat this, we have found that PVC-covered welded wire is the best option for fencing. We have ordered this from a Canadian company that offers free shipping, and the PVC covering will ensure it lasts at least 10 years longer. Once it arrives, we will use it to fully fence in the shelter where our birds live. Thank you again for your generous support in making this possible.

This is the update on the dog situation on our farm. We had Cindy Peacock, a dog trainer, come out and assess the situation. She had lots of great ideas to figure things out between all the dogs but couldn’t give any promises. This left me feeling optimistic and unsure all at the same time!

After considering all the options, I have decided to commit to working with Cindy and the dogs to create a harmonious homestead. We believe that with patience and the right training, Winter, Storm, and Jasper can learn to coexist peacefully on the farm. 

I wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude for all of your support during this time. It means the world to me and couldn’t do it without you.

I also wanted to let you know that I’m committed to keeping you updated on the continued progress of the coop and the dog situation. I will be working with Cindy Peacock, a dog trainer, to create a harmonious homestead, and will keep you informed on how that progresses.

Thank you again for your support and for being a part of our community.

Warmly,
Tammy