Our Faithful Flock

  It’s been a while since I’ve posted because life has been extremely busy lately. And let me just say… integrating chicks into an established flock is not for the faint of heart. We raised the chicks separately and waited until they were about eight weeks old before trying to integrate them with the main flock. It did not go well. We tried all the things people suggested — putting baby powder on them at night so they would “smell the same,” placing them on the roost after the older hens were already settled, supervising interactions… but the pecking order is real, and it can be vicious. One day I came home to find one of our babies dead. A few days later, I watched our security camera footage and saw some of the older chickens grab one of the chicks and literally throw it around the run. It was heartbreaking. We knew we had to do something quickly, so my husband built a new coop that is much sturdier. We temporarily converted the old coop into a safe space for the younger ...

 It’s been a while since I’ve shared an update—life has been full and busy in the best way. I’m still very much in the rhythm of baking sourdough, experimenting with different inclusions and flavors. There’s something so rewarding about tweaking each loaf and seeing (and tasting!) the results. Outside, the chickens are keeping me just as busy. We recently added eight new chicks to our flock, and I’m especially excited about building a collection of beautifully colored eggs. At school we had an incubator running and set 18 eggs—10 successfully hatched. While not all made it, the experience was incredibly fun and meaningful for the students. Watching chicks hatch never gets old. Those chicks have now gone to their new homes.   Our current flock at home is growing in both number and variety. Right now, we have 4 Isa Browns and two Olive Eggers—one lays a slightly pinkish egg, and the other produces a light green. We’ve also added four Cream Legbars, which should give us those lov...

All the protection in the world doesn’t matter if the door stays open.   The other day I stood looking at the coop and run, noticing all the layers of protection we put in place when we first built it. We made sure the hardware cloth went all the way down the sides and stretched out about a foot into the ground. Then we added cinder blocks on top of that cloth so nothing could dig underneath. After a few visits from raccoons and opossums, we even ran electric wire along the top. We’ve done everything we know to do to keep the chickens safe. As I looked at that well-protected coop, it hit me—none of it matters if we leave the door open. All the fencing, wire, and careful planning can’t stop a predator from walking straight in if we forget that one simple step. Closing the door is the most important part. It made me think about my own life. God has put so many protections in place for us—His Word, His Spirit, wise counsel, boundaries meant to keep us safe. But if I leave the door ope...

  Christmas has come and gone, and now it’s time to pack everything up again for another year. Life settles back into its normal rhythm—but around here, normal still includes feathers, clucking, and a whole lot of personality in our backyard. The chickens are flourishing, even though egg production is down a bit. Winter will do that. One thing I’ve learned recently: if I let them out to free-range before they’ve laid their eggs, they’ll still make their way back into the coop to use the nesting boxes. I had wondered if maybe they were laying eggs somewhere random in the yard, but nope—they know exactly where to go. It’s fascinating to watch how resilient they are. As long as there’s no draft, they handle the cold surprisingly well. And when the sun comes out? Oh, they absolutely love it. They dig big craters in the dirt just so they can stretch out and soak in that warmth like little fluffy sunbathers. As I was talking about the chickens with some friends, I said something that...

  It’s been a hectic season around here, and I can definitely feel it. Life has been full, schedules have been packed, and some of my favorite rhythms—like regular sourdough baking—have taken a bit of a back seat. While I haven’t been baking bread lately, I did stumble across a sourdough fresh-milled flour chocolate chip cookie recipe that has quickly become a household favorite. Sometimes a good cookie is just what everyone needs. https://freshmilledmama.com/the-best-chocolate-chip-cookies-made-with-fresh-milled-flour-soft-and-chewy/ Even in the midst of the busyness, the chickens continue to be a steady, comforting presence. They’re doing well overall, though they’ve started to slow down on egg production now that winter has settled in. We do have a light in the coop to help extend daylight hours, but despite that, fewer eggs are just part of the season. Thankfully, the cold air itself doesn’t seem to bother them much. Mike and I spent time winterizing both the coop and the r...

Today was one of those days that felt like a gift. Nothing was on the calendar, and I didn’t feel rushed—I just had time to enjoy the things I love. The kitchen was busy with the smell of fresh baking. I worked on four sourdough loaves and tried a new recipe that turned out amazing. Alongside that, I made five dozen chocolate chip muesli cookies. While the bread was rising, I found myself glued to the chicken coop camera, watching the girls in the nest boxes. It’s funny how much drama a few hens can stir up. They were all lined up, waiting for one particular nest box as if it was the only option in the world. The squawking, pacing, and indecision made me laugh. Finally, three eggs were laid, and then Ruby—after taking her sweet time—marched right out of the nest, headed toward the door, and promptly plopped her egg right there on the ground. And yes, I caught the whole thing on camera! The eggs we’ve collected so far have been such a blessing—each one perfectly formed with strong s...