My book is now available on Kindle. It’s called “Protected.” To find the book on Kindle, put in my name first, “Curt Swarm,” as there are numerous book titles using the word “protected.” This is my first book.
Meanwhile, back on the farm, our 11 hens were so curious about the new calf, Blossom, they laid 12 eggs the day of her arrival. That’s the first time we have gotten more eggs than we have hens. One of them outdid herself.
But there’s even more excitement in the hen house. Four new layers have been added to our flock. One of my readers from Keokuk passed my chicken stories along to her son who has 30 hens and six roosters. Her son and I exchanged a couple of emails and compared notes: “How many eggs you get’n? Do you have trouble with predators? Where’s the best place to get feed?” That sort of thing.
Then her son decided to move out of state and needed to find a home or homes for his flock. Would I be interested? Well, sure. But not 30. Maybe a couple of hens to add to our flock. We have adopted chickens before, and it worked out fine (except when a mink got into the hen house). Swarms’ Adopt-A-Hen.
Ginnie and I made a trip to his acreage outside of Denmark, Iowa. His chickens are Light Brahmas, an exotic breed from China. They are a beautiful bird, mostly white, with black markings and feathers on their feet. They are larger than our ISA Browns and quite docile and friendly. Even though the Brahmas are mostly white, they lay a brown egg.
When we walked into their pen, they came running up to us, curious as to who we were and wanting to be introduced. We simply reached down and selected four pretty hens and brought them home, jiggity jog. We now have a clash of color: red and white hens. And they don’t necessarily get along. The Brahmas spend a good deal of the day up on roosts, waiting for the red hens (normally a docile bird, also) to go outside. When it’s safe, the white hens hop down to eat, drink and lay eggs. They haven’t yet figured out that they are larger than the red hens and don’t have to put up with bullying. Hopefully, they’ll work all this out and get around to getting along. I imagine they will. I think there’s a life lesson for humans in this somewhere.
So, that brings us up to 15 hens. (No, we don’t have a rooster. Contrary to popular belief, you do not have to have a rooster for good egg production.) We are collecting 12 and 13 eggs a day now and harassing family and friends to come get’m.
Between bucket feeding Blossom twice a day, and tending to the hens, there’s plenty of activity on the Empty Nest Farm. And we love it! There’s nothing quite as pleasant as venturing outside in the fresh air, with dew on the grass, and the sun just rising or setting, to feed Blossom and gather eggs. God paints a pretty picture of hope, life and well being.
Ginnie is turning into quite the farm girl. I even got her a pair of muck boots and “sloggers” (with cows on them) from the farm supply store so that she doesn’t have to mess up her “go’n-to-town shoes.” There have been quite a few trips to the farm-supply store lately and it has become our number-one place to shop. Move over Target!
Contact Curt Swarm in Mt. Pleasant at 319-217-0526
or curtswarm@yahoo.com