Surviving the Zombie Pandemic with Your Chickens

Because it's coming, that's why. The CDC even says so.

I had a startling realization today... My flock, which I took such care in building is NOT going to survive the Zombie Apocalypse. Yeah, you read that right. They're just not cut out for it.

Most chicken addicts read about the pros and cons of each breed while buildng up their flock and some (like me) even have a a wish list. Some folks are looking for good layers, cold or heat tolerant, docile, or broody hens. But have you ever taken into account what traits will be important during the upcoming Zombie Apocalypse?

View from my back deck

First of all, let's just get this out of the way: The Zombie Apocalypse is a real threat. The Center for Disease Control has even assigned a Task Force to study the threat and ready the American public. They are calling it the Zombie Pandemic and even provide a list of things to have on hand in case the Pandemic actually happens. They list water, medication, canned food; however, I think they overlooked the obvious - chickens.

*credit. image from CDC zombie pandemic site. no really. it is.

This is where my realization happened. My backyard flock did not reveal ONE chicken that met the following criteria I devised as a zombie survival standard.  

1. They should be good foragers. It's not like you can just run down to Tractor Supply for laying feed during the Zombie Pandemic. The zombies will be everywhere.
2. The hens should be good layers, as food sources will be scarce. Eggs are an excellent source of protein, EFAs, and are loaded with nutrients. Besides, can you imagine a Pandemic without omelettes or a little cake here and there? I can't!
3. They must be hardy and both heat and cold tolerant. Living conditions during the pandemic are unknown and very hard to plan for. The one thing that is clear, however, is that you will have to keep moving to survive the zombie raids. These slow moving predators feed on brains and travel in packs. Trust me. I've seen movies. Plan to be move around a lot.
4. Hens should be broody, but not too broody. If they are too broody, they may want to sit, hide their eggs, or not travel with you. But if they aren't broody at all, you cannot replenish your flock if the Pandemic drags on.

Buffy (Buff Orp)  may be slothly, but we enjoy her sweet gluttonous demeanor.

That doesn't seem like a lot to ask for, does it? In assessing my flock, however, no bird is a perfect fit. My Buff Orpingtons are too slothly and lazy and too much food to product 3-5 eggs per week. My Bantums are broody, but too broody. They would not move well with me as I'm moving to avoid the Zombies. My Rhode Island Reds are good on all but one category; they would not hatch eggs to replenish the flock. But I love them all.

Each have their own distinct personality and my husband and I enjoy watching the soap opera that rages on in our back yard. In fact, he fancies Laced Wyandottes so much that I got him the last two in Jackson County for our upcoming anniversary.

Week old Wyandotte see completely oblivious to pending danger of Zombies.

Isn't she cute? I don't think I'll tell her about the upcoming Pandemic until she's older...

So what Is the best chicken to have on hand when the dead start roaming the Earth? I've read tons of books and I googled it (what did we do before google???), and they all point to the regal and hardy Welsummer.

Guess what just got added to my chicken wish list!

I've taken a lot of care in building my flock and they give us joy, entertainment, love, and yummy organic eggs. Although I"m changing my wish list a little, I wouldn't trade our girls (and roos) for anything. And with that, I will leave you with some expert advice in surviving the Zombie Epidemic.

  



Butter, fashion, and a science lesson

Guess what we made today?

It was yummy!!! We are so excited about getting our dairy cow, Clarabelle. Our friend is picking her up this week and raising her for us. I will post pictures soon.

Whole, unprocessed organic all natural yummy creamy milk...nom...nom..nom... Sorry. I zoned out there for a minute. So, what else did we do this weekend. I"m so glad you asked:)

UPCYCLE: 

We died old stained shirts using a method called Shibori. You've seen it on here before (Caught Red Handed) but this time we used a soaking method.

It's pretty easy. We went on a walk and gathered sticks and rocks that we found interesting. Then you rubber band or tie the shirts just like in tie dye; except you tie the natural goodies in with them. We got a little silly. We rubber banded rocks (making the circles) and we rolled sticks of all sizes into the shirts to make lines. Then we followed the dye directions and just soaked them for an hour. Cool huh?

UPCYCLE #2:

And in the name of upcycle, we tore up a pallet. I mean we hammered, pulled, tugged, stood on, threw around, and trashed a pallet. Whew! Those things are well made!!! All to experiment with weathered signs.

I like it... pretty much. I used free hand and I just don't like the brush I used. I would like nicer lettering. BUT I know how to make it look how I want otherwise and there will be many more to follow! I used some old paint leftover from inside the house and basic sandpaper. Neat upcycle huh?

But will the girls read it? It's hanging over the chicken coop door. Hmmm.....

KID PHOTO: (ok everyone say Aw......)

Speaking of chickens... Here is my lovely daughter with our newest addition, Aurora. (insert it... NOW)

She's a white leg horn. We've had her sister, Snow White, for a while now, but recently acquired her smaller sister. They both are excellent layers and gift us with yummy white eggs! My daughter is the chicken whisperer...

UPCYCLE REVISIT: (with a sly science lesson)

And quite a farmer! Here is her salad garden.

I'm sure you all think it's pretty crazy that I'm claiming that our veggies love lightning storms. I mean, who doesn't like to curl up & sleep to a nice storm or sit out on the porch and watch the show, right? But at this point you're likely thinking that I've endured too many hours of Veggie Tales in my Momdom and have finally cracked.

But alas, I have science on my side. Air is almost 78% nitrogen and 20% oxygen. Plants NEED nitrogen to produce chlorophyl and to grow big and healthy. BUT the nitrogen in the air is not usable for plants, so how do they get it? Good question.

During lightning storms, heat and electricity causes nitrogen molecules to stick to oxygen molecules. This nitrogen oxide falls in the rain and superdoses the plants with nitrogen in a usable form.

BOTTOM LINE - Lightning makes plants grow super healthy super fast. And we've had a lot of lightning storms lately. Just look at this planter ONE month ago.

We harvested broccoli, spinach, onions, and lettuce this weekend . Yup, lightning and my beautiful daughter's green thumb:)

More proof. Here are some of our container gardens... Look at the potatoes (in front of the bee).

Now look at them 14 days ago.

And yes, those are tomatoes on the left! We will be eating cherry reds next week:)

I hope you enjoyed seeing what the Lees are up to on Maple Valley Farm and I hope you found some ideas for your own homestead. Have a great week everyone... Blessed Be!

April Upcycles on Maple Valley Farm



$30 Loot from Auction = Upcycles!



My front porch was looking sort of drab, so I decided to revisit this old table that was part of a great auction haul recently. It was only $2. Totally worth it!

I got into the cellar to see what colors of paint leftovers I had to choose from and found this really pretty red. I like red. My husband accuses me of painting everything red! So, I cleaned it up, painted it, and used wax to antique and protect it. It really brightens up a drab corner on the front porch, don't you think?

You may remember a few other upcycles from the same auction haul:


Potatoes in a $1 Basket

$2 Chair Painted by My Kiddos

I'm pretty happy with how they've all turned out!

Let's take a look at some other up/re-cycles happening at Maple Valley Farm:

OLD FISH TANK/SAVED SEEDS


Fish Tank Upcycle = Saved Seeds

The seeds we saved last year from organic veggies have done really well in our make shift green house (read = old fish tank upcycle). I've started to hardy them off and they should be ready to be transplanted outside in a few more weeks. (The eggs you see contain eggplants... I may be a dork, but I think that's funny.)

RECYCLED MASON JARS/FROZEN ORGANIC FRUIT DEALIO

Happiness is a Full Cupboard

I got a really good deal on some frozen organic fruit, so we decided to use up some mason jars that a friend gave us (her husband was cleaning out the garage!). We had a great time making jam! My daughter is in charge of all the measuring and my son is a champion fruit squisher (we use a potato masher).

I found some cupcake liners after Easter on clearance for a quarter, so we tried them out as jar decoration. Very springy, huh? After the jars are sealed, you simply turn the cupcake liners upside down and screw the ring down over the lid as usual, so that the bottom of the liner hangs out. You could also add ribbon and/or labels to jazz the jars up.

OLD WINDOW SCREENS MULTIPLIED

Larger Screens Catch More Pooh

The screens we tried first in the chicken coop worked so well, that we upsized. I got three larger screens which were being tossed, and replaced the smaller ones. These cover more area and keep the chickens from walking in yuck. Once a week I hose them off and it's so much cleaner!

SCRAP WOOD RE-USE


Wood Scraps into a Chicken/Duck Wrap

Fluffy, one of our Buff Orpingtons, demonstrates how to use her chicken ramp. Our friend constructed a nice ramp out of scrap wood from our cabin reconstruction. The girls seem to love it!

OLD BOOTS OR AN HERB PLANTER?

Walk Down Memory Lane

Does anyone else ever look at the items that your kiddos outgrow nostalgically? This pair of rain boots really held a lot of memories of my beautiful daughter stomping in the mud and playing in the creek in our yard. I couldn't bear to hand them down...

So, I propagated some herbs in them and kept them in the back yard to enjoy. I have to smile each time I see those boots.

THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN UP TO ON MAPLE VALLEY FARM. Very soon, we will be able to plant more in the garden, which I'll post about. And remember our broody Bantum mix hen, Willow? The one trying so hard to hatch golf balls?

Willow on Her Nest

Well it's time to put her to work! I won 7 Ameraucana eggs in a contest and they should be here any day. We plan on slipping the eggs under her and letting her hatch them. Stay tuned!

I LOVE OUR BLUE AMERAUCANA EGGS!

I enjoy the benefits of organic free range eggs, of course, but I have to admit that even though they do not taste any different, I do LOVE the different colors in our brood.

Speaking of the girls... I know you want photos. You do, right? You must. Who wouldn't love these drama queens?

Not sure why, but this photo of AFLAC makes my son laugh out loud, and he asked me to include it.

Rare photo of Dominique, our Mayflower hen

Three Tetra Tint chicks enjoy the sunshine. They will begin laying in about a month.

My RIR brat, Gertrude, is always ready for a close up... or a treat.

I hope you are enjoying Spring as much as we are! Family photo shoot tomorrow, so look for kiddo photos soon. Peace be with you!!!

REduce, REuse, UPCYCLE!

This spring, we are really concentrating on using what we already have, or re-using old items. UPCYCLING! We went to an auction the other day, and although Tim and I wimped out early, our good friends (Lisa and; Gary) stuck it out for the entire day and, with my shopping list in hand, scored us a few awesome finds!  



Old Sandbox Converted to a Salad Garden

Check out this $5 chair the my kiddos painted ALL by themselves. What a neat upgrade! 



NEXT, my 10 year old diva decided that she needed a salad garden all her own that no one else could touch and that I couldn't plant any nasty garlic or onions and that her brother couldn't put his cabbage in (can you hear the 10 year old girl in there???).  So, I racked my brain and remembered that I'd been trying to get rid of an old sandbox my 6 year old outgrew this summer. BINGO!

 

Little Man's Cabage Box far right

I drilled holes in the bottom for drainage and Ms. Diva Green Thumb has already set out several kinds of lettuce (and she snuck some onions in too... hmmm....).

Not to be outdone, my son claimed an old wooden box and demanded that it contain ONLY cabbage. The boy loves cabbage! 

Raised Beds with ReUsed Material



I LOVE using things we already have handy to accomplish tasks! 

Speaking of gardens, let's take a look at mine. Mulched, check. Top layer of soil scratched and aerated by chickens, check. We created these raised beds last year from old tractor tires and they work really well!

Two raised beds contain a variety of lettuce, cabbage, and cauliflower and broccoli have been planted in the ground. This is going to be a great garden year! I can feel it in my bones:)

Next week we can seed radished and turnips outdoors! What are you growing? Are you following the advised schedule or did you get a jump on the growing season with the early spring?


How are the birds? Wonderful, thank you for asking! Spunky and Aflac have been spending their days outside swimming in the creek.

This weekend, we plan on moving them to the chicken coup. I'll let you know how that goes! They have very much outgrown their plastic duck habitat (read plastic box).

Today the little rottens discovered a waterfall in the branch. This quickly turned into a slip n slide! They wore themselves out and took a nap in the sun.

The kids and I made a makeshift "chick tractor" out of some things laying around. The girls (I'm stressing GIRLS even though my daughter asserts she spies a rooster!) enjoyed their first trip outdoors.

And we must have done a really really good job on the tractor, as it garnered a lot of attention.

So what are you doing this spring? Send me a picture of a project you've accomplished using recycled or reused material and I"ll post it. We'll pick a random picture and that person will win some organic carrot seeds!

Greening Our Weekend

 

"Chitting Potatoes"

 We have a few neat projects planned for this weekend! First, we're going to an auction with our friends who just bought a farm... I wonder what treasures we will find!

Next we are going to "chit" potatoes. All that means is that we're going to sit them in egg cartons with a little soil and dampness in order to promote a few sprouts.

In just a couple of weeks, we'll try our hand at potatoes in a container garden. We are using Organic Yellow potatoes. We will be sure to choose terra cotta or recycled containers which have really good holes in the bottom for draining, so that the potatoes will not rot. I will post pictures of the progress. We should be able to harvest these potatoes in June.

"Starting Seeds in Organic Egg Shells"

Also, it's time to seed Egglplant indoors, so it's the perfect time to try out some recycled/organic eggshell containers. I have a feeling these are going to work REALLY REALLY well.

Our lettuce and tomatoes are up, so it's time to get them all under a light. A few varieties did not sprout, so I may try again with the red lettuce & red stripey tomatoes..

SURPRISE PROJECT: We're going to reclaim an old sandbox that the kids have outgrown... Stay tuned and see how we recycle and reuse it in our garden! It promises to be a fun project.

Sounds like a fun weekend, huh? I will continue to mulch, compost, and clean up. I will post pictures of how our garden is coming along in a day or so... And introduce you to the newest member of Maple Valley Farm.

Aflac and Spunky are growing so fast! They love playing in the creek on warm days, but have to settle for the bathtub when the temperature drops below 70...

HAVE A BLESSED WEEKEND!!!