Chickens On The Run

Our chickens run freely on our farm.  They are not in cages and graze in the fields with the cows and goats.  It’s a beautiful thing to see them eating bugs and getting other things from the cow dung, haha.  While they eat and move along in the fields they have many predators.  We have lost many to foxes and coyotes and Brian and I are always on the watch for those chicken hunters.  Now that we have Walter, our English Shepherd, the Coyotes have been kept at bay but at times still sneak in at nab a chicken.

Last week late in the afternoon I saw a coyote start to move in close to the fence and I knew he or she was going to kill a chicken.  Brian grabbed his rifle and quietly crept out to hide behind the pile brush and what happen next was a story to tell.  Brian had an army of chickens lined up behind him.  As he crawled across the mowed grass to hid  next to the cow trailer this army of chickens followed behind.  I laughed so hard, it was so cute to see these girls(Hens) and couple boys(Roosters) waiting for the MAN to kill their enemy.  There must have been 30 or 40 chickens following him and as soon as he lifted his rifle they ran to hid somewhere.  BOOM !  Down went the coyote and Brian stood up to see for sure if he got him.  As Brian came back to the house all the chickens ran to meet him and he was surrounded with their joyful relief .

Carolyn

 

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Helping Hands in the Soap Pot / Carolyn’s Natural Soap

Carolyn’s Natural Soaps is where I began and the soaps and creams are still in demand.  Thankfully I have a daughter Julie, who Is my right hand helper in all soap making.  I have 10 grand children and one on the way and they also put their helping hands in the soap pot, but most of all they want to have a soap named after themselves.

Adelaide has a herbal garden soap she encouraged me to make.  It’s heavily scented with herbs from the garden.  Thyme, Basil, Oregano, Lavender, Rosemary, the herbs that are anti bacterial and germicidal.  I love it and it has become very popular in the Akins Stores.  

Eva wanted a soap called EVA DEVA. I just developed an Acne Bar for young skin fighting blemishes.  I call it EVA DEVA’s Herbal Acne Soap. There is a toner that will go with it.  My mothers picture taken in the 1920’s will be on the wrapper. Almost done with the label.

My grandson Nathan wanted a Nat’s Naterade but we changed the name to Nat’s Natur-aide bar.  This bar is for bug bites and poison Ivy relief.  If you use it soon after a bite or a rash it will help to dry up the problem.  I also made an itch salve that helps stops the itch and  bring down the bumps and lumps.

These are just a few of the new products Carolyn’s Natural’s are developing. 

HIS NAME IS WALTER / Reid Ranch Farm/English Shepherd Dog/Small Farm Life

 

 

His name is WALTER.  The English Shepherd pup we got in the winter is a WONDER DOG.  To watch Brian and Walter together is so cool.  With a hand signal and a call Walter races  through the grass to find the cows in the back pasture or resting under the trees.  He barks as he begins to make his wonders happen.  He moves so freely, in and out as he finds them and brings them to the barn.  He looks at Brian to get another command and waits as he watches the cows move by.   For years Brian has had to walk through the pastures to bring them all in, but now he waits on the porch and Walter does all the work. He’s our Wonder Dog for sure.

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It’s About Time to Blog again / Reid Ranch / Farm Life

Where has all the time gone?  The winter is over and summer is almost here.  The grass is green again and the crickets are singing their song.  The cows and goats are happy and giving more milk then we can handle.  It’s so nice to once again walk outside with no shoes and feel the grass between my toes.  Planting seeds in fresh turned soil and waiting for the first rain to wet the seeds and watch them grow.  Nothing is more beautiful then the simple things our Creator has given for us to behold. 

Once the grass turned green the cows, who all winter gave all they could, have now doubled their milk production.  I have been making so much cheese and butter I’m beginning to wonder if I can keep going.  We have been able to add a few new families to the farm store but could use more.  These new families are so happy to have found us and we are so thankful too.  They tell me that the products from our farm store are the best ever.

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THE FARM IN WINTER / Midwest Farm Life / Kansas Small Ranch / Natural Organic Farming

We lived through the bad storm!   How do the cows and calves endure such cold nights?  Brian wares layers of clothing and then a jump suit overall.  Yesterday and today nothing will run so it’s Brian walking with totes and wash bucket up to the barn.  I get to sit by the fire and type this short blog until he comes in.

Milking Helpers/ Midwest Ranch / Kansas Small Farm

Last Saturday night all the children came to celebrate their dad’s birthday.  Brian Jr., Tom, Julie, Cheryl, Sam and Greg all came to eat and relax awhile. 

BRIAN & GREGG ON GUITAR

When it came time to milk the cows Brian and Tom, Brian Jr. and Julie went with Dad to help.  The only one who has milked before was Tom.  Everyone took turns milking and they did really well.  Maybe someday they can take over so Dad and I can get away for awhile.

BIRTHDAY BOY (BRIAN)

TOM

BRIAN JR

JULIE

BRIAN JR & BIRTHDAY BOY

How did the Old Time Farmers do it? / Kansas Country Farming / Midwest Simple Living / Natural Farm

Farming the ways of our forefathers in this busy, fast paced world of corporations, big money and overwhelming taxes, takes a peaceful, patience person to survive and be successful .  It takes talents and  determination with a love of the freedom to work for yourself and enjoy the pleasures of small successes.  My Dad was a farmer in the 1930ties and on in to the 70ties.  I didn’t realize how much I had learned from him until we started our own farm.

My father was his own boss and never worked for any other man.  His desire to be a man of means, working only for himself, gaining and living in the freedom this country offers was how he lived.  He helped many people and worked very hard to provide for our family.  Dad spoke freely to us children on how to keep our minds open and encouraged us to ask questions and think before you answer a man.  Farming was in his blood and he tried many things to keep diversified. He raised beef, sheep, row cropped tomatoes, strawberries, raised acres of wheat and  alfalfa. He cleared fields of grassed and planted orchards of walnuts and prunes.  Dad bought land and worked hard to pay the mortgages.  He always tried to be successful but had many disappointments.  He would always say, “If you don’t take chances you’ll never know if it would have worked, so don’t be afraid to fail.”

To work for yourself can be exhausting.  Brian and I have not had a day off for over 5 years. Our gardens have not always been productive, even though we worked hard to plant and weed.  The animals take much care and they are not without cost.  The buildings always need repair or rebuilt.  Brian added on to the barn this year using much of the reclaimed lumber he had stored of several years.  We have lost chickens to the wild life here in Kansas and lost our investments many times over.

The joy of living and working for yourself is hard to express.  It’s spiritual, and never leaves the heart.  Living this way with loving animals and wild creatures,  enduring the weather in summer and winter, evokes a pure way of life that echoes from wholesome, honest, loving farmers of the  past.  My hope and prayers are that more families will find this same desire to live off the land and give their children the same confident,  land loving, positive education I received from my father.  

Curious Jethro / Midwest Farm Life / Kansas Small Ranch / Donkey

Monday, Brian and I went to town.  It’s hard to leave the farm as the work or things to do never end.  Brian and I had to hustle to get as much things done before we could leave.  The last thing Brian did was put bales of hay on the back of the farm truck and drive up on the hill to leave hay for the cows.  I had finished washing the totes and vacuuming the house. We grabbed a second cup of coffee for the trip and off we went.

It was around 5 pm when we got home.  We began to prepare for milking, as we start that task around 6 every night.  As I went out to bring some more groceries in from the car, up walked Jethro, my cleaver donkey.  I said,” Hi Jethro how did you get out of the field?”  I looked around and Valentine a steer was also out.  Long story short, I led Jethro back into the pasture and Valentine followed.  Brian in his hurry had left the gate open, thank God the other cows had not found the opening.

When Brian went to the barn to milk later that evening, what he encountered was a mess created by CURIOUS JETHRO.  Jethro had had a happy day in the barn!  The feed containers with cat and dog food in them were pulled out and flung over to the other side of the barn.  He had helped himself to all the alfalfa hay he could eat, as bales had been pulled open and moved around. The cats’ house had it’s roof off, the halters and ropes that hung on hooks were pulled off the hooks and tossed to the ground. Oh Jethro, what a time you had carousing around in the barn. 

Brian wasn’t to mad, as he knew it was his fault for leaving the gate unlocked, but we might have to put Jethro in with Becky and the calves as he is eating to much; or, we could leave him out to be a Farm  Greeter? Walmart has Greeters, why not the Reids?     He did greet one neighbor as she came for her milk.  She tried to put him in with Becky the cow, but he wanted to stay out and Becky tried to get out to, so  her efforts were in vane.  Life on the Reid Ranch is never dull or real exciting, just enjoyable.

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Becky the Pain! Becky the Boss! Remember Becky? Well, she almost was meat. / Midwest Farm Life / Kansas small ranch / Natural products

 

Recently, when Becky was with the other cows, she was acting like a bull and bothers the cows all day, day in, day out for weeks.  This was hurting her utter and milk production and the other cows as well. This might be because four other cows were due to have calves. Maybe she was a little jealous. She doesn’t eat much and won’t let the other cows eat to.  We thought of selling her and then thought she might have to be sent to the butchers!!!!

 

Becky, the Jersey Cow, was our first cow and has given us the best milk and butter for 5 years.  She is my favorite cow and her picture is on my soap labels "Carolyn's Natural Soap" and it’s her rich milk that makes my soap so special.  We did not know what to do.

This last month, we were blessed with four new heifers, I will write about them later. Brian said he’ll give Becky another chance and put her in the calves pen.  Wow, what a differences!  Becky now is at peace.  She will let Brian milk out in the open and her milk is as sweet as ever.  We’ll have to keep her separate from the others to enjoy her gifts to our farm and family. I think she wants to be the boss, but Gurney, our Guernsey cow, wanted to be the boss among the cow herd.  Now, Becky is the boss among the calf herd.  HaHa

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FOUR NEW CALVES TO JOIN US / Kansas Farm Life / Midwest Simple Farming / Cows

Four new calves born all ready!  Trisha, a black Jersey had her calf on the 7th of November. This was her first time to calf and gave birth without a hitch.  We named the heifer calf, CoCo as she is chocolate brown. 


Mae, another black Jersey had her calf on the 23rd of December.  We thought her calf wouldn’t be born until the end of January as our bull was not yet a year old if he  bred her in March, but to our surprise that is exactly what he did.  This heifer calf we named Grayleen because of her color.

June now had her calf on the 31st of December,  New Years Eve.  June started her labor in the late afternoon so Brian and I got her to the barn as it was very cold.  The calf came that evening, another heifer.  We call her Nevey, New Years Eve baby.

I now feed 4 calves who fight for their bottles and suck my coat and hands.  It’s quite a challenge to care for these beauties.  The 4th is a Jersey bull calf we’ll raise to replace Moonlight someday.  We call this bull calf Stanley.