We also wanted to tell our customers that we have Rhode Island Red Chicks for Sale. This is a Straight Run (male and female) because they are too small to tell gender. This is one of the most famous and all time popular breeds of truly American chickens. Developed in the early 1900's in the state of the same name, they have maintained their reputation as a dual purpose fowl through the years. No other heavy breed lays more eggs than the Rhode Island Reds.
One Week Old: $ 4/ per chick
One Month Old: $6/ per chick
I split them into this time frame because that is usually the gap of time between their hatching and our trip to the Farmers Market.
We also have Fertilized Rhode Island Eggs available for your incubator for $ 8/dozen.
At the next Farmers Market on April 19th we should have Ducklings also. Ducks are easy to raise, naturally free from disease, and once started, require little commercial feed. Although most ducks are raised for their meat, they do lay well and can provide lots of eggs for baking! High end bakeries will pay money for duck eggs for their rich flavor! They are a joy to watch and of course water to play in is appreciated. Do not release ducklings directly to a pond. They are an easy meal for most predators from turtles to bass. We prefer to keep our ducks in a moving cage for a length of time until they are not such easy prey.
Mallard Ducklings: $ 5/duckling
Muscovy Ducklings: $ 4/duckling
Blue Swedish Ducklings: $ 4/duckling
Black Swedish Ducklings: $ 4/duckling
We should be bringing Toulouse Goslings and African Goslings to the Market also. Geese are fun to raise. They have been pictured in pyramids! I'd say they are pretty old. Geese can be expected to breed past 30 yrs and a 40 yr. old is not uncommon. Geese are raised primarily for meat today but many customers use their eggs for baking and the shells for decorative arts. Goose down goes into everything from an old fashioned feather bed to a modern lightweight jacket. Geese are easy and inexpensive to raise, quick to grow, and a delight to behold. They are wonderful watchdogs also! We have had no problems with aggression from geese on our farm.
Goslings: $ 10/gosling
At the next Market we hope to bring Guineas also. Guineas are natural bug exterminators- they are excellent in controlling ticks and fleas. As such- they roam in search of a fresh supply of bugs. When you buy your Guineas, please be very aware of their tendency to roam. If you keep them confined for 3-4 weeks with food and water, they will associate that location as hone base and even though they roam, they will tend to roost at home base. All guineas originally came from Africa and have always been prized for their all-dark, gamey tasting meat. Guineas are easy to raise. Once you get them started they live and grow on bugs, insects, and weed seeds. The newly hatched young are called keats and are very active from the start. Once guineas are grown they will range throughout your farmstead foraging for food and serving as your personal watchdogs. To help guineas get off to a good start, put marbles in their water to keep them from drowning. ( I didn't say they were the smartest of the fowl family!)
One Week Old Guinea: $5/guinea
One Month Old Guinea: $ 10/guinea
We hope you have a Blessed Day! Thank You for visiting the Scoggins Family Farm Blog!
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