Day #?? May, 3, 2010

OK. I think I'm all messed up on my days on the farm! That didn't take long, huh? I think the weekend screwed me up. I'm here, but technically "off-duty". So does that count?!? Who knows. And, really, does it matter? :)

Today, we build a shelter for the baby chicks to have outside. Yay! They finally have most of their "real" feathers and get to peck at grass and weeds, breathe some fresh air, and have some room to run around. The shelter is 9' x 9', and 6' tall inside. The bottom is open, just four 2x4's screwed together. Then, a  large metal fencing piece is attached on each side, creating a bowed top. The top is covered with a tarp to keep the worst of the sun and the rain out. The back is more tarp-covered fencing, and the front is fencing, but no tarp, to make sure there is fresh air. The shelter will be enclosed in a portable fence.

The whole contraption will be chained to the tractor and can be dragged from one grassy area to another, as they peck around. Some of the fencing pieces were already the right size, etc. but other than that, we put the whole thing together in just a few hours.

One of the little chicks developed "Curly Toe" and had to be... well, put down, but that's not exactly the right phrase. The tendons in his feet tore and he couldn't walk. There really is no treatment for it, and a vet visit is a minimum $75 charge, so....Yikes. More circle-of-life, huh?

We also had our first CSA members show up for work shifts. When they sign up for their shares, members are given the chance to work 4-hour shifts for a credit on the cost of their membership. The members that came today worked from 1-5, and will do another shift next Monday. We weeded one garden and planted more onions.

Most other tasks are getting us ready for Pizza Nights to start on Thursday. I believe the current plan is to have our trial run tomorrow.

All three of the "baby calvies" have names now. Dandy (was the first to try eating dandelions), Cupid (has a perfect heart-shaped white spot on his forehead) and Oslo (not sure where THAT came from, other than the mind of a 5-year-old!). Hope that doesn't make it more difficult when the time comes for them to fulfill their destiny.