Author: Brian Hurlburt

Brian Hurlburt’s FaceBook Profile states he’s an Old Goat & Chicken Chaser at Briden Farm, so who are we to argue! Brian is the “Bri” of Briden Farm.

For The Love of A Chicken

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For the Love of a Chicken

Straight Up… that Title should be For The Love of a Rooster!

Our story starts in East Kemptville, Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia and dates from 1982. I was in Grade 11 when My Dad, Victor Hurlburt Sr., decided to incubate some Chicks. Unfortunately on day 13 of the 21 Days of incubation the power went out! Then, on Day 21 the Power Company turned the village power off to do some work! Unfortunately this played havoc with the hatch rates, and only two Chicks, two young Roosters, also known as Cockerels, hatched out! 

Another unfortunate turn of events happened when the two cockerels were just a month or so old, and one of our cows laid on one of the young birds. This left just one, both had sort of imprinted on me, and now alone, the one I called “Chicken George” really attached Himself to me, and I to him! He would jump on my foot, and I’d lift him to my shoulder, and he’d ride around there. He even went as far as to come meet me at the school bus when I’d get home from school! Did I mention I was in Grade 11, and also quite backward, and embarrassed to be greeted each day by a Rooster who thought I was his Mom! Yet, I loved him and kind of secretly thought it was the greatest thing in the world! 

Now, wind the clock, or perhaps move the calendar, ahead to Sept 2020. Over 30 years later, and of course many birds in between, but a new little Chick come into my life! Our lives I should say, and he came with 10 others! Yet, he stood out, especially one day when at just 2-1/2 weeks old (that’s when we got them), he hopped up on my arm when I went to feed and water them! He stood there and looked me in the eye! Then, Denis called him Jack, and I agreed, although I knew in an instant that he reminded me, immediately, of Chicken George The Rooster! 

When Jack jumped up and sat on my arm and looked me in the eye, I knew, and I think he knew too, that He had found his forever home! 

If You’d like to experience what it’s like to Hatch Your Own Eggs, or perhaps raise some Chicks, we may be able to help! Contact us and we’ll help you find some hatching eggs or chicks! We can also help with Hens if you’re so minded to forego the youthful adventures and get cracking sooner! Just give us a call at 902-907-0770.

Hatching Chicks Is A Better Predictor Of Spring Than Groundhogs

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Hatching Mixed Flock Chicks

Today is Groundhog Day, and Shubenacadie Sam and Wiarton Willie predict Canada will have an early Spring while Punxsutawney Phil predicts 6 more weeks of Winter!  

Now, we mean no disrespect to Sam, Willie, or Phil, or any other Groundhog, but here at Briden Farm were taking another approach to determining the beginning of Spring! 

We’re hatching Eggs! We have a mixed flock of Chickens, made up mostly of Lohmanns, Easter Eggers, Sassos (that we call our Brahmas), and Buff Orpingtons. So, today, on Ground Hog Day, we put Hatching Eggs in an incubator and in three Weeks we’ll hopefully have new Baby Chicks!

Now, everyone knows that there’s no better sign of Spring than Baby Chicks! Right? Of course right! So, now we have something to tend, turning the eggs, keeping the hatching temperature and humidity at the right levels, and eagerly waiting as the anticipation builds! Then, when they hatch, about February 23, 2021, we will know that there is no more than three weeks till Spring!

So, while everyone else is waiting to see if Spring comes early, or waiting for six weeks to pass, we’re waiting for Three Weeks! Three Weeks to get Baby Chicks! Then once those Chicks Hatch, there’s no more than three weeks left till Spring! Now that’s why we think Hatching Chicks Is A Better Predictor Of Spring Than Groundhogs! 

 

PS: If You’re looking for Hatching Eggs, or Baby Chicks, please contact us at 902-907-0770 

Up to an Inch of Snow They Said

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Just an Inch of Snow

Actually they said 2-4 cm, and up to 10 Celsius, I think!

However, this is what it looked like here at Briden Farm at 8am this morning when it was still -4 C and we had at least 4-6 inches of snow on the ground!

We really can’t complain though, this has been an easy Winter, and this was the first time I’ve really had to do chores, like feeding and watering our Chickens and Nigerian Dwarf Goats, in Winter conditions.   

Not sure what it’s like over in Annapolis County, but here, on our side of Bear River in Digby County it’s blustering and yes, it’s starting to turn to rain! Which means it’s just going to be a mess!

Our Nigerian Dwarf Goats don’t mind it much, they just stay in and munch on their goodies and enjoy their hay and warm beds. Even the Bucks are quite content to laze around. The chickens are another story though, thy like to be outside, picking and scratching and sneaking off to lay their eggs in the banana boxes in the carport! Maybe they’ll actually lay their eggs in their nest boxes in the Coop today! 

in any case, it seems we’re in for a bit of warm weather this week, so They’ll all get to spend time outside later in the week, if not today.

Today, I think we’ll stay near the wood stove, here at Briden Farm where the Tea is Always On and the Coffee is not far behind! 😉 

The Fresh Snowfall Allows For Hauling More Firewood With Our Toboggan

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Hauling Firewood By Toboggan

On the Wish List here at Briden Farm is something like a Tractor, Quad, or Wheeler, to be able to do things like haul firewood! In the meantime we’re making the most of the winter and happy that The Fresh Snowfall Allows For Hauling More Firewood With Our Toboggan!