Category: Chicken

Keeping Vigil at Briden Farm

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Woodland Pastured Goats

Ok, so, I’m tired, I’m stressed, and I finally have a better understanding of what my Dad, Vic Hurlburt Sr., used to experience when he had sheep! Although We don’t have Sheep…

We have Goats! Only four adult does at the moment. One had two kids on July 6th. The other three are due to freshen within the next couple weeks. 

Now, in fairness to my Daddy, who passed in 2013, but I think still keeps an eye on us, He had as many as 300 Sheep! So, my keeping vigil over three to four pregnant doe Goats… Certainly doesn’t compare! 

Although it’s basically the same process. Hurry up and wait! The three who are currently still pregnant, I think, are Eve Our Saanen Goat, Sophie, and Ella.

Ella is a little to young, not really, but under normal circumstances I would have waited a year or so before breeding her for the first time. As it is she got bred at 10 months. So, hopefully, will be freshening for the first time, this month at 15 months. She has been showing signs of late stage pregnancy for nearly a week now! Goop, Pawing, Bedding, and yesterday I am pretty sure she had a bout of early contractions. Yet, still no movement! 

Sophie is about 8-9 years old, she’s a complete sweetheart around people, and we even had her walk with us in the Bear River Cherry Carnival. She’s usually very friendly and almost wants to cuddle, and the past day or so she’s becoming more distant. Laying down, getting up, and while she still came to greet me this morning she just seems a little off. It’s funny how different goats act different when they’re getting close to giving birth. 

Eve, she’s my Sweetheart. We got her last March at supposed age of 11 years. Most only live till 11 or 12 years. Eve was still in milk after two years when we got her. I continued to milk her through November. She’s a gentle, loving lady, who loves to be milked. She’s actually older than we like to breed, but I’m really hoping to have a little doe to carry on her line. 

All in all it’s fun, but it’s also kind of nerve racking. With Ella being young, and Eve being old, it’s a concern. The kids are going to be born on Woodland pasture. So, even worried a bit about predators. 

The kidding season for us should be over by month end, thankfully, as the does were exposed to a young Buck for six weeks in February and March. 

With all this going on, we’re probably crazy to do Tours, but it’s really the best time of year! We have lots of Babies, Bunnies, Chicks, Ducklings, Goat Kids, Kittens, and more!

We actually enjoy doing Farm Tours, and we don’t charge at this point, but we are open to Donations which help pay for feed.

Book You Farm Tour … 

Call Brian at 902-907-0770

Pet Peve About Bovan Brown Buyers

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Bovan Brown Laying Hens

Ok, I know, what a Title! It comes down to this, yes we have Bovan Brown Hens For Sale. No, You can’t pick them up today! Funnier still! Right? 

Nova Scotia is under a Heat 🔥 Warning, and this is literally our fourth day being hotter than Costa Rica some 4,200 Kms to our South! 

Meanwhile, we’ve been contacted by two potential Buyers, both demanding they get their birds today! Actually, one was Friday and the other today, Sunday! Both could only come get them in the exact day they first asked for them! First Red Flag! 

The second red flag is when they ask how many we have? Really none of their business! A better question would be, “Can we get “X” number of birds?” Why does it matter how many, or how few, we have? 

Both of these first two questions makes me wonder about their true motives!? Are they activists making inquiries to try to trip us up? Or are they so inexperienced they just don’t know any better!? 

Then, after I explain to them that Chickens get heat stressed when the Temperature goes above 24/25 Celsius, and so no yo7 can’t pick them up today! We’ll get them when they go to roost tonight and have them ready for pickup in the morning. After we explain that, the buyer doesn’t even reply! How Rude!

Even though these hens come to us when the Free Range Operations we source from are getting rid of their birds, that doesn’t mean we’re not going to look after them!

Yes, we’re a traditional farm, but we also give all our animals, pets and livestock, the best life we can for as long as we can. How many people have cats they’ve raised from kittens that are 18 years old!? 
Tis Gris

Suffice to say, we will always do our best to protect our animals and customers will come second! Which also means that we’ll know who you are, and where you’re from, before getting any of them! After all, these may be advertised on Kijiji but they are living beings, not some yard sale item! 

Honestly, we consider we pretty much rescue these Laying Hens! Yes, they come from Free Range operations, that doesn’t mean they’re in perfect shape when we get them. Often they are intensively farmed, hen pecked, and have perhaps come through a molt. Definitely not show birds! Yet, they still lay, often at 60-70% lay rate. When we get them we boost their shell, calcium, protein, and after a few weeks they begin to spruce up quite nicely! Perhaps that’s why many of our Customers are repeat customers! 

Our main goal is not to sell chickens! It’s to give them a better life! We charge just $10 a Hen, and that at a time when others are charging $20-$40 or more per bird! Yet, we’re only going to sell them when the time is right, and to those who will be responsible owners! 

Ok, end of Rant!

To all of our Customers, especially our repeat customers,

Thank You! 

If you have questions, or concerns, or you would like to make a purchase, please call me, Brian at Briden Farm 902-907-0770 

Buy Me A Coffee, Or Sponsor A Duck!

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Buy Me A Coffee

Or a Chicken, or a Goat, or… we’ll anyway, You get the idea!

Buy Me A Coffee” is a is an crowdfunding company that provides a service for over 300,000 Ceators to collect donations from their supporters. Which means, it allows You to support us in our efforts! 

Wether You want to simply “Buy Me A Coffee” once, or once in awhile!

Or if You’d like to Sponsor a Chicken, a Duck, or a Goat, on a monthly basis! It helps us, help You do that! 

The nice thing is, I get Free Coffee! 

Actually,  as nice as that would be, what it really does is help us bridge the gaps knowing we have Supporters! Not really investors, no real ownership, but people willing, and able, to invest in what we are doing! 

As a thank you, all Sponsorships come with a Pass that allows You Free Briden Farm Visits. Whether you choose to sponsor a Chicken at $5 a month, a Duck at $10/month, or a Goats at $20/month, you’ll also receive a Briden Farm Membership Card that allows You Free Farm Visits. 

Also, because we like the concept of Paying it Forward, when you sponsor a Chicken, at just $5 / month, we’ll donate Eggs to a Needy Family! 

Plus You get Free Farm Visits! 

When You Sponsor a Duck or a Goat you get Free Farm Visits for Your Entire Family! 

Sound like fun? Sound like something You want to do?

Want More Information? (Click Here

Or, Call Brian at Briden Farm (902) 907-0770 

New Babies, Pastures, & Gardens At Briden Farm

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New Babies, Pastures, & Gardens

While many birds and animals have their young early in the spring, it seems ours like to wait! June seems to be our busy month! 

With outs of Chicks, Ducklings, Baby Bunnies, and the Goats are due in July. I think!

Garden needs tending and fertilizing, we use natural fertilizers and that takes time. Plus rotating pastures!

So, it definitely is a busy time of Year! It’s also a great time to visit! Yes, we’re busy, but your visits give us a break.

So, call Brian now to Book Your Visit…. 

902-907-0770