My Book Epic Eggs is Available for Pre-Order!

I'm so excited to share that my book Epic Eggs is available on Amazon for per-order! It feels like a dream to finally be a published book author! This book is not a cook book, and not a "how to raise chickens" book (though, there is a chapter on that). Instead it focuses on eggs.

• Breeding for Egg color and quality eggs
• Increasing egg production in your backyard flock
• Sizing and grading your egg harvest
• Understanding the anatomy of an egg and the egg producing anatomy of a chicken.
• How to use this knowledge to raise a healthier flock and healthier eggs. 
• Raising other poultry for eggs

This book is great for beginners who are looking to start out with a great laying flock, but it also delves into the nitty-gritty of breeding which makes it appealing to seasoned chicken keepers looking to specialize in certain egg laying breeds.

Click here to order now. Publication is scheduled for November 1st! Just in time for the Holidays!   

 

Springtime at Iron Oak Farm

Everything is starting to blossom in the warmer weather.

Purple Phlox

Dandelion gone to seed

The whole yard smells of sweet honeysuckle. This is the pink variety.

And here is the white variety of Honey Suckle.

Lilacs

The turkeys, chickens, geese, guineas and ducks enjoying the new run. We still have the other half to build.

We had a successful hatch of Buff Orpington chicks. 5 out of 7 eggs.

I can't believe how big these guys have grown! Khaki Campbell ducks

Little Man-Abrahm is also getting big. He's enjoying cuddles on the porch after his bottle while Oliver licks his face clean of milk.

Waltzing Turkeys Video

 I was in the garden last year when I spotted our Black Spanish turkey pair participating in an interesting "dance". 

Click below to see the "waltz"

Can You Raise Chickens and Turkeys Together?

One of the most common questions I get is asking if chickens and turkeys can be raised together. Find out over at Community Chickens in my latest blog post. Click below.

Can You Raise Chickens and Turkeys Together?

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Iron Oak Farm, but especially from Tom, who is thankful he is a pet and not joining the cranberry sauce and dressing this year.

Many blessings to you and yours, and many things to be thankful for. May you share in bounty with friends and family.

Raising Turkeys vs. Chickens CC Post

So you have your chickens and know that raising then is easy.

If you have the space, why not give turkeys a try? Learn the differences between raising turkeys and chickens in my latest Community Chickens Post, Raising Turkeys vs. Chickens.

Balancing Poultry With Other Farm Animals

It's been one of the best years at Iron Oak Farm. Read my latest Community Chickens post Balancing Poultry With Other Farm Animals to learn why!

Turkey Depression and my New Boyfriend Tom CC Post

This post is filled with romantic gossip, the struggles of lost love and the emotional ups and downs that relationships can bring. Check out my new post, Turkey Depression and my New Boyfriend Tom

Turkeys Galore CC Post

Read the story of how we over prepared for turkeys this spring in my latest Community Chickens post Turkeys Galore!

Chickens, Turkeys, Ducks and Guineas

Here are some poultry shots from this week.

Photo Friday

This is our week! 

I found an acorn last fall. It was slightly cracked open and the tender tree had begun to germinate. Just the tiniest little hint of a sapling. I brought it in the house and put it in a pot with some dirt. I watered it every week and it did nothing. Twice, I almost gave up on it and threw it outside, but curiosity got the best of me and I decided I would give it till spring. About two weeks ago it started growing! The little brown nubbin turned green and within days it had formed these leaves! It's amazing that even though this acorn was in the temperature controlled house, it knew it was spring.

My Mother-in-law Kathy knitted this adorable sweater vest for our nephew Benjamin. The bunny's tail is almost like a terrycloth yarn. It's raised and fluffy just like a real bunny tail.

Like seeing double. Buff Orphington hens

Busy girls. Our best layers. Leghorn hens

the whole gang

Abigail and Timber our Buckling

Our Beautiful Turkey Tom

I'm simply smitten with our Black Spanish turkeys. Our Tom is simply beautiful and I can't stop taking photos of him! He's like a little tank as he bustles around the yard. Blue black in color and the most vibrant head I've ever seen. He is just amazing.

Did you know that a turkey will change its head color depending on its mood? This is our Black Spanish Tom showing the bright red to the left and the brilliant blue on the right. This is the same turkey in both photos. Sometimes mid-change, the caruncle (or lumpy skin) fade almost to white. The change takes only a few seconds.

Tail feathers

his closeup