Ideally, it’s a continuously flowing cycle; there is no “waste” and no need for unsustainable inputs; that’s the goal.  The chickens provide meat and eggs to the humans, and poop to the compost cycle; the biochar stabilizes the nutrients in the urine and compost, making them plant-available longer.  You can see how the compost pile is the engine in the middle of everything.

Related posts:

1. Biochar – offset global warming AND grow more food
2. Biochar update
3. Farm visit

I grew a patch of sunflowers this summer, planted mid-April. I needed to use row covers, to protect the seeds and sprouts from birds, until the plants are a few inches tall. It took 3 months for them to mature. At first i noticed that a lot of bees, and even butterflies, were interested in the flowers:

Soon after, i noticed cardinals feasting on the mature seeds, balancing on the tops of the head and pecking the seeds out, and shelling them right on the spot. That indicated they were ready for harvest, so i gathered a few for the chickens, then soon after, Deb harvested them all, dried them in the greenhouse and saved the biggest one for seed.

Related posts:

1. Sunflowers – not very successful
2. Tomato and Fava update
3. Cover crop seeds

The Buff Orpington is a dual-purpose breed and lays tinted brown eggs. She has golden plumage with lots of fluff around her legs and tail. Lil’ Buff’s calm, curious temperament makes her an ideal mascot during farm tours. She is smaller in size compared to my other Buff hens. Because of her small size, I can carry her around for quite some time. She tolerates lots of human handling. I have two remaining Buff hens left: Lil’ Buff and Big Buff Too. he’s got a distinctive high-pitched chirp unlike any of my hens. Listen to her as she checks out the woodshed in this short video. (The other soft clucking you hear is a Silver Laced Wyandotte, no longer in our flock).

To me, the Buff Orps have personality very similar to a Golden Retriever: friendly, cuddly and calm. When I cuddle Lil’ Buff during the late afternoons (usually after 4:30pm, when they’re done with working the pasture), she’ll pet/peck my arms as if to mean, “I pet you, I pet you.” Unlike most other hens who sit (roost) in my lap, she prefers to be cuddled standing up.

She has taught me a lot of things about being a chicken keeper: becoming a broody hen and snapping her out of the broodiness; becoming infected with bumble foot and treating her infection with natural products (tumeric powder, comfrey leaves, tea tree oil foot dip) to heal her infection; becoming crop bound and using manual massage to break up the stuck crop. Currently, she’s not broody or bumblefooted nor cropbound.

I can immediately tell her apart physically from the other hens because she is missing a tine on her comb. She does not tolerate other hens’ bullying during meal time; she’s as headstrong as three other Australorp hens twice her size.

Her favorite treats are organic sunflower seeds with shells, coconut meat and yacon.

R.I.P Feb 14,  2006 – June 2, 2010.

Thank you for being my teacher.

Related posts:

1. New broody hen cage for Xmas
2. Dangerous dog kills three hens
3. “Fuzzyfoot,” or our Light Brahma Hen

• How much do we rely on California for our food?, Big Island Weekly
• Modern Marvels: Tea (hulu video, 44 minutes) is full of fascinating tea information, even if it covers machine process black tea a little too much (Hawaii gets a mention in the first 5 mins)
• Long term agricultural overshoot at the Oil Drum, both the article itself and jaywfitz’s comments on how it relates to Hawaii sustainability
• SOS Farm on Kauai (also see article) feeds 140+ chickens locally
• After seeing a blurb about a pallet shed, I began building one on our farm.  There are a couple pix in the new Farm 2010 album.
  

Related posts:

1. Farm Update
2. Learning Small Scale Farming in Mid-life
3. Press

Meanwhile, there have been several recent farm tours, including neighbors, a large group of mothers with their toddlers and babies from Waikoloa, and a couple guys with Kanu Hawaii from Oahu:

On October 31, there was the big tour from the Hamakua Sustainable Agriculture Classes, pictures from that event (some by Nicole):

Related posts:

1. Farm visits
2. Hamakua ag classes
3. Spring Farm Update

Leyla Torres combines two of my passions in this video diagram: origami and chickens.

She demonstrates her inflatable hen from duo-colored origami paper and folds a waterbomb base, with the hen color on the outside.

I first learned the inflatable hen from Leyla at Origami USA convention June 2008.

If you are following along, may I recommend using at least 10″ square paper. You’ll need to know inside reverse folds and squash folds.

Have fun!

Related posts:

1. Tahitian Squash
2. “Fuzzyfoot,” or our Light Brahma Hen
3. New broody hen cage for Xmas

Tuesday evening, Ben & I presented “Hawaii Backyard Poultry Management” as part of “Practical Agriculture for Hamakua 2009″. In case you missed the class, here’s the PDF (2 MB) as maintained on our Ahualoa Chicken Notes. The file covers a source of local stock of baby chicks, feeding organically and challenges of feeding locally. We had a lot of fun talking chicken with 15 chicken enthusiasts. (bok, bok!)

Ben and I got started into farming by the first class of its kind in 2006. Back then, Jim Cain was the program manager. Now, Donna Mitts is the lead organizer. Take a look at the classes offered http://www.hamakuadev.org/ many which are geared towards specifically farming in Hawaii.

There’s plenty of venues to talk chicken story with us:

Saturday, October 24 (9 am to 2pm) Ben and I will host an educational table at Hamakua Alive! (Pau’auilo Elementary and Middle School 43-1497 Old Main Road Paauilo, HI 96776) We’ll be happy to talk story about backyard chickens and tea (camellia sinensis).  By the way, we have a limited quantity of black tea available for purchase.

Tuesday, October 27 from 6pm, Vicky Dunaway will discuss “A Pastured Poultry Model That Works” for about 20 mins. Her talk is followed by a public screening of “Mad City Chickens,” a feature length documentary about the return of urban backyard chickens. We hope you’ll join us for the 1 hr 18 minute movie.

Halloween, Saturday, October 31, join the Practical Ag class for a farm tour on our homestead, “Ahualoa Egg & Tea Farm” from 9 am to 11 am. I hope to introduce you to Ophelia, my favorite Barred Rock hen and Lil’ Buff, my favorite Buff Orpington. Register with Donna Mitts (call 936-2117 or email ohanadonna@yahoo.com).

In this short video Susan Orlean introduces Tookey, a Gingernut Ranger, one of her original hen who is currently at the top of the pecking order. (In our flock of ten remaining hens, I picked out the top hen: it’s Alpha-hen, an Australian Orpington, commonly shortened to Australorp.) Watching chickens, online or in real life, makes me happy. It’s nice to know the chickens are making a comeback in backyard all across America.

Related posts:

1. Our Brown Laying Hens
2. Chicken processing event: Saturday, January 17
3. Hawaii chicken Q&A

I am so sorry for your loss. Please accept my deepest condolences.

Here are the actions we took in the aftermath of the dog attack. This applies to Hawaii County. Your jurisdiction may be different. Now is a good time to find out about what the rules and regulations are regarding stray dogs killing livestock in your area.

I hope this helps you if you are in a similar situation. A big thank you to all our friends and family who supported us.

Thursday afternoon of the attack, Ben took photos of the dead hens. He called the Hawaii Island Humane Society, (Kamuela office 808-885-4558). A Humane Society officer came to our house on Friday morning to talk to us about the stray dog incident and actions we can take..

The takeaway: keep a digital camera on you at all times to snap photos of the stray dog off the owner’s property. If the stray dog is in your yard, on the road; take a photo. This is proof that the dog owner failed to confine or contain the animal properly.

He went to the owner of the dangerous dog to issue a warning. In this case, we wanted to remain anonymous.

After the Humane Society Animal Officer left, I called my local police department (808-775-7533) to file a property damage report. This is a case of dangerous dog killing livestock. My livestock are egg-laying hens.

After the police officer took digital photos of the crime scene (Ben buried the hens), statements from me, Ben and my father-in-law, he gave me the report number and his contact information. Ben assessed the cost of our egg-laying hens at $50 each, or $150 for a total of three dead hens.

We decided not to press charges this time. [You will need to sign paperwork if you are not pressing charges.] Remember to request a copy of the report from the police department for your records. The report will usually take 2-3 weeks to be available for pickup.

However, the next time a dangerous dog kills one of my hens, I will pursue the matter as civil suit, demanding monetary damages.

Hawaii County Code, Chapter 4, on Animals:
http://www.co.hawaii.hi.us/countycode/chapter04.pdf

Section 4-28. Dangerous dogs may be slain.
(b) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary which may be found elsewhere in this chapter, where livestock have been killed, maimed or injured by any dangerous, fierce or vicious stray dog, the owner of such livestock or the owner’s agent, after being deputized as a special officer in accordance with the provisions of section 4-5, may take any action necessary to protect the owner’s livestock from such dangerous, fierce, or vicious dog, including, without limitation, slaying or otherwise disposing of the same.
(1980, Ord. No. 510, sec. 2.)

I read the Backyard Chickens “Predator and Pest” forum. I found it very helpful reading through chicken owner’s experiences with predator attacks and various actions they took:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewforum.php?id=13

Summary: Immediately after a dog attack, write down the color, breed and description of the dog(s). Note the time and date of the attack. Note the direction where the dog left your property. Do this when the incident is still fresh in your mind.

It’s a good idea to chat with your friendly neighbors and find out if they have seen stray dogs on their property. Let them know you are documenting the stray dog incidents by taking digital photos of the stray dog.

Take lots of high-quality photos of the crime scene with your digital camera. Take close-up photos also. If you find dog prints in the mud, document those.

Call your local Humane Society to complain about the stray dog. File a property damage with the local police, especially if the stray dog killed your livestock.

Related posts:

1. Dangerous dog kills three hens
2. Wild Pig Attack!
3. Hawaii chicken Q&A

August 13, 2009 — a brown dog killed three of my egg-laying hens, including my pet hen, Big Buff.

Jim and Ben chased off the stray dog from our property around 1:30pm. The attack occurred about an hour after Ben let out the hens to free range on grass and bugs. Our family have seen this dog off the owner’s property multiple times. The dog belongs to our neighbor whose property borders our fence line.

I do not fault the dog for being a dog; I fault the owner for being irresponsible.

I expected to hear a vocal squawking alarm call from the flock when the attack happened. Did I hear a very short burst of call when I was on the computer? Did I miss the alarm call for “I’m being attacked by a dog, help!” call? Or was it “Quick, hide, my fellow hens, I’m being eaten by a predator!” call.

Ben took a quick walk around our property and posted about the dog attack on Facebook. We immediately had outpourings of support from friends. Before I headed out to investigate in my rain gear, I took a deep breath and reminded myself to accept whatever I find, dead or alive. Ben and I searched for the remainder of my flock in drizzling fog.

I found silver-laced Wyandotte feathers strewn all around under the laundry line. Where’s her body?

Ben pointed out the second victim, Buff Orpington, died on the wood shed ramp. I identified her comb; it was Pancake. Half of her feather was strewn about the woodshed. She had deep puncture wounds in her back and thighs; it appeared that her back was broken by the dog.

Oh no, not my little sweetheart! We adored her because she immediately flattened to a crouch when Ben or I approached her, hence her namesake, “Pancake.” She had a habit of sleeping on the lip of the nest box and leave droppings for me to clean up in the morning.

I walked down to the chicken coop to see three live hens setting in the nest boxes: Lil Buff, Growly Buff (two live Orpingtons) and one Black Star hybrid hen. Whew! My other favorite pet hen, Lil Buff, is alive!

The hens will be on lockdown until we (1) procure an electronet fence (2) reinforce the fence line and (3) make sure someone is outside when the hens are out.

Ben found the bodies of the Silver-laced Wyandotte and another dead Orpington by our house pad. He took photos of the dead hens and the two dog prints on our driveway.

My stomach lurched when I did the process of elimination: there were four live Orpingtons in our flock of thirteen, two alive (Lil Buff and Growly Buff) in the nest boxes, one dead (Pancake) and the other victim was Big Buff.

As I approached the site of destruction, I saw buff feathers everywhere. I was in a moment of denial. “No way, can’t be Big Buff… Maybe I mistaken Growly Buff for Big Buff.”

I looked closer at the comb. It was large and distinct comb of Big Buff. Her left wing and left thighs were severed from her body. She was defeathered, brutally skinned and her flesh was exposed.

Heart*bleepin*breaking. She’s dead. I felt anger, loss and grief all in a big ball in the pit of my stomach.

This was my most favored hen. She was very affectionate and friendly hen. She had a high-pitched call when she greeted me. After my morning chores, Big Buff would peck my apron to remind me to “Start the day with a morning cuddle!” She was also our fattest Orpington hen.

She doesn’t stop with a morning cuddle. There were afternoon cuddles, too. When she was in my lap, she’d lean into me, super relaxed: Her pupils would dilate, feathers near her comb would rise and she’d let out a long sigh. I’d start massaging her back, under the wings, her legs.

She also comforted me after the big earthquake of October 2006. Ever since I learned that she would chill in my lap, I looked forward to petting and massaging her.

We gather the three victims and buried them in the tea field. I continued to call out to my hens in the drizzle. Slowly the remaining seven hens came out of hiding. We put them back inside their locked coop.

Today, the total flock count equal ten hens: two Buff Orpingtons, four Australorps, two Barred Rocks and two Black Star Hybrids.

We will contact Hawaii Island Humane Society (808-885-4558) and the police in Honokaa (808-775-7533). I’ll keep you updated on what actions we took.

Rest in Peace: Big Buff, Pancake and Silver-laced Wyandotte. I’ll meet you over the Rainbow Bridge.
February 14, 2006 — August 13, 2009.

Related posts:

1. Aftermath of dog attack on chickens – actions you can take
2. Our Brown Laying Hens
3. Ophelia & company

I contacted Shane if I can help eviscerate the 7-week old meat birds. (I’m not squeamish about gutting poultry.) He’s happy that I can help his farm process 80 broilers. This would be my third time processing poultry. The first was in 2006 with Jan Dean (her Delaware heritage breed and my 3 roosters), the second time was January of this year (16 stewing hens).

Growing up in Philadelphia, I remember my mother butchering chickens from our backyard flock for Chinese tonic soup. My folks ran a Chinese food take-out joint in the front of the property while raising three kids, flock of chickens, silkies, doves, a white dog named Filip, a cat, an aquarium of goldfish and I think, one turtle in the back of the concrete backyard.

I chased (but never managing to catch) the Silkie bantam black pair of hen & rooster. I cuddled with my favorite hen whose name was Tutu. (Did mother butcher her? I don’t remember.)

I distinctly recalled my first nibble of fresh chicken liver poached with a ginger and scallion. The texture was creamy and unbelievably unctuous. Talk about raising me as a foodie; I also remember distinctly eating braised sea cucumber (or sea slug).

Fast forward to August 8, 2009. Ben & I woke up to a pitch dark Saturday morning, about 4:45a.m. From Ahualoa, we drove  Jim’s truck with detailed directions and map to Fox Farms. There was a stretch of road after the turn off the main highway that required 4WD to navigate over the bumpy, rutted and occasionally flooded puddles of water.

Ben & I arrived around 6:30a.m at Fox Farms. It was a beautiful blue sky which was a huge change from the dreary wet weather I’ve been experiencing at home.

I noted the hooped structure was set up for chicken processing: bright & well-lit, concrete floors, large sinks with foot-operated faucet, two large tables for gutting, scalder in the corner and a packing station in the rear.

Shane was in charge of severing the jugular veins and beheading the meat birds in three killing cones. Sam Benigni, another helper, was primarily in charge with scalding and defeathering process. Christie, Phoebe Mills (neighbor to the Foxes) and I eviscerated the broilers while Ben took photos, removed chicken feet and cleaned the gizzards.

On the table, there was a plastic container for the hearts, gizzards and livers. Under the table, there was one bucket for discarded chicken feet, two buckets for the guts, one small bucket of vinegar-water to wipe down the tables as needed.

I used a 5-inch narrow boning knife (purchased on Amazon.com). The blue plastic Fibrox knife handle is built in with Microban which gives antibacterial protection. The grip on the plastic handle is like very fine sandpaper which is helpful during the gutting. I stopped my bamboo cutting board from sliding around by placing two damp sheets of paper towels under the board.

It took me at the minimum, 7 minutes to eviscerate. I had less than 2 dozen birds under my belt. In comparison, Joel Salatin, Polyface Farms, evicerates in about 20 seconds. He’s got hundreds and hundreds of broilers under his belt!

The first customers arrived at 9:30 a.m. We were finished eviscerating around 10 a.m. and started to clean up the equipment and processing area. The meat birds were in 33 gallon containers chilling down before being vaccuum packed in plastic bags.

Shane showed us how to bag the broilers, staple the bag shut, dunk the bag into 200 degrees F stockpot of hot water to vacuum seal the bag. He went to the front of the hoop house to deal with the steady stream of customers. Christie, Sam, Ben and I bagged the remaining birds from two 33 gallon chill tanks.

Some of the meat birds were so wide that we struggled to get the plastic bag to fit over the carcasses. The bagged birds went into a cooler filled with ice for further chilling before loading into the customer’s cooler.

Shelby Floyd, our current President for Slow Food Hawaii convivium and another friend drove from Waimea to pick up their broilers at the Fox Farm.

Ben and I left a little past noon with a cooler of chicken livers (my guilty pleasure) and food items from Shane and Christie for helping them process.

Ben and I said our goodbye to the batch of next broiler chicks that the Foxes are currently raising. Shane told us the demand exceeds supply for the September order. They accepted my offer for help for next month. “I work for livers.”

Have you eaten meat birds from a small-scale pastured broiler producers like the Fox Farms? How do you cook your broilers? Do you have a favorite side dish(es) you eat with the roast?

Related posts:

1. Processing Day (and the things I’ve learned)
2. Chicken processing event: Saturday, January 17
3. Learning Small Scale Farming in Mid-life