Joyful Noise Acres Farm

As the pastured poultry business in Georgia grows, so does the hammering. We (mainly husband) have finished another version of a chicken tractor for our young  free range chickens. They have room to stretch their wings and fly while being protected from predators. As we were moving the chickens to their new home, a hawk circled about 6 times overhead. We have recently lost one of our  free range laying hens and a young free range chick that I had let roam out of the chicken yard.  Protection is vital for the free range birds.

As I was putting some finishing touches on the chicken tractor, I could not help but think about how we come full circle in life. I have had free range chickens for the last 10 years and take great pleasure in having chickens around. I so enjoy the way they look, the variety of sounds they make, the ‘pecking order’ of the flock,  the rhythm of their day. Not to mention the fresh organic eggs and  tasty organic meat for my family.

When I began my ‘love affair’ with Americauna chickens, I did not know that my grandfather had been a chicken keeper for many years. He kept chickens until my father was in his 20′s. Dad tells how Granddaddy would preserve the farm fresh eggs for winter use for when the girls were not laying as abundantly. He did this by a process called glassing. My Dad says he knew he was having a “sorry breakfast” if his mother told him to go to the cellar for eggs. He hated glassed eggs. Thank goodness for farm fresh eggs year round now!

My husband’s father was also a chicken man. His family kept chickens while he was growing up and after his graduation from UGA in Animal Husbandry, he worked for Purina. He was in sales in the poultry division. He has probably forgotten more than I will ever know about chickens. He showed me how to wring the neck of a bird (not using that technique again) and how to clean it. He has been a wonderful source of information.

So today, while hammering and humming to myself, I reflected on how I have come full circle with a deep love for the land we have been placed on and the livestock we care for but more-so, for those that have gone before us. They passed along a gift that I freely receive. In Proverbs, we are called to leave an inheritance to our children’s children. My Grandfather and my children’s Grandfather have done just that as our daughter is now keeping chickens for her farm fresh egg business and our small son just loves “baby chicks”.