Foolish Raven Farms

03/23/2019

So CUTE!

08/01/2018

So - I checked a huge box on the farmstead/homestead accomplishment list today. I took 3 of my accidental roosters, and some of my hens that were aging out, to the processor today. ...And now have 8 wonderfully packaged birds of quasi-self-sustained meat in my fridge and freezer.

I cannot imagine my twenty-something self looking forward to the life I currently have, but am so grateful for all of the happiness that it brings me. It is humbling to think of how much further I have to go as I make these baby-steps forward to my eventual goals with the property - but I am also in awe of the fun things that I have done in the past 4 years.

Two other points:

I have to give a shout out to AA Poultry Processing, who made my first processing experience feel easy, and without knowing it, took a HUGE stress out of the entire chicken venture as I look to the future and my wishes and plans.

And second - I'm curious if anyone out there would have interest in Foolish Raven Farms chicken in the future? I certainly did these birds as a dry run for my own thoughts of doing broilers for my personal use - but is there a desire in the folks local to me or in Duluth that would warrant me producing more birds than I can personally use?

02/07/2018

Chick Update - all chicks seem to be shaking off the travel blues and seem strong.

Updated Picture now that they are a little less traumatized. :)

02/07/2018

Day 1 of experiment: "How tough ARE day old chicks?"

I jest, but I am faced with the question from a logistics standpoint of when it is best to order new chicks for the flock to replace out older birds or losses, and one of the answers that I have rejected in the past due to weather concerns has been - count 4 months back from when you need eggs for sale, and order in February.

EVERY piece of information and standard ordering practices has always said that you can't order birds this early because it is too cold... Well... um... It is -2 degrees F out, and I just picked up 26 healthy chicks out of an order of 25 (26 shipped).

Now - I totally admit that it is too early to fully judge any losses or long term health, but so far, I think my standard supplier, Ideal Hatchery, and my local post office, ROCKS! They have never let me down as far as delivered health, even though they are coming from Texas! The only time I used a Michigan supplier, I had massive losses in transit and it took 2 days longer. :)

I promise better pictures as time goes on, but for initial reports, over half have been running around and quite spunky.

One small story that really hammers home just how small these guys little brains are... :) Once I had dipped all of their beaks in water (general consensus is you kind of have to teach them what and where water is) - All of them were clustered around outside of the main heater - a little Brinsea yellow heater - screaming that they were cold... I watched a few accidentally stumble under it, and they happily stayed there basking, and others were running around exploring and going in and out from under the heater. 15 minutes go by, and still the main group is huddled, chirping up a storm, mildly colder under just the overhead ceramic heater. I decided to try to help - and I gently pushed all of the group under the heater. Instant quiet... To the point of my slight worry. But they were just all finally happy, and have now started to venture back out once they individually warm up.

Gosh I love new chicks. :)

Post script on picture explain and to possibly eliminate explanations - the picture with the temperature was a picture 1 minute after unboxing, and they had not yet had time to clump... the "spread" that is seen is less "good heat distribution" and more "what the HECK just happened" from disoriented chicks.

07/15/2017

Quick post - We are AWASH in raspberries.

If anyone is in the area (Iron River, WI) - and wants to pick raspberries today, we are buried in raspberries! :)

Pick your own and we can talk about really cheap prices. Just don't have the manpower to get to them all this weekend and don't want them to go to waste.

Message me if you have any interest.

07/12/2017

A quick picture celebrating the return of Raspberry Season.

Our supply out in the farm stand is growing daily as the harvest starts. Stop by to pick up some fresh picked raspberries while the season is jumping!

07/12/2017

I am so happy to have my Farm Stand up and operational! :)

Current offerings:
Farm Fresh Eggs - $4/doz
Rhubarb Jelly - $6/jar
Raspberries - $4/ 1/2 pint container

Ask about pick your own raspberries and a very limited amount of rhubarb that is left - either message me or give me a call.

Through the heat of the summer, our eggs and some of our other offerings are located in the refrigerator inside the white farm stand. Feel free to drop by and pick up some up any day of the week. Prices and payment instructions are posted inside the farm stand.

Thank you for your support of our growing business, and check back for more offerings to come!

06/11/2017

I think I need to watch this every once in a while to remind me of the reason I'm doing what I do.

A huge thank you to the creator of this video for the work that went into making it so well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oa7FMebXe1A

Description Running Waters by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Artist: htt...

04/28/2017

Anyone need eggs? Joel is heading to town tomorrow. And, we got some busy ladies making eggs. :) Not sure of timing yet but... we can figure that out! :)

Egg Delivery coming this weekend on Saturday 4/29/17 to Duluth, MN. Message me if you are interested in being on the list. :)

04/28/2017

Egg Delivery coming this weekend on Saturday 4/29/17 to Duluth, MN. Message me if you are interested in being on the list. :)

04/12/2017

Making a Duluth, MN Egg Delivery run tomorrow 04/13/2017. Let me know if you would like any of our Farm Fresh Eggs delivered to your doorstep on my delivery route. :)

Our current offerings are:

Farm Fresh Eggs - $4.00/Dozen
Soap -- Currently on sale for $2.50 per 4oz minimum bars

& I currently still have 4 raspberry jam from last season selling at $5.00/jar

Feel free to Comment or message me directly for more information.

10/11/2016

Our latest and greatest! We tried not to pick and Alex looking cat but did NOT succeed! He's more orange than buff. Very lovely little dude!!!

I want to introduce our newest employee out at Foolish Raven Farms. :) So far, he has agreed to work for room and board - plus all the mice he can eat.

His name is Moe, Mosley, or MoMo - depending on which other human that you ask. He is a two year old, former resident of Texas. He hasn't really opened up about his former living situation other than that, but he is very friendly and doesn't seem to be too road-weary, so we're all assuming that he hasn't lived to vagabond of a life so far.

So far, he seems to be taking to the job of guarding the sleeping humans and patrolling the night shift, so we are feeling very lucky to have him here. :)