Wordless Wednesday: National Agriculture Day 2015

What does agriculture mean to you? Livestock? Crops? People?

 

Hopefully all of the above! Below are some of the pictures that comprise my agriculture experience - they vary from sheep to yak to horses to beautiful hay and wheat fields.

 

Also, I am linking to my guest blog over on Food For Thought - hint: it's about agriculture, food and people. You'll LOVE it!

Until next time,
~ Buzzard ~

Wordless Wednesday: Rest in Peace, Winnies

The Winnies at their prime - before Rooster and other varmints got them.

So apparently I am able-bodied enough to care for three horses, two dogs and a large human child but I'm unable to care for and protect five birds. Rest in peace, Winnies. You are the last bunch of chickens I will attempt to raise at the Frobuzz ranchero. Hopefully, at our next abode, I can build you a proper coop to keep varmints out and your innards in.

Until next time,
~ Buzzard ~

If Plants Were Made to Lay Eggs - They Would be Pleggs

Real eggs - not pleggs

I've been watching FOX News a lot lately, it's the nature of my job, and last week a story came on about eggs made from plants.

EGGS. made. from plants.

What on earth is happening to our food supply?

First, it was in-vitro meat. Apparently eating meat that has been raised using naturally occuring hormones is gross however eating meat grown in a PETRI DISH in a lab is ethical and meets naturally grown standards.

Now, we are going to be seeing egg-less eggs in retailers around the nation and they will make their debut in none other than Whole Foods.

Dear Hampton Creek Foods (creator of this wonder): an egg by definition is a)  the hard-shelled reproductive body produced by a bird and especially by the common domestic chicken;  b)  an animal reproductive body consisting of an ovum together with its nutritive and protective envelopes and having the capacity to develop into a new individual capable of independent existence

You smellin' what I'm steppin' in? An egg cannot be plant based - eggs come from animals. I don't care how many plants, artificial sweeteners, preservatives or powders you put into a pot and melt together, the product that results is a plant. I'm calling them "pleggs" - join me.

 

The CEO of Hampton Creek Foods, says the product was developed for many reasons, including his concern about chickens contributing to greenhouse gas accumulation every year. I didn't realize chickens were so flatulent.

 

Do you know that eggs provide numerous nutritional benefits? Look at these digits:

• 6 grams of protein (12% of daily recommended intake)
• 10% of your daily Vitamin D
• 8% Vitamin B12
• all for only 70 calories per egg
• and they're super versatile and can be used in a variety of ways!

I was unable to find nutritional info for the pleggs (and I honestly looked on their website for such info) but I'd bet the farm that they have nowhere near the same amount of Vitamin D or protein as a regular, REAL egg. 

Just to clarify, I understand some people have food allergies and really embrace this type of product and for that purpose, I applaud pleggs Beyond Eggs. However, I think it's hogwash that, on the other side of the spectrum, a few folks who strive for natural, wholesome food are in favor of lab produced protein sources.

Asinine. Just asinine.

Until next time,
~ Buzzard ~

The thoughts and opinions of this blog post strictly represent that of Brandi Buzzard Frobose and are NOT representative of any other entity or organization.

Random Smattering of Life and the Last Stella Chickens Were Kidnapped

Yeah, yeah it's been three weeks since I last blogged. I don't have any excuses - I've been busy and just never got around to it. But y'all are important to me so I'm going to commit to one post a week - even if it's just a picture of horses, the Kansas prairie or this adorable little fart-bucket:

His name is Rooster. #RoosterTheRodeoDog to be more specific.

Last week was busy - we got Rooster, the Kansas FFA Convention was in full swing and rodeo season officially started for me. Wahoo - summer is officially here!

And since we're talking about cool things - check this out:

Oh hey, Tre Walker.

 

That fella right there is Tre Walker - linebacker (#50) for the K-State Wildcats, ag business major and one of the nicest guys I have ever met in my life. No lie. He was the special guest speaker for the third general session of the Kansas FFA Convention and that guy can motivate and inspire an auditorium full of young folks in about three seconds flat. I may frame this and put it next to my photo of Rodney McGruuuuuuder.

 

Some sad news - whatever evil varmint got the first eight Stellas returned a few weeks ago and claimed the last two. It had to be something small enough to get through a hole the size of a softball - it drug my little Stellas out the top of a door. #mean. 

 

So, in short, we no longer have any chickens. A lot of folks have said, "just buy some more." But if I couldn't protect the first little chicks, why would I want to bring more home to the same doom? I think we will wait until next year until we can retrofit the chicken coop to be more protective of the little chickies.

 

So that's my life update for the past three weeks. The upcoming weeks will be full of more rodeos, puppy days, grilling (beef, yum!), a trip to Washington state and hopefully some lake time.

 

Until next time,

~ Buzzard ~



Stella the Chicken(s) Update - Sad News on the FroBuzz Ranchero

A Barred Rock chick who survived the heinous attack

This post was going to start out very cheery with an update on nutrition and growth about my Barred Rock chicks who are all named Stella.

But tragic news has struck the ranch - three little Stellas have left this Earth. 

I was going into town for a meeting at 6 pm and the roof on the coop had been closed all day so I thought they might be getting hot since it was 83 degrees today. I opened the hatch and left.

When I returned at 8 pm, I started feeding the horses and went to check on the chickens and top off their feed pan. Sadly, two chickens were lying in the coop dead and one other was missing. The two that were dead in the coop looked like their necks had been broken and bitten but their wings and legs were intact. Basically, I think the killer was killing for sport and took the third away for dinner. I'm not impressed. The seven remaining chicks were understandably huddled together in the corner and probably traumatized.

So, we've closed the lid and set a live trap for the perpetrator. I have no problem seeking revenge on whatever varmint attacked my baby chickens. I will punish appropriately.

The obvious sadness of my chickens, even though they're small, is that I do care about them. They were in my care and it was my job to raise them and I couldn't protect them - I feel horrible. On top of that, it's also a financial loss. Not a huge one but down the road, that's three fewer chickens to lay eggs. If I want to boost the flock, I'll have to go buy three more chicks (which I'll probably do but maybe I'll get a different breed. Suggestions?).

The next update will hopefully feature me bragging about my varmint catching and a more upbeat post about nutrition and growth of the baby chickens.

In sadness,
~ Buzzard ~

Raising Babies on the Farm

There are some new babies on the FroBuzz ranch... baby chickens! Now raise your hand if you thought I was preggo. Shame on you if your hand is in the air; tsk tsk. This uterus is uninhabited by any croissants, buns or mini-ninjas.

I'm calling this one Stella; but since they all look the same I'll probably call them all Stella. I might name one or two Rupert just because I like that name.

Anyhow, The Ninja and I are jumping into food production on a smaller scale. We'd love to have cattle but right now it's just not feasible since we have very little land and what we do rent is under the reign of the roping ponies.

 

So earlier this week, we welcomed 10 baby Barred Rock hen chicks to the ranchero. We are excited to raise them and I have every intention of giving weekly updates on their growth and also provide info about what they eat, how we care for them and basic information about raising your own chickens.

Aren't my baby Barred Rocks cute?

There were several reasons why we chose Barred Rock chickens:

- They are good layers and tend to live long lives.

- Once they reach egg laying maturity at approximately 5-6 months of age, they will lay year-round (although decreased production in the winter).

- Cold hardy breed; which is great because it's been cold and rainy this week!

- A multi-purpose breed, they are also good for meat. Fried chicken here we come!

 

Our chicks are less than a week old and even though I didn't watch them hatch, I know this because they still have their egg tooth. What's that you ask?

 

See that little protrusion on the top of their beaks?

The egg tooth helps the chick break the air sac while they're in the egg and also assists in hatching. It falls off when the chicks are a few days old because it's no longer needed. A few of our babies don't have their egg tooth anymore, they're the big sisters.

 

 As you can see in the pictures we put down pine shavings in an enclosed shelter with a light and heat source. Chicks need to be 90+ degrees F for the first few weeks of their life so we hung the heat lamp low and made sure there were plenty of shavings for warmth.

 

The heat lamp and shavings will keep our baby
Barred Rocks warm in the unpredictable Kansas weather.

You can also see a feed pan filled with starter diet and a waterer. Anyone know why the base of the waterer is red? That's because chickens are attracted to red. Some producers will cover up injuries or bleeding cuts on chickens with Blu-Kote to keep their contemporaries from pecking at the cut.

 

What chicken questions do you have? I'm so excited about our new venture!

 

Until next time,

~ Buzzard ~