“I WILL NEVER KILL MY CHICKENS. THEY WILL LIVE OUT THEIR NATURAL LIVES.” There is nothing wrong with this statement. You love your chickens and you value life. BUT, consider this:![]()
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1. Most of us have chickens specifically for eggs. Chickens live to an average age of 7, but by year 4, they lay half of what they did in their first year, and will stop laying completely from fall until early spring. But they eat the same amount. So if you bought chickens for eggs and they don’t lay eggs, you now have pets. Again, perfectly fine. Just be aware that you’ll be paying for their food, while probably eating eggs from the store. ![]()
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2. Like us humans, when a chicken is past half of its life expectancy, it begins to experience health issues. Chickens that are “over the hill” have lowered immunities, are less diligent about dustbathing and preening to control parasites, are less active, and are more prone to illnesses like oviduct infection, peritonitis, throat infection, and water belly (heart-lung failure). And chickens are masters at hiding their illness while silently suffering. When we don’t feel well, we go to the doctor. But chicken doctors are rare, and always expensive. The GRAPHIC picture in the comments was from an old hen who was processed. She acted fine but was not laying eggs. Internally, she was full of infection, probably from peritonitis. Her intestines were dark and hard. She was suffering, and a natural death would have been a torturous process. ![]()
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Whether you plan on replacing your flock with new layers, or letting them enjoy chicken retirement, have a plan for when their health declines. Be ready to dispatch them yourself, give them to someone who will do the job, pay a chicken vet to do it. Don’t let your chickens suffer.
What am I making for lunch today? Chicken and noodles! ![]()
We hate waste on the farm. Every month we process chickens on the farm. We always save our organ meats,necks and feet. We have a dedicated chicken feet buyer. And lots of people buy our livers and gizzards. But hardly anyone ever wants the necks or hearts. Meat that is on the bone has more flavor than meat without. ![]()
So this morning I put 3 gallon-sized bags of necks in the pressure cooker. When the meat was fully cooked,I picked it off the bone. Its not my favorite thing to do, but homesteading is not always easy or fun. I know that this will be the tastiest chicken and noodles. I might even have some for a casserole (one of my grandmother's recipes).![]()
If you want some organ meats or necks please fill out the form. $3.50 per pound. www.happywifeacres.com/organ-meat-order-form/
Rent-a-Chick Hatch kits ready for distribution on Tuesday. Four families will incubate 10 eggs, and in 21 days they will start caring for fuzzy little chicks. 🐣 ![]()
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www.happywifeacres.com/rent-a-chick-rent-a-chick-hatch-programs/
We’ve had some strange things happen on the farm but this one is on a new level. In front of the barn this morning, this crayfish was crawling along like he was late for work. We do not have any lakes or streams within a half mile. We put him in a shallow pond made from the rain last night, but the chickens or guineas found him and put an end to him. ![]()
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It’s like this creature just dropped out of the sky. And maybe he did, if a bird of prey had picked him up and dropped him in flight. It was certainly odd and unexpected, and we doubt we’ll ever see one here again.
Who needs a baby bunny?? These Rex babies are nearly weaned and will be ready for new homes on 22 March. We have 5 available.![]()
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What is special about a Rex rabbit? Their fur is the result of a specific genetic mutation where the hair protrudes outwards from the body instead of lying flat, and the usually longer outer hairs are shortened to the length of the undercoat. The short hair and density gives their fur a velvety feel. Rex rabbits are a medium size and make great pets.![]()
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We normally sell live rabbits for $25 each, but since this is the first Rex litter and rabbits make us smile, these are only $20. You can order at www.happywifeacres.com/rabbits/
WHO DA BABY DADDY? Since we don’t control mating, it’s nearly impossible to know the origin of the offspring. But occasionally it’s obvious. Mack Daddy is standing in the back, and it’s easy to recognize his daughter. Her name is MDD, short for Mack Daddy Daughter. 😝
It's incubator day! 132 quail eggs going in an incubator. 110 quail eggs going in the hatcher (hatching on Thursday). 30 chicken eggs going in an incubator for our Rent-a-Chick program and expected broody hens. Goodbye peaceful winter; hello hectic spring!![]()
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By the way, we still have Rent-a-Chick and Rent-a-Chick Hatch slots available. See www.happywifeacres.com/rent-a-chick-rent-a-chick-hatch-programs/ for more information.
A Few Minutes on the Homestead - 7 March 2025![]()
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Spring is almost here, and the animals know it! We have baby bunnies, and the chickens are laying again! Even the ducks are starting to lay. ![]()
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Reminder: We will be at the Rural King in Springfield this Saturday and Sunday (8-9 March) at 1pm to present a seminar on Raising Chickens. If you are new to chickens and need a crash course on how to raise them, join us this weekend. The seminar is free and there is no registration. Just show up. We'll be near the chick bins in the store.![]()
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Also, we have MANY other classes scheduled on the farm, and seminars in local libraries. Check them out at www.happywifeacres.com/classes. ![]()
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A Few Minutes on the Homestead - 7 March 2025
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Today we talk about baby bunnies and upcoming classes. The weather is warmer and the animals love it!
Happy Wife Acres will give a presentation titled Raising Chickens at Rural King in Springfield on Saturday 8 March, Sunday 9 March, and Sunday 23 March. All presentations start at 1 pm and will last about 1 hour. It is intended for new chicken owners. The fast-paced discussion will cover care of chicks, housing, feed, equipment, chicken breeds, and more. ![]()
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The presentation is free, and there is no registration. Just show up! Rural King Springfield is located at 1476 Upper Valley Pike, Springfield, Ohio.
Who loves chicken? CHICKENS love chicken!! Before you say that feeding chicken to your flock will turn them into cannibals, they were hatched cannibals. Like humans, chickens are omnivores. They eat grain, fruit, vegetables, and meat, including beef, pork, fish, and chicken. The way they go after it, chicken might be their favorite, followed by every other poultry, like turkey, duck, and quail. And it's great protein for them. ![]()
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Buying a roast chicken for your flock to snack on may be an expensive option, but you can share your leftovers and table scraps with them, as well as fruit and vegetable trimmings. Chickens instinctively know what they shouldn't eat, so don't worry about hurting them. Since chickens don't have teeth, we avoid giving them uncooked root vegetables, like potatoes and carrots, unless they've been chopped up or cooked. We also avoid giving them citrus, but only because they don't care for it. Whatever you feed your chickens, they will appreciate the variety in their diet! ![]()
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By the way, don't tell your kids about this. If they find out, their excuse for not eating their vegetables will be that they're saving them for the chickens.
When your goose gets a bag stuck on her head, you get to catch her and give her hugs. She’s not wild, so we went on a Domestic Goose Chase.
In case you missed it, Happy Wife Acres was featured on Channel 7 WHIO tonight. Gabrielle Enright did an amazing job with this report, and we were honored to be a part of it! ![]()
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Rent A Chicken? Now to Beat Egg-flation!
www.whio.com
The Hancocks did months of research and by the end of 2016, they were selling eggs.
We will be processing chickens on Sunday, 16 March in the processing barn.![]()
1. If you would like to observe the processing and ask questions, please fill out this form: www.happywifeacres.com/request-to-observe-animal.../. If you intend on showing up on Sunday, please put that in the comments or write us. We start at 8:30 am. There is no cost to observe, but space is limited. 4 slots available.![]()
2. If you would like to purchase processed chicken, please fill out this Meat Order Form: www.happywifeacres.com/chicken-meat-order-form/. ![]()
3. If you have unwanted roosters or old hens that you would like to donate, please contact us to arrange for drop off before Friday evening, 15 March. www.happywifeacres.com/livestock-drop-off-form/![]()
You can also message us or call/text at 937-361-5798 with questions.
Our local news is sharing us on WHIO on the 5:30 show. The promo shows John feeding our chickens. We will share the link to the whole story later today once it airs.
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Some may ask if we eat our own chicken. Heck yeah we do!Tonight’s dish is simple, like us. Young heritage rooster cooked in a pressure pot. There’s so much flavor in a heritage bird because they are older than commercial broilers, and time is flavor. ![]()
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John had his over rice with ssamjang, a spicy Korean paste. Andrea had hers over mashed potatoes with some broth. Simple food with amazing flavors.
A Few Minutes on the Homestead - 22 February 2025![]()
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Today we look at our first young quail of the year, baby rabbits that were born 3 days ago, and talk about our upcoming classes.![]()
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A Few Minutes on the Homestead - 22 February 2025
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Today we look at young quail, baby rabbits, and talked about Gabrielle’s visit and our upcoming classes.
We had a wonderful visit today from WHIO Channel 7’s Gabrielle Enright! Gabrielle is a fellow chicken owner, and she interviewed us about people buying chickens on impulse in response to the high price of eggs, and the importance of homestead education. The spot is scheduled to air on Wednesday, 26 February.
Happy Wife Acres has an apprenticeship program. Spring is when we get the most applicants. The program is simple. Commit to visit the farm on a recurring basis at least once per week for a minimum of 3 hours. Apprentices trade their labor for knowledge, helping with farm tasks, and learn things they won't find on YouTube. ![]()
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Who make a good apprentice? Good apprentices are usually aged 15 through high school graduation, or people over 45 years old. The younger group often has a requirement for job shadowing or community service, or they are homeschooled. The older group has grown children, and they finally have the time to learn about homesteading. The group in between is often too busy to devote extra time to another activity.![]()
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What do apprentices learn? Apprentices do tasks consistent with their stated interests. For instance, if you don't like bees, you won't be asked to help inspect hives. Apprentices have the opportunity to learn about the full life cycle of animal husbandry, tools use, building and repair techniques, gardening, and food preservation.![]()
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Are there physical requirements? Yes, apprentices are expected to lift up to 40 pounds, negotiate rough terrain, use a variety of hand tools and power tools, and stand for long periods of time. ![]()
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Is it safe? Although accidents happen on the farm, we focus on safety and begin each task with a safety discussion.![]()
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How many apprentices are there at Happy Wife Acres? We receive more than 10 applications each year, but only about 20% become an apprentice. The other 80% think we're crazy for doing what we do and can't keep up!![]()
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How do I become an apprentice? Fill out an application at www.happywifeacres.com/apprentices/. You will be scheduled for a tour to learn about what we do throughout the year. Then if you still want to become an apprentice after the tour, you'll be asked to make a recurring visit schedule. Most apprentices continue visiting until fall.![]()
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If you have questions, you can message us or call 937-361-5798.
Here's a quick and delicious dinner recipe: Fiesta Enchilada Bake. There's enough to feed your hungry herd. And you probably have the ingredients already. ![]()
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1 can Rotel (tomatoes & chilis)![]()
12 taco shells![]()
1 lb taco seasoned ground beef![]()
1 cup diced onions![]()
2 cups grated cheese![]()
1 can enchilada sauce![]()
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Bake at 325F for 30 minutes covered, then 15 minutes uncovered. Serve with chopped lettuce and sour cream, or add a side of rice and beans. ![]()
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If you make it, let us know how you like it!![]()
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Fiesta Enchilada Bake is a quick and easy casserole to feed your hungry family. You probably have the ingredients already. 1 can Rotel (tomatoes & chilis)1...
On 27 January, 23 days ago, the cheapest Aldi eggs were $4.67. We’ve lost nearly 9 million chickens in our area due to avian influenza and “depopulation”.
On our website is a button to send us an email. There's always a few junk emails, but the one below caught our eye. No doubt it's a complete scam in the making, but humorous nonetheless. Our tiny farm has a lot going on with hundreds of animals, classes, tours, consulting, public speaking, product sales, apprenticeships, educational programs, and social media. People might look at our website and think there's more behind the operation than just a husband and wife team. But to think we might have two extra TRUCKLOADS of eggs sitting around is a bit much. ![]()
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By the way, if anyone ever sends you an email with the word "Kindly" in it, it's probably a scam. Just sayin'.![]()
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"My name is (NAME REMOVED), Procurement Manager at (REMOVED). We are looking forward to purchase item below from your company:![]()
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Item: Egg.![]()
Size: Any.![]()
Qty: Two Truck Loads.![]()
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Kindly send us the pricing of the product item mentioned above. We are interested in maintaining a long-time relationship with your company if your quote matches our budget. Looking forward to hearing from you."