Learning to fly...

So, after 13 years I finally figured out chickens can't fly.  Kidding.  I did know that.  What I didn't realize was that maybe it was me that needed to.  So, after many debates with myself, I decided it was time to move on.  Don't get me wrong, the animals themselves were never the problem...  I love being in a barn.  I love watching how animals behave and interact, even if they are as unsociable as chickens.  No matter how things are left here, the challenges and experience has been second to none.

Now, its time to drive on.  For the last couple of months, I've been researching other areas of agriculture.  Everything always circles back to one common criteria...  animals.  I love helping Mark in the fields, but I'm not crazy over watching a plant grow.  Animals though, that I love nurturing, improving and just plain taking care of.  I guess maybe there is some maternal instincts in me after all... who knew??

So today, my research plight has taken me to Mt. Forest to an OMAF sheep seminar.  Oh my...  they are so friggin cute!!!  The detail and thought put into this line of work surprised me.  I think many see sheep farms as well I did...  a few little wooly friends around the yard to keep the weeds in check.  Little did I know, this is pretty darn close to my original roots of dairy farming.  (minus the milking of course!!)  This is intensive lambing, ventilation, shearing, feeding...  wow, think this could be a definate possible next step...

Will be concluding my seminar tomorrow...  ya know, school isn't so bad when you get to choose your course!

Keep ya posted!!!

Waiting for May Flowers... in June...

Enough already of the April showers.  I hate that we always complain about the weather.  Its either too cold, too snowy, too windy, too muggy, too hot or in the case of this poor excuse of a spring, too rainy.  I'm living with a man I used to know as my husband.  He is now a scruffy, puffy eyed, zombie-looking clone of Mark.  As I meet up with other wives and girlfriends of these husbands/boyfriends past, I realize this is a common occurrence in rural Ontario this spring.  Every dry moment available, he has been either on a sprayer, the planter or the many devices linking him to the godforsaken weather network.  Not uncommon to have crappy springs, but this year just seems to be dragging on...  and we've been in better shape than most.  Chatham has been polluted with heavy rains, and when it seems to be fit to go, it rains yet again.  If not for twitter and facebook, I think these farmers would go insane...  This seems to be a sounding board for so many, and helps convince us that we aren't alone this spring.

Our corn is now in, and sprayed... soys are in, not quite sprayed... stuff is starting to grow, but definitely not the showy year that we've been experiencing the last few.   Which brings us to fussy, tired hubby.  Now, he's a bit depressed that the crops don't look as good as he knows they should.  We push ourselves day in and day out, and never seem to be satisfied with what we accomplish.  If everyone who ate, knew what farmers strive for in producing their food, I think the world would be much more appreciative of what they have.

To all who are still waiting, and have that ginormous knot in their gut, know that the rest of us are right there with you.  This spring is becoming a true testimony of patience, wisdom and faith that eventually we will get a spring.  And hey, if not, well, summer is only a week a way...

Blog-gonnit!!!

Is it seriously this hard to sit down and blog??  Life is far too busy when the things we do when we are bored becomes an item on our to-do list don't ya think??  I had a blog ready to post last week, but it was kind of a sucky-feel-sorry-for-me kind of blog...  My weekend was so awesome, I needed to re-issue my thoughts!!

First of all, Mark's brother Tim and his wife Lesley came down from Ottawa for Easter.  We only get to see them a mitt-full of times throughout the year, so this was a treat!  They have 3 kids, who my kidlets adore!  Gavin, Elyse and Meredith came to chill with the Staffa Brock clan.  I love chilling with Les.  As far as sister-in-laws go, I think I have been blessed with the best!  Lesley has become one of my favorite people in life.  We talk about life, kids, and our very similarly behaved hubbys.  More than that, Lesley has such a strong faith in God that as I struggle with that part of my life, I look at her with admiration and hope.  She is a genuine, compassionate girl who I love dearly.

This brings me to sister-in-law #2.  This weekend also brought about another niece for Mark and I.  Isla Frances Elizabeth Brock joined our family Saturday night.  Jamie and Hope are now proud parents of Leighton (almost 3) and Isla.  Hope did awesome.  We went to visit on Monday, and you'd never know she had just given birth!  Isla is absolutely gorgeous.  I forget how precious and unbelievably perfect our little ones really are.  I think I have blocked out that portion of my brain for the last 10 years (sleep deprived, I suppose...).  I am so happy for J&H and their new addition... love you guys!!

Crazy weekend eh?  I think with this dragged out spring, we all needed the uplift.  Easter is a time of new beginnings...  I think a baby is just the thing.

Proud Auntie Sandi

Work'n Hard?? or Hardly Work'n??

Ever hear the old men saying this at the coffee shop? Daily life on the farm often feels like this... 2 steps forward, 3 steps back... its really no wonder we appear to be easy going in nature. If we didn't have a sense of humour, we'd all be in the loony bin.

I began my chicken farming career after graduating in 1998. My papa-in-law had bought a corporate broiler breeder operation in desperate need of some help. I tried my hand at an off-farm job... lasted a whoppin 2 months before offering my services to the family. Dave, Deanna and Jamie had just survived their first 10 months of absolute hell in this business. They had taken on 10 barns housing around 12-13,000 birds average age of these barns was around 20 years old. At the time, I think there were more mice, labour and problems than there were chickens.

Out of the 10 barns we operated, 8 of them had an immune deficiency called J-Virus or Leucosis. It was a disease that infected only this breed, and as fate would have it, our hatchery had ordered this particular breed over the majority of our farm. It was devistating. Most of our flocks had anywhere from 25% mortality to 45% mortality. We were in a big, dark hole. Bankers, hatchery personel and feed companies met with the family weekly, basically trying to protect their investment. A humbling, and exhausting experience for the family.

Slowly, our clan persevered and we started treading water again. Only to have a flock go down with salmonella a few months later. Safe to say we were beginning to wonder just who put this curse on us.

Just to warn you... this is a long story, and blogs are not to be... so this will be chapter one.

Words to live by... What doesn't kill us, makes us stronger...
SB

Ross's Rules...

If you have nothing good to say, don't say anything at all.  Wow, the world would be instantly silent don't ya think??  I have a confession to make.  I am a caddy person.  I constantly ramble about myself and how I'm soo hard done by.  I figure I'm a constant steaming kettle, I need not wait for a boil... cause, well,  I'm impatient.  So, when I accidentally hear ramblings about me, I get upset.  How sooo hypocritical is that?  I can dish it out, but absolutely can't take it.

Why don't we follow this simple little rule?  A rule Mark told me his Grandpa Ross lived by...  Why is it so easy for us to chirp about others, but when its reversed, we get so offended?  This is typical, I think,  for everyone.  We all overstep sometimes and without even realizing it, hurt someone through words.  We have the right to free speech, but we abuse that right.  Sometimes, we need to filter...  I'm still waiting for that part to be delivered for this model...

The most embarrassing part of this bad habit I have, is when I actually become a target, I really get no sympathy.  Well deserved, I might add.  I try to talk to Mark, but him being the voice of reason, reminds me of what I have said about them...  Sucks.  Then, on top of being hurt, I feel like a real poop.  Guilty.  I admire Mark for his quiet nature.  Yes, he gets mad (once in a blue moon) and will chirp...  but very rarely. I guess thats why we fit...??

My new goal in life is to be a nicer person.  (stop laughing all who know me).  I want a filter.  I want to train my brain to think before my mouth opens.  This will be a challenge for me.  I am a complete spaz and don't usually shut up long enough to realize I said anything at all.

Confessions of a Gossip Girl...
Sandi

Becoming a Mamma Chick...

I was never real good with kids.  I think they were scared of my funny looking face.  Babysitting was OK, but I really only liked babysitting my cousins (they had to like me after all...).  So the thought of having my own someday was somewhat frightening.

I remember clearly the moment we knew it was time (to try starting that is!!).  Mark and I were sitting around the Christmas tree...  with our dog.  I remember thinking this is sad.  More gifts for the dog than ourselves.  That's when we looked at each other and mutually agreed, Yep, kids next Christmas.

So, I guess I don't need to go into detail on how babies are created...  but our little man Jackson Ross arrived November 22nd that year (just in time for Christmas).  I have to tell you, I did not enjoy being pregnant.  I tripped over my feet at the barn, I could barely tie up my boots... blahblahblah, yes I should be grateful.  I was.  After.  Jack was the absolute best moment of my life.  He was a perfect little man.  I did that!!!  (with some help from Mark of course!)  I was in euphoria.  Up until about 3 or 4 weeks into motherhood.  Then, I crashed.  I wanted my bed...  for an entire night.  Just to make life that much more exciting, we were also in the process of starting our new 25,000 bird breeder barn in which I was to manage.  So, 6 weeks into mama-hood I got to manage my first breeder flock.  Unknown alarms going off in the middle of the night in between bottle feedings was not my idea of a good time...

Life got better, Jack was growing and the barn wrinkles were getting worked out.  So, what to do?  Time for babe #2.  Jessica Lauryn was born 20 months later.  Needless to say, life was crazy.  Mark was in the fields, Jack was still not walking (22 months.. oh yah!!) and baby #2 was a hard one to get down for the night.  (and really not that bad, I just have NO patience!!)  I don't think mothers are given near enough credit for this job!!!

Don't get me wrong...  I am so blessed to have been able to carry, deliver and above all parent (or some form of) my kids.    They are happy, healthy and respectful kids.  They are my best friends and now that they are such a part of me, I can't believe they haven't been with me my whole life.  Jack is an old soul.  His wisdom astounds me for his age...  Memory of a friggin elephant, stubborn as a mule but is a kind and loving kid.  Jessica is me.  She is lost in her imagination most of the time... singing, playing or acting all the time.  She is funny, kind-hearted and very sensitive.  She is that kid who will run up and give you a hug (that's more like daddy and Gma Dee...).

To all the moms out there...  everything you do is reflected in your kids.  All your mannerisms, sayings, temper...  everything is seen through the kids.  Take a second, and watch them.  They really are quite awesome!  (most days...)

Thats it for now!!

Sandi

Sick Chicks... my side of the story...

To Treat or not To Treat...  that seems to be the question.  This is my first of probably many attempts to show my side of the 'anti-everything-farming-related' story.  I saw a CBC special interview the other day, and it (pardon the expression) ruffled my feathers.  So, here is my rebuttal.

I am a chicken farmer.  I see lots of chickens, everyday.  Broiler Breeders.  These are the loving parents of the baby chicks that go to our well run broiler farms in Ontario.  I work my butt off in trying to keep barns repaired, feeders working, drinkers at proper levels, ventilation adjustments (all the time!), and observing thousands of chickens in their environment.  I do not leave the barn to fend for itself, it takes my entire being to keep stuff running.

The thing I can't control beyond anything physical (feed, light, water and management) is bird health.  We have stringent biosecurity...  changing coveralls and footwear before entering each barn.  We have a contracted rodent manangement company to keep our bait stations clean and functional with a rotating rodenticide program.  (Yes, we do try to KILL the rodents that like to spread disease, sorry animal lovers, but I protect my own animals!!)  We clean the barns after each flock goes out, (takes 4-6 weeks of intense power washing and slugging) and fog a disinfectant to kill anything that may infect our new flock.  So, with all these and some intense management, how do our birds still once in a while get sick?

Our barns house roosters and hens in a free-range pen.  There are slats for the nests to sit on as well as female drinkers and feeders.  The raised slats are a good way to ensure the manure is isolated underneath so the birds don't have to sit in it.  We do have a 'scratch' area down the centre of the pen, so males and females can breed on a solid floor.  The males drink and eat here.  Shavings bed this floor for bird comfort.

Birds are animals.  There is a definate pecking order in every pen...  in fact, in quite a few areas within these pens.  There are dominant animals, and submissive animals (hmmm, not too different than humans eh??).  The dominant animals can cause strife.  They can cause injury if not kept under check.  The weaker birds will eventually be culled out by their own kind.  Not always pretty.  This is nature.  What happens when birds get injured?  Do I cull out every bird that gets knocked around a bit?  Doesn't THAT sound a bit inhumane?  If these birds go down, they will develop a secondary infection.  That is when I prefer treatment.

Our hatchery is Cargill.  Kudos to them for being one of the first hatcheries to instill antibiotic protocol with all their producers.  In this, every time we think a flock is to a point of medication, we must get a veterinarians OK and a prescription for usage and  withdrawl dates.  This to me sounds like we 'Farmers' DO know and record when we treat our animals, unlike what the CBC broadcast stated.  I have treatments written down in a quality assurance program binder we are required to keep in our facilities.  The Ontario Hatching Egg producers are a small, but mindful group.  We follow rules because they benefit us.  We need to sustain our flocks, our farms and our future.  We do not WANT to treat birds.  Its an expensive and exhausting road to go down.

Whoooh, that feels better...

Sandi