A Sunrise Harvest to a Twilight Hen Acquisition Mission

This morning was my first sunrise harvest of 2020.  I typically harvest our CSA baskets bright and early so the vegetables are as crisp and crunchy as possible.  These early morning harvests also have the added perk of being before our boys are awake so I am able to work quickly without the need for concurrent child supervision.  It took me just over an hour to prepare the baskets, then I was able to move on to farm chores and bread baking.  By everyone else's 7:30 am wake up time, I had things on the farm running like clockwork.

Thanks to this year's early spring, today's baskets were fantastic for this early in the growing season. They included: two types of chinese cabbage, green and red leaf lettuce, a head of green lettuce, spinach, arugula, three types of kale, three types of radishes, spring onions, broccoli crown and leaves, sorrel leaves, borage leaves, garlic chives, daikon microgreens, wasabi mustard microgreens, and clover microgreens.  There was also a loaf of warm artisan bread, a dozen eggs and a jar of dandelion jelly.

The remainder of the day was relatively uneventful until the evening when Ian returned from an egg layer acquisition mission with 23 new chickens.  We ordered these ladies months ago to supplement our dwindling egg supply as our current layers are ageing and our new chicks will not begin to lay until November.  We have been waiting for these hens for a long time and are happy that they have finally arrived. 

From past experience we will be in for a few days of poultry drama as these new hens find their place in our existing flock's pecking order.  Hopefully, it is nothing too traumatic for us or any of the birds.  Ian and I moved the new hens into the coop at twilight in hopes of causing the least disruption possible.  Maybe the old ladies will not notice that some youngsters have arrived?  Not likely - these birds have pep!  We sustained two talon scratches, three pecks and one full on frontal attack while trying to unload them.  Tomorrow should be interesting...I wonder what they will think of the pigs?