Happy Fall Ya'll!  Was summer hot enough for you this year?  I hear DC was extra sweltery this August!  Alternately, I was experiencing sweater weather being socked in by the usual San Francisco summer morning fog followed by a brisk afternoon breeze off the bay. 

I know it's been quite a while since you've heard from us.  We've been hunkered down attempting to adjust to the constant chaos of being geographically separated by 3000-ish miles and trading spaces in our expertise of managing all the things: I'm the hands-on duck farmer/business manager and Mike is the one who's better at being away from home for long stretches while carrying out what we military folk fondly refer to as "the kings business". 

Thank you for your patience... I'm excited to announce that we're having an autumn poultry sale this year!  We have loads of Welsh Harlequin hens, Muscovy hens, and even our Naked Necked Turkens (I know, I know... I've been so greedy with those Turkens!)
​

You can look at pictures, read descriptions, and reserve ladies for your coop  here:​

You can pick them up at the farm between October 13 - 18 when Dana is home to assist you.

Additionally, if organic pork is your jam we also have two sizable heritage hogs (GOS) that we're ready to process. I just need to find a butcher who can fit us in soon so I can provide a cut sheet and pricing. Feel free to reach out and we can provide further details.

We hope to hear from you soon!

​Dana & Mike

Ducklings are straight run and $12 ea.

My Muscovy moms are such good broodies and mama’s and they’re simply not going to stand to be deterred from hatching large batches of babies… lol!  We currently have enough to fill our freezer and supply new hens to the “on-staff” population plus what these hard working ladies are still hatching out: we’ve got 7 muscovy babies on the ground that are about 3 weeks old and two more mama’s on nests that *should* hatch in the next 2 and 3 weeks.
 
We had a bumper hatch of 30+ Welsh Harlequin ducklings last week that we’ll be making available for sale.
 
Late summer/autumn timeframe we should have several started pullets from our necked-necked Turken breeding and some barnyard mixes. Stay tuned for that.
 
We decided not to raise any meat birds for sale this year so there will not be any sales of freshly harvested poultry.  We do have a limited quantity of pork cuts in the freezer (butts and shoulders mostly).

​You can reserve your babies here for pick up on farm
The order form has changed over time and will not let me set pick ups for every day in one month. If  you're having difficulty placing an order, please send me an email and we'll make an appointment for you to pick up:  ChiefChick@Mooseherder.com
 
As always, thank you for your support of our tiny farms conservation effort!

I know it's been a long while since you've heard from me.  We've been busier than ever since I began travelling back and forth to California so frequently for work. 

​The farm was downsized but is still plugging along.  This year I did some very limited hatching... honestly I pretty much just let the hens do most of the work of setting, hatching, and raising the babies.  I was just the project manager. The primary goal was to keep bringing those delicious and nutritious eggs and meat into the kitchen... so I didn't go too crazy with hatching (and if you know anything about poultry breeders that's really hard for us to do!).  Now that my freezers are all stocked up I can make the very limited extras available to you!  I have more Muscovy growing out in the farmyard so I expect to have another small harvest for Easter (or hit me up if you'd like to raise a couple of these dudes at your farm).

If you're interested in freshly harvested Muscovy or Welsh duck you can place an order on our meat page: www.moosemanorfarms.com/meat

Mike and I are wishing you the most joyful holiday with family and friends!

The summer just flew by!  I can't believe it's already September.   The weather is cooling - it's in the 60's in the morning slowly building to the 80's in the afternoon.  The acorns are falling - conking everyone on the head.  The days are just starting to shorten.  This is my favorite time of year.

We took the bulk of the pigs to processing in June, one remained (he wouldn't get in the trailer!) so this morning I took him in - boy did he get fat between June and September!  My abattoir asked me please not to grow them that big anymore.   That portly fellow, Mr. Bacon, was purchased "on the hoof" for custom butcher but we have plenty of pork in our sale freezer if you're looking for chops and roasts.

For those of you who normally get your Thanksgiving turkeys from us we won't have them available this year for the first time in at least 10 years.  We had heavy predation on our poults and very nearly lost them all.    We also didn't hatch as many geese as usual so I am already sold out of holiday goose. 

Chick and hatching egg sales have ended for the 2021 season but we’re currently offering expedited pick-up of adult birds.  So you don't have to reserve them for the 3rd Sunday, just make an appointment for soonest pick-up.

Most of the birds are molting right now so egg laying has slacked off while they're trying to make new feathers.  Everyone needs a break now and then!
​

​What’s available for September:
 
For Your Table:
Meat is reserved here: http://www.moosemanorfarms.com/meat.html

• Pastured Pork by the cut
• Pasture Raised Whole Chicken
• Lamb or Pork neck bones (amazing for stock or roasted marrow)
• Pork Lard for rendering or frying
• Duck or Chicken Eggs

For Your Coop & Pasture:
All photos & descriptions are at http://www.moosemanorfarms.com/livestock-for-sale.html

Rare Waterfowl Adult Breeding Stock:
Get them here: http://www.moosemanorfarms.com/livestock-for-sale.html
*There are a limited number of drakes available*

• Black Cayuga Pairs ($60)
• Ancona girls ($30)
• Welsh Harlequin Drakes (Gold & Silver phase) ($25)
• White Indian Runner girls ($45)
• Dutch Hookbill Trio's ($110)

Rare Landfowl Adult Breeding Stock:
Get them here: http://www.moosemanorfarms.com/livestock-for-sale.html

• Narragansett Turkey girls ($75)

Heritage Landfowl Adult Breeding Stock:
Get them here: http://www.moosemanorfarms.com/livestock-for-sale.html

• Rhode Island Red girls ($30)

I do hope your summer is off to a great start!  Things are opening up, folks are getting out, people are hugging again... it feels good!  We attended our first graduation party in a year and a half and hosted our big annual BBQ for Father's Day for the first time since 2018.   I feel like "normal" times are exciting times!  Life is good :)

We've also had some really big changes here at the farm and in our Spute-Kee family.  As many of you know, Mike retired from the military about 2 years ago after 30 years of dedicated service then turned right around and took a civilian government job at Coast Guard Headquarters for the next few years.  I still have 4 years to go before I reach that venerable 30  so I remain on active duty at CGHQ.  On May 1st I was promoted and with that came my latest set of orders: San Diego, CA.  I report in October.

Yep... it's FAR! But don't fret, we're not moving.  However, I will be traveling A LOT and in the first year I'm required to also go away for another senior leadership school.  There will be so many more logistics than those we currently manage and we're already two-blocked with the farm and two full-time jobs so we had to make the difficult decision to downsize.  We will:

• Sell much of our adult breeding stock
• Cancel monthly markets (beginning with October) - we may have ad hoc markets TBD
• Cancel all poultry swaps (this is already an incredible amount of work & expense)
• Stop hatching for at least the first year
• Stop raising meat for sale for at least the first year

What’s available for July:
 
For Your Table:
Meat is reserved here: http://www.moosemanorfarms.com/meat.html

• Whole Hogs
• Pastured Pork by the cut
• Pasture Raised Whole Chicken
• Lamb or Pork neck bones (amazing for stock or roasted marrow)
• Pork Lard for rendering or frying
• Duck or Chicken Eggs

For Your Coop & Pasture:
All photos & descriptions are at http://www.moosemanorfarms.com/livestock-for-sale.html
 
Heritage Ducklings $20 ea (Juvenile):

• Duck: Chocolate Ancona
• Duck: Ancona

Heritage Duck Pullets (POL) $40 ea:

• Duck: Chocolate Ancona

Rare Narraganset Turkey Poults (St. Run) $20 ea. (min 2)

Heritage Chickens $15 ea:

• Rhode Island Reds (Juveniles)

Heritage Chickens $30 ea:

• Rhode Island Reds (Point of Lay)

Meat Makers Available July 8  (Min 3):
Get them here: http://www.moosemanorfarms.com/livestock-for-sale.html#RedKing  

• Broadbreasted White Turkeys

Rare Waterfowl Adult Breeding Stock:
Get them here: http://www.moosemanorfarms.com/livestock-for-sale.html

• Black Cayuga Pairs
• Ancona girls (Blacks and Blues)
• Welsh Harlequin Drakes (Gold & Silver phase)
• White Indian Runner girls
• Dutch Hookbill Pairs
• Pilgrim Goose Pairs

Rare Landfowl Adult Breeding Stock:
Get them here: http://www.moosemanorfarms.com/livestock-for-sale.html

• French Black Copper Marans Pairs
• Rhode Island Red girls
• Narragansett Turkey girls

This weather is Southern Maryland's finest hot, wet blanket!  But the roses! and the lilac! and those amazing hollyhocks!  I forgive the heat when it makes such pretty blooms.

This month our market is scheduled for Father's Day... I'm double booked so it's going the be crazy for me but I do hope to see you there.

What’s available this month (June):
 
For Your Table:
Meat is reserved here: http://www.moosemanorfarms.com/meat.html

• Pasture Raised Whole Chicken
• Turkey Wings
• Lamb neck bones (amazing for stock or roasted marrow)
• Pork Lard for rendering or frying
• Duck or Chicken Eggs

For Your Incubator $50/dozen (pick up) $65/dozen (shipped):
Hatching eggs are reserved here: http://www.moosemanorfarms.com/hatching-eggs.html
A selection of rare waterfowl & landfowl based on what is collected that week. Breeds available:

• Duck: Indian Runner Assortment
• Duck: Black Cayuga
• Duck: Ancona (sex-linked)
• Duck: Welsh Harlequin
• Duck: White Runner
• Turkey: Narragansett  [$10 ea]

 
For Your Coop & Pasture:
All photos & descriptions are at http://www.moosemanorfarms.com/livestock-for-sale.html
 
Heritage Ducklings $12 ea (min 3):

• Duck: Indian Runner Assortment
• Duck: Black Cayuga
• Duck: Ancona (sex-linked)
• Duck: Welsh Harlequin
• Duck: White Runner
• Turkey: Narragansett

Rare Narraganset Turkey Poults (St. Run) $30 ea. (min 2) day olds or juveniles avail

Heritage Chickens $12 ea (min3):

• Rhode Island Reds (day old and juvenile avail)

Meat Makers Available Now (Min 5):
Get them here: http://www.moosemanorfarms.com/livestock-for-sale.html#RedKing  

• Broadbreasted White Turkeys

 

Wow... March did not come in like a lion but May sure did!  Those 50 mph winds were certainly a THING... not sure I'll ever recover that greenhouse that blew away.  Of course, there's that old adage "don't like the weather... wait a minute"  that's this spring - lol!  One week it's 80* and the next it's 40* and no one's tomato starts are safe.  I think we're on for a good spring going forward though and our upcoming week looks nice... but I'm no meteorologist .

We certainly hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day with your moms and kiddos.  We're scheduled to have our May Market on Sunday 5/16 from 9am - 2pm.  See you there!

What’s available this month (May):
 
For Your Table:
Meat is reserved here: http://www.moosemanorfarms.com/meat.html

• Pasture Raised Whole Chicken
• Turkey Thighs
• Turkey Wings
• Lamb neck bones (amazing for stock or roasted marrow)
• Pork Lard for rendering or frying
• Duck or Chicken Eggs

For Your Incubator $50/dozen:
Hatching eggs are reserved here: http://www.moosemanorfarms.com/hatching-eggs.html
A selection of rare waterfowl & landfowl based on what is collected that morning. Breeds available:

• Duck: Indian Runner Assortment
• Duck: Black Cayuga
• Duck: Ancona
• Duck: Welsh Harlequin
• Chick: Black Copper Marans
• Turkey: Narragansett  [$10 ea]

 
For Your Coop & Pasture:
All photos & descriptions are at http://www.moosemanorfarms.com/livestock-for-sale.html
 
Rare Pilgrim Goslings (auto-sexing) $40 ea. (min 2)

Heritage Ducklings $12 ea (min 3):

• Welsh Harlequin
• Ancona

Rare Narraganset Turkey Poults (St. Run) $40 ea. (min 2)

Heritage Chickens $12 ea (min3):

• Black Copper Marans
• Rhode Island Red

Meat Makers Available Now (Min 5):
Get them here: http://www.moosemanorfarms.com/livestock-for-sale.html#RedKing  

• Red King Broilers

 
Meat Makers Available for Pre-order:
Reserve now for pick-up in June – perfect for your Thanksgiving harvest. Get them here: http://www.moosemanorfarms.com/livestock-for-sale.html#BBW

• Broadbreasted White Turkeys

I'm sorry the newsletter is so late this month!  Spring has sprung and we are crazed at the farm and also at those pesky 9-5 jobs that pay the mortgage.  We are scheduled to have our April Market on Sunday 4/18 from 9am - 2pm so I'll cut right to it...

What’s available this month (April):
 
For Your Table:
Meat is reserved here: http://www.moosemanorfarms.com/meat.html

• Pasture Raised Whole Chicken (6 lbs & 7 lbs only)
• Turkey Thighs
  
• Leg of Lamb (bone-in)
  
• Duck or Chicken Eggs
  

For Your Incubator $50/dozen:
All photos & descriptions are at http://www.moosemanorfarms.com/livestock-for-sale.html

• A selection of rare waterfowl & landfowl based on what is collected that morning. Breeds available:
  • Duck: Indian Runner Assortment
  • Duck: Black Cayuga
  • Duck: Ancona
  • Chick: Black Copper Marans
    

 
For Your Coop & Pasture:
All photos & descriptions are at http://www.moosemanorfarms.com/livestock-for-sale.html
 
Heritage Chickens $12 ea:

• Black Copper Marans
• Rhode Island Red

Sex-Linked Pullet Chickens $12 ea:

• Cinnamon Queen Layers

Other Chickens $10 ea:

• Easter Egger/Olive Egger

 
Meat Makers Available Now:
Get them here: http://www.moosemanorfarms.com/livestock-for-sale.html#RedKing  

• Red King Broilers (also avail for May pre-order)

 
Meat Makers Available for Pre-order:
Reserve now for pick-up in June – perfect for your Thanksgiving harvest. Get them here: http://www.moosemanorfarms.com/livestock-for-sale.html#BBW

• Broadbreasted White Turkeys
  

We look forward to seeing you on the 3rd Sunday, Dec 20th between 8am-2pm along with our good friends, Glory Fields for the last monthly market until March!

For Your Table:
Meat is reserved here: http://www.moosemanorfarms.com/meat.html

• Pasture Raised Whole Chicken  - $4.50/lb
• Pasture Raised Pork (Smoked Ham) - $5.00/lb
• Pasture Raised Lamb  (Leg & Shoulder) - $12.00/lb

For Your Coop & Pasture:
All photos & descriptions are at http://www.moosemanorfarms.com/livestock-for-sale.html

• White Indian Runner pairs and trios: $50/pair or $95/trio  Reserve

Lovely slender and tall Indian Runners are available this fall.  We have several 4 and 5 month old ducks available which means the girls are at the Point-Of-Lay (POL).  One drake and one or two ladies to go with him.

Are you enjoying the nip in the air first thing in the morning?  It’s certain fall is coming on!  Those acorns conking me on the head tell me so… lol!
 
This week is supposed to give us a ton of sunshine and our most pleasant days of the year before it finally cools off for real.  Saturday night is supposed to be in the 30’s!  Brrrrr… but we’re hoping the sun warms us nicely on Sunday for our Monthly Market.  We look forward to seeing you this Sunday, Oct 18th (the 3rd Sunday) between 8am-2pm along with our good friends, Glory Fields with the last of their summer vegetables and beautiful flowers!
 
Our November Market will be adjusted to the 4th Sunday - November 22 - to accommodate fresh birds for your Thanksgiving table.  You can reserve them on our meats page for pick up on the Sunday before the big holiday.

For Your Table:
Meat is reserved here: http://www.moosemanorfarms.com/meat.html

• Pasture Raised Whole Chicken  - $4.50/lb
• Pasture Raised Lamb by the cut - $ Varies

For Your Coop & Pasture:
All photos & descriptions are at http://www.moosemanorfarms.com/livestock-for-sale.html

• White Indian Runner pairs and trios: $50/pair or $95/trio  Reserve

Lovely slender and tall Indian Runners are available this fall.  We have several 4 and 5 month old ducks available which means the girls are at the Point-Of-Lay (POL).  One drake and one or two ladies to go with him.