The Promise of Spring - New Baby Chicks

It seemed as if winter was never going to end but here we are knocking on the doorstep of spring. With spring comes the promise of new life, growth and the reawakening of all the things that laid dormant during those bleak winter days.

Here at Colored Egg Homestead we are beginning to see the resurgence of new life and the promise of spring in the growth of our vegetable seedlings and now with the hatch of our new spring chicks.

We set 5 Lavender Ameraucana eggs in our Brinsea Advance incubator on February 15th and they all hatched 20 days later on March 8th. Here are some photos of the hatch and our new feathered friends.

Here is a video that my son recorded of the first egg hatching. Enjoy!

You'll be seeing more of these little ones throughout the spring.

Thanks for stopping by and please keep in touch!

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Incubator Giveaway! Enter to win!

Enter the Incubator Giveaway!

Incubator Warehouse

The Hova Bator 1602N is a great incubator for the hobbyist, homesteader, or small farmer. Read a Review and How to Hatch Chicken Eggs in an Incubator on The Self Sufficient HomeAcre. Be sure to check out the Review and Incubating Duck Eggs post on Joybilee Farm!

Features:

IncubatorWarehouse.com Gentle Flow Fan kit
Reliable wafer snap thermostat for accurate temperature control
Washable plastic sanitary liner for easy cleaning
Durable Styrofoam construction provides excellent insulation
Built-in water trough for humidity control
Two viewing windows to watch eggs as they hatch
Includes bulb thermometer
Easy-to-follow color installation guide and links to install videos

Now you have a chance to win this incubator for FREE! Just use the Giveaway Tools entry form below.

Many thanks to Incubator Warehouse for sponsoring this giveaway!

Incubator Warehouse sells an array of incubators for the beginner through the professional. They also offer incubator accessories, poultry care products, and chicken coop supplies. Be sure to check out their website and like them on Facebook! Also check out their blog for poultry care articles. :)

Stop by to visit all of the blogs sharing this giveaway!

Incubator Warehouse Blog

Lisa at The Self Sufficient HomeAcre

Nancy at Prudent Living - On The Homefront

Lesa at Better Hens and Gardens

Janet at Timber Creek Farm

Jenny at Black Fox Homestead

Cheryl at Pasture Deficit Disorder

Krystyna at Spring Mountain Living

Kathryn at Farming my Back Yard

Meredith at ImaginAcres

Chris at Joybilee Farm

Khristi at Colored Egg Homestead

Laurie at Common Sense Homesteading

Tammy at Trayer Wilderness

Holly at Midwest Punk Rock Homesteaders

Giveaway runs from March 10th through 17th

Be sure to enter by 5pm on St Patrick's Day!

Entry -Form

Candling Eggs with the Incubright Ultra bright Egg Candler

-disclaimer: I received this product at no cost in exchange for my honest opinion of its performance. My opinions are my own and not influenced in any way by the sponsor or its affiliates.-

Hatching eggs is such a magical experience. In a very short 21 days they grow from egg to adorable baby chick. With so much happening in such a short stretch of time its natural to be want to see whats happening on the inside of the eggs and to ensure that they are growing an developing properly. We are able to do this with a process called 'candeling'. Candling is a method used to see through the shell of an egg using a bright light to check for development.

Eggs are usually candled starting at about 7 days of incubation. Candling can be preformed earlier than this but its best to wait until at least day 7 to determine if eggs are viable or not.

There are several ways to produce the light needed to accomplish candling. I've seen online how many folks have created DIY candlers using common household items. There are also some high end candlers available for purchase online and in local farm/feed stores. Prior to receiving the Incubright Egg Candler from IncubatorWarehouse.com I was using a flashlight app on my cell-phone (Sad.. I know..)

Cell phone candling (don't laugh!)

I set a small clutch of 5 Lavender Ameraucana eggs on February 15^th and candled them with the Incubright egg candler on day 7

One Year Facebook Anniversary

Its hard to believe that its been a whole year since we created the Colored Egg Homestead Facebook page. While the blog followed along shortly after, the CEH Facebook page is where it all began. It was born in an effort to give friends and family a break from the constant onslaught of chicken & egg photos and garden ramblings on my personal page as well as open up the opportunity to meet other like-minded individuals who share our interests in all things chicken, garden and homestead.

I have made so many wonderful friendships and connections through the CEH page and blog this past year and have learned a lot along the way. I want to thank every one of you for following along with us, sharing your thoughts and questions and helping us learn and grow.

We have been experimenting with sprouting fodder here at Colored Egg Homestead for the past few weeks. It all started when I came across this YouTube video

Happy New Year & A Giveaway

Happy New Year friends! 2013 is gone and we have a bright new year ahead of us. While I don't much believe in resolutions per say, I do think that the beginning of a new year brings forth a renewed sense of hope and aspirations to strive for.

For the past few years the goal has been to 'produce more, consume less'. We have been working toward this by growing more of our own foods, saving seed, bartering goods, ditching cable, installing rain barrels, and our newest adventure; growing fodder for the chickens and our pet rabbit to cut feed costs. I'm looking forward to seeing what we can accomplish this year to become more self-sufficient and I hope that you all will continue to follow us in our journey.

In my appreciation for my friends and fans I'd like to offer you a chance to win one of my handmade egg nest necklaces. These necklaces have become very popular in my Etsy Store.

Enter below using the Rafflecopter giveaway!

Winner will be selected by random drawing on 1/11/14

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for stopping by and please keep in touch!

Find Colored Egg Homestead on Facebook: here

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Subscribe to this blog via E-mail: here

Chocolate Pretzel Cookies - Recipe

I just love the combination of salty pretzels and sweet chocolate together. I usually satisfy this craving with chocolate dipped pretzels but this time I wanted to mix things up a bit. I found this recipe and was so excited about it I made them right away.

Handmade Holiday Giveaway - Homestead Bloggers Network

Friends, lend me your ears.. I have an announcement to make!

*cue trumpets*

Its time..... for a giveaway.....

and not just ANY old giveaway... Its a

Homestead Bloggers Network

Handmade Holiday Giveaway!

Total Giveaway Prize Value - Over $240

Bojangles! Tell them what they could win!

Something to cluck about... that's for sure!

Check out these wonderful handmade items!

Oatmeal, Milk & Honey Goat Milk Soap from Yonderhill Farm Goat Milk Soap and House. Barn. Farm. - $6 value

Yonderhill Farm carries a great selection of Goat Milk Soaps made by hand.. We use the milk of our sweet nigerian dwarf dairy goats to create beautiful, creamy, luxurious soaps for everyday use.

Peppermint Lip Balm from Green Eggs & Goats - $3 value

Hand-crafted products straight from our farm to you! We sell lip balms as well as honey and jams when they are available. We are also working on some feather crafts that should be ready to list soon!

Felt Dahlia Brooch Pin from ktnunna Handmade Jewelry & Accessories and Colored Egg Homestead - $9.50 value

I started making jewelry when my daughter was just a baby. I began creating pretty little things for her and myself to wear. At the suggestion of my friends and family I opened ktnunna in 2009. I have been surprised and humbled at the support and encouragement I have received since beginning this little business. View the brooch here!

Fingerless Gloves-Navy with White Lace from Timber Creek Farm - $25 value

Homegrown wool creates Hand spun homemade yarns and accessories. The wool is from our sheep and Pygora goats and we also sell other types of wool and natural yarns. The accessories are handmade and embellished with vintage style lace and buttons to create a unique accessory. For the giveaway, we are donating a pair of fingerless gloves embellished with lace at the cuff. Beautiful and functional!

2-color Paracord Bracelet from Handmade by Blair and Survival at Home - $10 value

Hand sewn crafts and paracord gear made with love by the Blair family.

NOTE: This will be made to order for the winner. Winner will be put in touch with Patrick to select colors and size.

Natural Wool Dryer Balls from Joybillee Farm - $30 value

Joybilee Farm is a fiber farm and artisan studio located in British Columbia, Canada. Each product in our lineup is handcrafted from our own sustainable harvest, and will help you live the JOYful, fearless, creative life that lets you "laugh at the time to come." Check out the drier balls!

Toddler No-Sew Blanket from Lil' Suburban Homestead's Etsy Store - $35 value

Hi I am KarenLynn at Lil' Suburban Homestead currently we are selling no-sew fleece blankets! I have a beautiful toddler no-sew fleece blanket that we will be giving away for this wonderful Homestead Bloggers Network Holiday Giveaway!

NOTE: Blanket pictured and linked to is a larger size. This giveaway is for a toddler sized blanket!

Neck Pack with Eye Pack Included from Simply Herbs Country Store and Simply Living Simply - $25 value

We are stocked with a distinctive selection of individually hand-crafted and organic herbal products, and a few other products specifically chosen by me that I think you may like. Our current selections include Herbal Packs, Kat's Herbal Teas, Goat Herbal Tea Soap, Organic Essential Oils and Herbal Kits! Read about the Neck Pack here!

Charlie the Robot Mug by MereWare and ImagineAcres - $25 value

I use a pottery wheel powered by my imagination to create monsters, robots, and gnomes out of clay. Some of these creatures are functional- in the form of mugs, bowls, and jars. Others are made for the pure fun of it, and serve as loveable pieces of art. Meet Charlie.

"Here Comes Santa" Vintage Hallmark Keepsake Ornament from Once And Again and Spring Mountain Living - $25 value

A collection of fabrics, vintage and handmade items - from the UP to you! See the ornament.

3D Abstract Pendant - One of a Kind from Ever Growing - $25 value

One of a kind 3D pendants & paintings, handcrafted with lots of care, intention and attention to detail using joint compound and acrylics. This pendant is 1 1/2 inches X 1 inch abstract yellow, green and silver teardrop shaped.

Easy Rectangle Crochet Dish Cloth Crochet Pattern PDF from The Mind to Homestead (on Etsy) and The Mind to Homestead blog - $4 value

The Mind to Homestead carries pattern PDFs for the crochet patterns that I have written.

The Gardening Notebook cd or download from SchneiderPeeps - Value $10

The Gardening Notebook you will help you create a custom gardening notebook. With over 100 pages of gardening information and printables you can create just what you need to keep track of your garden. The winner can choose to have The Gardening Notebook on CD or instant download.

At Home Canning DVD from New Life on a Homestead - $19.95 value

In At Home Canning For Beginners & Beyond, you’ll get almost 2 full hours of step-by-step instructions on how to can fruits, veggies, meats, and meals-in-a-jar.

BONUS!

Every item here was donated by a member of the Homestead Bloggers Network and most of these great bloggers have come together to bring you a brand new holiday cookbook, Homemade Holiday Recipes and we're including a copy as part of this giveaway. Please note that this is a digital product and will be sent to you via email.

Enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway is open to residents of the US and Canada. Giveaway runs from Dec 9th through Dec 16th at 12:00am CST. Winner will be notified via email and given 24 hours to respond. Gift items will be shipped directly from the small businesses that donated them, so prizes will arrive in individual packages over a period of several days.

Six Fun & Festive DIY Outdoor Holiday Decoration Ideas

'Tis the season. Its hard to believe that the holiday season is upon us already. Seems like it sneaks up more quickly every year! I love holiday decor but despise paying tons of money for them. So, I've compiled this collection of super fun and festive DIY outdoor holiday decorations to share with you.

How adorable are these Bird's Nest Cookies? I'll be the first to admit that I have a bit of a sweet tooth, (and a slight obsession with colored eggs) so when I was flipping through my big cookie cookbook and came across these I just had to make them. If you wanted to, you could substitute small jelly-beans as the "eggs" as well.

When the temperatures dip there is nothing more comforting than a hot bowl of soup. This Chicken Veggie soup is a favorite in our house. Do not be intimidated by the long list of ingredients. The soup is very easy to put together. While the chicken is cooking you have plenty of time to prep vegetables.

This past weekend I attended the 28^th Annual Sustainable Agriculture conference in Durham NC. I was honored to have the opportunity to attend with a scholarship from Carolina Farm Stewardship Association. The energy and passion of the conference was electric. Here are a few photos from the event.