It’s not every day that we get a visitor who arrives by mail, but that’s exactly what happened when Flat Stanley showed up at Cluck It All Farms! He came to learn about chickens, and we wasted no time putting him to work. From hatching chicks to feeding the flock to helping with important health checks, Stanley got the full farm experience.
Here’s a peek at everything he got up to during his stay!
🐣 Hatching Chicks – A Front-Row Seat to New Life
Flat Stanley arrived just in time to witness something truly amazing—baby chicks hatching! He watched as tiny, determined fluffballs worked their way out of their shells in our incubator. Hatching isn’t easy; it takes chicks hours to peck through the shell, and once they make it out, they’re exhausted. But after a little rest and some time to dry off, they’re fluffy, active, and ready to explore.
Since we raise rare landrace chicken breeds, Stanley got to see some unique chicks that will grow into hardy, self-sufficient birds. He met:
🐓 Swedish Flower Hens – Beautiful, speckled chickens, each with a one-of-a-kind feather pattern.
❄️ Hedemora – Extra fluffy birds built for cold weather, thanks to their down-like feathers.
🌍 Shetland Hens – Small but mighty, these chickens are excellent foragers.
🖤 Swedish Black Hens – From feathers to bones, these birds are completely black!
🏝 Olandsk Dwarfs – A rare, tiny breed with loads of personality.
⚔️ Icelandic Chickens – These birds have Viking roots, brought to Iceland over 1,000 years ago!
Flat Stanley spent some time in the brooder with the new chicks, carefully making sure they were warm and comfortable. He may not have been the fluffiest farmhand, but he was definitely the flattest!
🥚 Egg Collecting – Not All Eggs Look the Same
One of Stanley’s most important jobs on the farm was collecting eggs. But he quickly learned that eggs come in more colors than just white and brown. Depending on the breed, our hens lay cream, tan, and speckled eggs—each one a little different, just like the chickens themselves.
He was extra careful with his egg-collecting duties because, well… paper and eggs don’t mix well!
🐔 Feeding the Flock – A Chicken Stampede!
Healthy chickens start with good nutrition, and around here, we mix our own feed to make sure our birds get exactly what they need. Stanley helped us blend grains, protein, and extra nutrients into a balanced mix to keep our flock strong.
Then came the fun part—feeding time!
Stanley tossed some feed into the coop, and suddenly, WHOOSH! The hens came running like a chicken stampede! It turns out, Stanley is pretty popular with the ladies (the feathered kind, at least).
🩺 Avian Influenza Testing – Flat Stanley Lends a Hand
One of the most important jobs on our farm is keeping our flock healthy and disease-free. Stanley got a front-row seat to something that most people never get to see—avian influenza (AI) testing.
Our NPIP tester, Candy, stopped by to perform our routine flock check, and Stanley even got to help swab a chicken for testing! Don’t worry, the chicken didn’t mind—it was over in a second. These tests help ensure that our flock (and others in the area) stay safe and healthy.
Not bad for a farm rookie!
🎁 Heading Home with Souvenirs!
After a busy few days on the farm, it was time for Flat Stanley to head back home. But he didn’t leave empty-handed! Along with a ton of fun farm stories, he’s bringing some special souvenirs for his class.
We had a blast showing Stanley around, and if he ever wants to visit again, we’ll have fresh eggs and maybe a few chicken snuggles waiting for him.
Until next time, Flat Stanley! 🐔✉️
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