Erika M Dehoff

Ive gotta soap box this because its been driving me insane...

You want new chicks right?? Yayyy! Then you ask the breeders posting about their availability, prices, photos, etc. (Which we are always happy to chat about!!)

We send them and have a nice conversation... then it happens-

[I can only have pullets/hens]

As breeders, we get it. We want only hens too but unfortunately the egg has a 50/50 shot at being ladies. Plus, we do need males in any species to continue life on earth. ♂️

Here is the thing, you can get straight run birds.

The amount of time it takes to grow them out and actually put them outside... or even mature enough to crow loudly, you will know the chick is indeed a boy. This gives you time to rehome them, drop them at auction or even find a meat person to take them.

Its a win-win. You get the type of birds you want from decent breeders and stop supporting these hatchery stock line thats will probably die of (purple comb disease) iykyk- in about 3 years anyways.

If you work with your breeder, they will more than likely be able to tell who is who before maturity. Some lines about 8 weeks... others closer to 12.

Support local poultry breeders. Get the fun birds! There are ways to move roos out once they show themselves. Its totally okay!

Nowwww the local municipalities that limit what you have and these dumb roo ordinances is another time & soap box 🤣 Ill get there eventually too. We all have a right to farm & grow/raise our own food. Appropriately in our space of course 💁‍♀️

There is some cuteness in the brooder right now! I've kept a few... just a small amount this time 🤣 to grow out!

Guess what....

Two days of eggs in the old basket just lifts my mood every-single-time! 🫶🧺

🥚🐰💐

Hope you have an amazing Easter weekend friends!!!

🌞Sun vs 😎 Shade

🥚🥚🥚

Its crazy how much the lighting in a photo truly changes the color of the eggs! Even so with these two... you still don't really see what I see in person. My darks are much deeper and the blues are such a pretty blue!

Why are they never still enough for a photo 📸

✨ Welcome to my little corner of the interwebs ✨

Hi, I’m Erika 🩵
I’m a wife, a boy mama, and a homestead dreamer building a slow, cozy life for our family.

Here you’ll see a little bit of everything that fills our days:
• Motherhood & postpartum life (1yr)
• Our growing homestead
• Chickens and fresh eggs 🐔🥚
• Gardening & growing food 🌱
• Cozy homemaking & from-scratch gf living
• The journey to opening our roadside farmstand

This page used to be for an old business, but now it’s simply a place where I share our real life as we build it.
If you love slow living, cozy homes, and the beautiful chaos of motherhood — you’re in the right place 👋

I’m so glad you’re here.
— Erika

This page used to be for my old business, but life has changed a lot since then.

Now it’s going to be a little corner of the internet where I share motherhood, our homestead, chickens, gardening, cozy homemaking, and building our farmstand.

If you love slow living and real life — you’re in the right place 🩵✨️

More creations! ✨️❄️