Fall is here...

Well, I looked at the calendar today and it came to me that IT IS NOVEMBER!!

Oh my, where did this year go?

Our hens have been laying eggs a little over a month now. Right after my last post of the two white hens dying, the first egg appeared.

No other chickens became sick, so I wonder if it was somehow related?

We've now placed paneling and foam insulation over the front of the coop to prepare it for winter. The paneling only goes up 4' to keep the chickens from eating the foam board, which seems to be a special treat to them for some reason??!

We are getting about a dozen eggs a day now. Fortunately we are selling them as fast as we get them in, so that we aren't piling up on them.

More to come later, with photos...

The Good and Bad

Sadly we lost two white chickens this past week. One seemed sick for a couple of days before she passed. The other passed quickly, and may have been heat related.

Meanwhile Gimpy, our crippled chicken continues to thrive. She has learned to half-fly/run to get where she needs to go. She has been crippled since she came to us. I keep her leg bandaged, so she doesn't get sores on it. I really didn't think she would survive to adulthood, but she is surprising everyone.

George (our Silkie) was featured in a local video this week. I'll give the URL to watch later, but it is top secret until it's local release.

Leopold is getting his tail plumage going, and is learning to crow. It is sooo funny to hear, but he's getting better and better.

The two little ducklings are doing great, despite the intense heat this past week. We have named them Hansel and Gretel.  They are starting to get their white tail feathers in, and are about 3X their original size. One is even attempting to quack now, instead of peeping all the time.

No eggs yet...waiting with baited breath.

The Rooster Crows...

This weekend Leopold has started to try to crow. I say "try" because it is really ridiculous! George will crow and crow and crow, which gets Leopold going...and it sounds like a long croak. It makes me laugh.

We had some sadness this week, as our incubated duck eggs didn't make it. One made it all the way to hatching and then survived three days out of the egg, before passing. Her egg yolk never absorbed all of the way, and she never thrived. We call her a she, because Clara named her Eponine (from Les Miserables). There could be a variety of reasons, but I think the main culprit is that I didn't get the humidity just right.

Our next ducklings are due to hatch in August, praying for better results.

Our garden has blessed us with GREAT results. I've made 3 jars of salsa, 3 jars of tomato sauce, 9 jars of blackberry jelly, 6 jars of blackberry syrup, about a half dozen green peppers, a jar of pickles, and about 2 dozen ears of corn! I'm chopping down the corn stalks and going to try for more green beans-the only veggie that didn't thrive. I think I will still have time to get a batch in before winter, but we shall see.

Our chickens continue to grow and fill out, and we are awaiting our first egg.

Until next time...

Duckling Emergency

I know this blog is about chicken raising, but thought I'd share our ducking story, since they are very similar.

We started with two eggs. The "due date" came and went, and one of the eggs turned black, and after candeling it, we knew the chick had died.

The other egg reached 2 days past the due date, when the chick starting pipping the shell. After several hours of no progress, I made a slight hole so the chick could breathe.

Well after along time, the duckling emerged, but with the yolk sack protruding out...so ER situation.

I've been keeping the sac moist, and I've put antibiotic on it, hoping to keep infection away.

Giving the chick very little hope of making it, he/she is surprising me. The yolk seems to be absorbing, although there is still a large bulge. The duckling is starting to stand today, drink some sugar water, and POOPED! So, I'm upping it's chances a bit.

We are still touch and go at this point, but have high hopes of a full recovery!

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZRTAzCPSzs&feature=youtu.be

My garden is producing MUCH veggies!

So far I've canned 9 jars of seedless blackberry jam, 6 jars of seedless syrup, 1 jar of pickles, and 8 jars of green pepper jelly. I'm starting on the tomato products, making sauce, salsa, BBQ, etc.

The chickens are all doing well. Gimpy (our little crippled chick) is holding her own. She and George are best mates, and hang out together. Neither is quite as fast as the other chickens, and neither likes to roost very high.

The chickens are all starting to size each other up now, going chest to chest and make a pecking order. It is really comical to watch...like "wanna-be" gangsters acting all tough.

Leopold is really starting to get some color in his feathers.

Until next time...

Waiting...

I've been pretty quiet on here, because not much is happening...but growing.

The girls, and Leopold, have all of their adult features, and they are now "just" getting bigger.

People keep asking about those eggs. Not yet, but soon. Right now they are just getting bigger.

We have incubated two of our duck eggs, and they will be hatching this week! It's been so cool watching them grow and move around inside their shells (through candling). A month of waiting is about to pay off!

Our garden is growing too! I've already harvested some green peppers, tomatoes, pickles, squash, peas, and strawberries. MANY more tomatoes, corn, green beans, black berries, and cucumbers are still growing, but SOON!

I am planning on making my own tomato sauce, BBQ sauce, and berry jams. We have purchased 1/4 of a cow (which is in our freezer), and have half a pig coming soon...then we should not have to visit a grocery store for quite a while!

I made my very first batch of goat cheese last month! I bought the milk at a local grocery, and then proceeded to make the cheese. It was a HUGE success. We used it, mostly, to top off steaks/chops/burgers to add a touch of Heaven to the meat!

I think I'll do it again very soon!

Check back often! I'll update when the blackberries are ready for picking!

Just Growing...

Not a lot has been happening at the coop, but growing.

They chicks are all feathered out, and they just look like small adults, that continue to grow every day.

They are now eating about 4 quarts of feed a day, give or take, depending on how much extras they get (treats and outside forage).

I've almost completed their outside enclosure, but still have to varmint proof the bottom. They really enjoy going outside, as you can see below:

George (the official, FINAL name of the Silkie) has proved that he is indeed a rooster, by starting to crow. As long as he doesn't fight with Leopold, that will be just fine. If they start fighting, then someone will have to find a new home. Silkies are known for their gentle disposition, so I'm hoping they will get along just fine with 15 girls to share.

George's earlobes have turned a bright blue, and his beak is bluing up as well. He is so funny, and starting to strut like a rooster, but like a dorky rooster. He will strut one or two times, then look around to see who is (or mostly who isn't) watching. Then he'll hang his head in shame and pretend it never happened.

Leopold is starting to really grow his comb out. He hasn't exhibited any other rooster behavior. He is like a little road runner, running around everywhere at break neck speed.  He is so funny to watch, darting here and there.

The black chickens remain my favorite, as they are really friendly. One jumps up to eat out of the bowl, as I am filling up their feeder each day. She really likes to be petted too.

As of yet, the girls have remained unnamed (by me), except for one of the white ones. She has had a limp since she was a small chick (it appears to be in her hock), so I call her Gimpy. I am waiting for the others adult feathers to color out, so that I can tell them apart. Right now they just all look the same to me.

Meanwhile my veggie garden continues to grow. We have harvested several strawberries and peas already. The tomatoes have a bunch of greenies growing. Looks to be a good year for us!

P.S. My cancer is remission again. Praying it stays that way for a LONG while!!

Small Grown Chickens...

So, all of my chickens look like miniature adults right now. They have all gotten their "big girl" feathers in, and their fluff is gone.

Here they are, eating rice for a breakfast treat.

The "nipple" watering system was a bust. It leaked everywhere, so Tom is revamping it.

We are going to move their dust bath box to the other side, and install their feeder this week.

All of my veggies are reaching the grown-up stage as well, and many have flowers on them. That means, just a few more weeks until we get to eat their first fruits! The strawberries have already given us plenty of luscious snacks!

I got a nice "Welcome" sign from Tom's parents for Mother's Day.

 Tomatoes are in bloom.

 So are the sweet peas.

 Spinach is looking good.

 Our cozy coop with strawberries.

Converting...

My diabolical evil plan has worked...I've converted my husband to a chicken lover!! Bwahahahaha!

Today my dear hubby made my nesting box area. He made a platform to sit the four "milk crates" (that I purchased on sale from "Land of Nod"), and a hinged "roof", along with fixing the boxes themselves. He cut a hole in the "front" of the crate, added rubber mats to the bottom, and then attached the hinged roof. See the pics below:

His next project is to set up our "chicken nipple" watering system, and our PVC feeder. He has also started making a "Bless this coop" sign for the front, and wants to put nice windows in. One of the windows will feature a flower box. He is really getting into this!

Today he was telling me how one of the black chicks has taken him in as a friend and will let him hold her. She peeps at him when she's ready to get down.

I've started driving in the TPosts for the outside run. It will end up being about the same size as their indoor run, so they will get to stretch their legs soon, in double the acerage.

The chicks are getting bigger. They have almost all of their "big girl" feathers in. Leopold is starting to grow his comb. It is still teeny tiny, but you can tell it is growing now.

Here is a recent video I took of them enjoying their first taste of cooked pinto beans: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiKobogVRxk

I've switched their brooder light to only come on between 1-4AM. I've kept their "ladder wind guard" up for now, but that will come out soon. Right now they enjoy roosting on it, along with all of their other roosting spots.

Until next time:

Moving Day and a Rescue

As I wrote about last time, we finally finished the coop! Woohoo!!!! I still have to complete the outside run, but the structure of the coop itself is complete.

Friday I received an email about a Silkie chick that needed a rescue. Apparently the chick has a minor flaw that makes it not "show worthy", and the owner was going to cull it. My only dilemma was if the chick was a male or female. I am desperately wanting a female Silkie, because I would (one day) like to brood some chicks, and I've heard that the Silkies are great brooders, and will brood eggs that aren't even theirs.The problem is that no one knows the sex of the chick, but I took it in anyway. If it is a rooster, I pray that it is a docile one, and won't fight with Leopold.

So I picked up this poor "little" chick on Saturday and put it with the other chicks. I was told it is only about a week older than mine, but that appears to be incorrect, as it is a giant, compared to my girls. Silkies are a small breed, so I think this one is actually closer to full grown than a chick.

It was covered in poo, having been in a crate all day, but overnight it (with help of it's new chick friends) cleaned itself up. I trimmed her (I'm calling it a her) feathers by her eyes so she could see better. Here is a before photo:

According to what I've ready, I think she is a she, and not a he, but it is hard to tell.

Anyway, she is getting along just fine with all of the other chicks, and last night, during a cold snap, they all snuggled together in the completed coop.

 So last night, all chicks spent the night in their new coop. According to everything I've read, I'm doing this a week or two too early, but they have been trying to fly out of the water trough, and this was the safest place for them to be. We put up a wind shield, made out of some wood, attached to a ladder for stability last night. They all did splendidly.

Here is a video I took of them. You will see them carrying around fettuccine noodles that I gave them as a treat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ai7-62A8obE

So we have everyone in thier new home, along with their new sister Silkie. I've named her Silkie (pronounced Zulka), because that is a German name that I took on when I took German in High School. It fits perfectly. If she turns out to be a he, we will rename him Rod (as in Rod Stewart). Until then it is Silkie.

I added a sandbox to the coop yesterday, so that the chicks can dust themselves, if they choose. It is 95% sand and 5% Diatomaceous Earth (food grade).

For Mother's Day, on top of the finished coop (the most expensive present I've ever gotten), I got some flowers to add as hanging baskets to the front. I think it completes it :)

Coop is finished

Yesterday we put the final varmint proofing wire up on the ventilation gap at the top of the coop. Tom also put in the chicken's door for them to access their outdoor run (when I get that completed).

Here are the photos:

Coop Picture

Here is the picture of the almost finished coop. You can see where the ground in front still needs the gravel added, and the mat moved over to it, but the front is finished, and the door. I still have to put wire inside on the ventilation gaps, and finish off the footing/bedding, but that is it for the coop itself.

The next thing is to start my outside run for the chickens. It will consist of wire fencing, Tposts, and poultry netting (for the ceiling). I will add a chicken door to the front right of the coop (as you are looking at it-opposite side to the human door), that can be closed off at night, when the chickens will be roosting in safety. The run is for when I am not home, so that they can go out and peck around, stretching their legs, soaking up the sun, or finding a cooler place to hang.

The run will be to the right (up against the wooden fence), and behind the coop. It will be relatively small, but enough for a change of pace and extra elbow room. It won't be completely varmint proof, but will be sufficient for daytime use.

Coop Update

Yesterday we finished the front of the coop! Tom did 90% of the labor, but I stapled up the screen and held boards for him. We used 1X4 for the supports, screwed into the front top and bottom boards. Then we stapled the hard-cloth screen on. Tom made the door from 1X4 and hard-cloth screen. I still need to get a good picture of it, as we ran out of daylight. We still have to frame the screen with furring strips to ensure no little varmint claws can get a grip and pull the screen off. I also have to level off the very front, where the ground is uneven, adding limestone grit and a rubber mat in front of the door (so that the entrance doesn't get muddy). Our only slight setback was when we realized that we had inadvertently left the wheelbarrows inside the shed after we had finished the last panel. We managed to get them out, but it was a very tight squeeze...whoops!

I also took some of the scrap wood and made the chicks a perch. I was hoping that they would get used to it, and in a couple of days, start to use it. One of the chicks was eager to get going, and hopped up on it in less than 5 minutes. When I went to check on them before bed, there were several cuddled next to each other on it. My girls are growing up!

More Pics of the Peeps

This week we started handling the chicks. The yellow ones, as I stated before, do not like it one little bit. The reds are a close second. The blacks protest a bit, but are easier to catch. Leopold is a snot, but once caught lies still and lets you stroke his head.

Yesterday I let the girls have about 5 minutes of grass time, to see if they would like to peck around. They weren't thrilled. They all huddled together in fear, while one or two picked at a piece of grass.

I'm going to try again today.

Tonight we plan to finish the front of the coop...yeah!

Meet The Peeps...

Here are some photos of our chicks. I've waited until now to hold them or stress them out in any way.

My kids have started naming the girls, but I don't know what they are all called. I only know they are naming them after the boy band "One Direction". I have no idea why, since they are all girls, (except our one rooster) go figure! I named our rooster Leopold.

Meet Leopold the rooster. You can tell him from the girls  because he has a mask around his eyes, and green on his head. He is a Brown Leghorn.

My favorite, other than Leopold, are the black chicks (Black Sex Links). 

They are calm and like to be held.

The girls all huddled together in fear of the camera.

 Can you tell which is Leopold? (Hint, center)

 The red chicks, aka Rhode Island Reds

 My least favorite, but great egg layers, the White Leghorn.

They are very skittish and don't like to be held. Can't you tell by the scream in this pic?

 Hank, meet Leopold.

There is nothing really new to report. I've been dealing with "pasty butt" this week. Although gross, not really a big deal, except catching and checking them all out. Only about 1/3 have it, so I think that is a good thing. For those who don't know what that is, it is when they get poop on their vent, and it could clog them up. Normally a momma hen would clean that up, but since we don't have that option, I am momma hen. It is no different than any of the other countless babies that I've fostered, so not a big deal really.

Our daily schedule is: check feed, water, and heat lamp in the a.m. and p.m. Periodically checking on them throughout the day. I'm trying to add the daily handling of them too, but like I said above the leghorns and reds don't really care for it. My main concern is handling Leopold every day. I want him to be a loving (to humans) rooster and not a terror. I don't know how that will turn out, but here's hoping!

Chicks Are On The Way...

Saturday I finished the footing/base of the chicken mansion (that is the term my friends are calling it).

As I wrote last time, I have put in a 2" Limestone base. Thanks to some "trash" from a demo area, I was able to pick up some foam/rubber mats that I have put over the base. This will not only keep the chickens from digging, but will create more drainage should something happen and the coop be inundated with water.

On top of these mats, I have added another 2" of limestone grit.

Next week I will add a sprinkling of barn lime, and 2" of crushed corn cob. This will complete my footing for the coop.

We also started painting the untreated wood, on the roof and roosts with sealer, to help keep the wood from rotting.

Hubby is going to get started on the door and laying boxes over the next couple of weeks. I am putting hardcloth wire at the top to keep out varmints, and starting to work on their attached outdoor run. So far, the TOTAL cost of our coop (12'X14'X6'h) is just a little over $200. I think that is awesome for what this is turning out to be. We already had the 3 sides, limestone, tin, some of the wood, rubber/foam mats. I have only paid for the wood for the roost, roof, and the fencing.

I want them to have an area to play in during the day, while I'm at work. When I am home, I plan on having them in a "chicken tractor" (still to be made), so they can have access to fresh grass/bugs/food. I can't put them in that, however without my supervision, since it will not be varmint proof. The attached run will allow them to go out and dig around/play/sun/stretch their legs, but won't be big enough for fresh forage.

I took the time, Saturday, to get the chicks "welcome" home ready. I've put in 2" of crushed corn cob, with a thick layer of newspaper on top, in an old water trough. The trough is in a barn stall. The newspaper will keep them from eating the cob, until they understand what food is, and will be removed after day 3. I have their temporary waterer bought, and will put their food in a Styrofoam plate for a day or two. After they get the hang of what food is, I will get them a chicken feeder. They have a heat lamp (hooked to a PVC pipe) that heats to over 100f (at floor level), and they have ample room to move away from the heat if they get hot. I put Styrofoam boards on top (with a wood board for weight) to keep the trough draft free. The only thing I did not do is make a screen top to cover it. The trough is sitting right next to my dog's crate, so I'm hoping the smell/sight of a big dog will keep varmints away from my babies.

The hatchery sent me an email that the chicks are in the mail...and should arrive Wednesday. I'm so excited. I have a trauma kit ready to get those sweeties cleaned up, and eating drinking when they get here. Praying their mail trip is not stressful.

Until next time...