Monday, December 31, 2012
First Night In The Coop!
Today it's a marvelous day it's clear out and the moon was full when we were out working in the chicken's run this morning around six. When I got up hubby was getting the outside roost, ramps and out side light cord set up and ready to use the moon was full and it was lovely. We are changing up their routine a bit this week. Up until now they have been roosting outside. In this two stage process we got the run done first.
We had agreed that I would do the roosts and ramps when I got up to open the chicken door to the run he did all the while I was asleep! We are glad the chickens settled in and slept well. They all spent the first night inside. We had to close the doors to the run to accomplish this. We are at our forecast high temp. 28* before day break today they said 11* for a low tomorrow that's it's been changed to 17* we are getting ready for cold temps here this week.
Yesterday we set up a roost on some 2" x 4" pieces on a sawhorse because we have not finalized the plan for the winter roosting and do not have the ramp done for the loft area so we will work on that later for now they have managed to get up there. We are in the process of finalizing the plan for the inside winter roosting we were thinking that we would do that later for winter use and the time is now! So this play is a work in progress as time goes on we make improvements.
I changed from the fount to plastic ice cream and happy meal buckets for watering this fall. The chicken's water did not freeze in the coop last night. The water out side was froze in their water bucket but the one inside was not! Yea for a plan working! I've filled their water buckets with warm water [it takes longer to freeze] feeder and moved the 2nd one out side to the chicken run. It's clear out and the moon was fill when we were out working on this around six.
We have one home made wooden feeder hanging inside the coop and another portable one I move around as needed. I put it out into the run I also fed them the apple core and have pumpkin read to go out later today just before they get to free range in the back yard. Then have been munching on my herbs too.
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Chicken Update
We got some chickens from a gal that was moving Barred rocks and Easter eggers in Oct. then they started to molt, we knew they would not lay so we did not put up a light. It was fun learning the schedule watching them hunt and peck for bugs and feeding them scratch a favorite after school activity for the grand kids; and grown ups learned how much fun it was to give them scraps as well!
They are well and we've enjoyed having these birds. We lost one hen to old age. We've been reading researching and studying up on chickens, breeds and found a magazine on Chickens.
I got some 4 week old Morans "pullets" to add for summer laying; out of those 6 only 2 were actually females when those reached teenage they started fighting even the females. One afternoon we came home and saw a bloodied bird called the breeder to return the two worst fighters. At six months I started to wonder so where are the eggs? I got impatient and two of the roos learned to crow! I'm SO glad it's okay to have roos where we live. We enjoyed watching the the 2 Morans hens chase off cats and other wild birds from the back yard. They are they help police the area. One of the roo's is no longer here.
I've been feeding them scratch, pelleted chicken feed flock raiser, some layer feed now, oyster shells, grit, and COB type feed only it's steamed rolled oats and wheat, found some other that has corn and molasses later. They love other back yard goodness like apples, currents, grapes, berries, and pumpkin!
I found some other hens for sale more folks moving and added to the flock a Lt. Brama a sitting hen that's an experienced mama that's raised chicks very exciting, another Easter egger producing a green egg, and barred rock laying some pinkish hued eggs for us to replace the one we lost, an Australorp lays lt. beige eggs it's fun to see what this breed is like. So from these four new hens we are getting a doz. eggs a week now. Yea!!! We converted the play house in to a coop getting the free cupboard the neighbors took out for nest boxes, a chicken door we cut to the run, and put up a light and heat lamp in case of a cold snap this winter it was exciting getting ready for the new chickens and spring chicks!
It's time to think about some replacement stock oh the choices. Studying the catalogue is a favorite pass time these days. At the feed store yesterday when I was picking up more feed they said that an order for the spring chicks was just called in and will be in around mid Feb. so that's exciting!
They are well and we've enjoyed having these birds. We lost one hen to old age. We've been reading researching and studying up on chickens, breeds and found a magazine on Chickens.
I got some 4 week old Morans "pullets" to add for summer laying; out of those 6 only 2 were actually females when those reached teenage they started fighting even the females. One afternoon we came home and saw a bloodied bird called the breeder to return the two worst fighters. At six months I started to wonder so where are the eggs? I got impatient and two of the roos learned to crow! I'm SO glad it's okay to have roos where we live. We enjoyed watching the the 2 Morans hens chase off cats and other wild birds from the back yard. They are they help police the area. One of the roo's is no longer here.
I've been feeding them scratch, pelleted chicken feed flock raiser, some layer feed now, oyster shells, grit, and COB type feed only it's steamed rolled oats and wheat, found some other that has corn and molasses later. They love other back yard goodness like apples, currents, grapes, berries, and pumpkin!
I found some other hens for sale more folks moving and added to the flock a Lt. Brama a sitting hen that's an experienced mama that's raised chicks very exciting, another Easter egger producing a green egg, and barred rock laying some pinkish hued eggs for us to replace the one we lost, an Australorp lays lt. beige eggs it's fun to see what this breed is like. So from these four new hens we are getting a doz. eggs a week now. Yea!!! We converted the play house in to a coop getting the free cupboard the neighbors took out for nest boxes, a chicken door we cut to the run, and put up a light and heat lamp in case of a cold snap this winter it was exciting getting ready for the new chickens and spring chicks!
It's time to think about some replacement stock oh the choices. Studying the catalogue is a favorite pass time these days. At the feed store yesterday when I was picking up more feed they said that an order for the spring chicks was just called in and will be in around mid Feb. so that's exciting!
Sunday, October 07, 2012
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