Ideas

I got the idea to put the plastic jars with the bottom cut out they make it so much easier to fill chick feeders and waterers. I even double stacked the feeder so it would hold more. I saw at the tractor supply store the had waterers sitting on short two by four wood blocks to keep the water clean longer.

This week we are checking into poly-something a corrigated type of sheeting to go over the run to keep rain and snow off this fall and winter. We will have to order it in.

Sept.

The hens have been enjoying the fresh plums this year. I picked them last week. The squirrels were really getting after the plums so I was glad to get them picked. I pruned the plum tree too.

The chickens have also been enjoying the grapes on the deck as well. 

It's been hot we have had more summer after tbe school year started again. The weather is suosed to change. The hens will be glad for the relief
from the heat.

The hens enjoy the hose being on a bit they wade in the water on the ground to cool off their feet.

This week

I am using this with a blue tooth key board to post. 

Chickens are done molting now the new feathers came in with white fleck kind of like they are going grey! At the feed store they said a new higher protein feed is out for chickens that are molting.

Yesterday I cleaned the run I covered the run with plastic; we've had thunder storms ìn the area this week. The run cover needs to have some tweaking to get it more secure, we did get some leakage where it blew back and the water in. I need to get it a bit more secure on the top before the next rain storm.

We need to repair a shelf but I need to get the brackets for that project before we begin. 

Post from new tablet

I am trying out a post from my new gal. tab 3 seeing how it works.  Some have had issues w gal. But they have been working on a fix for it.

Okay I am able to edit. there is a learning curve with this.

This edit is from my chrome browser♡ 

New Samsung Galaxy 3 Tablet

I got a new Samsung Galaxy 3 tablet it's a 7" and I'm learning how to use it so I can post chicken pics and videos. Having a ball with my new techie toy for my bday. But there is a definite learning curve. Our son wants to see it aka translates to mom can I play w/ your new toy! LOL! 

After taking back the newest Google Nexus froze up & I had to return it because of some issue with map apps in locating my location when I was in photo taking mode. So I did not check that box on this one that identifies where I am. I'm very happy with this so far and the Samsung apps. too. I choose a white one. 

Now I'm waiting on the case to come in they were out of stock when I was at the store. 

Broken

Yesterday I got a Google Nexus 7 a bday & 40th wedding ann. gift and it is broken in less than 24 hrs. it froze up in the camera function. ACK! I was outside trying to get some photos of the chickens and it stopped working. I can't get it to do anything! Gr-r!!! I'm not happy and I'm taking it back. 

Pros of this are clear pixels on it and the stuff I used except for the camera did work. I was trying to get it up and running so I could have a Bible on it for church this morning. I got the battery all charged up last night so it would be good to go for today. 

I'm trying to see what I can get resolved. I did manage to get a few photos taken before it froze up and those were saved b/c I'd synced some stuff before hand. [I had not even learned where the flash function was on it.]  No off line owners manual came with it. 

The unit is hot and I do not know how to disengage the battery. Guess I'm going to take it back asap. before it blows up what a bummer! 


Today I got a Samsung galaxy tab 3 & I'm learning how to post from it!

Egg Custard

Egg custard 
3 eggs 
1 c. milk 
1/2 c. sugar 
1 tablespoon vanilla 
dash of nut meg. 

Whiz in blender & bake until center is set. I put mine in the crock pot on high cooked it apx. 2 hrs. and checked it after doing some chores outside and it was done yummy!

Crock Pot Cobbler

Fruit Cobbler 
Two cups fruit your choice in season I used one cup black berries and one cup plums. One cup brown sugar. One teaspoon cinnamon. Mix and place in large crock pot on high setting. 

One yellow cake mix 
Two cups milk
Three eggs [medium]  
One tablespoon vanilla 
One cube butter melted [1/2 cup] 

Mix cake mix milk, eggs, vanilla, butter, until it is pan cake batter consistency. Pour one cup over fruit. Save the rest of the batter for other cobblers. Cook until done mine took apx. two hours I was working out side in the yard. Serve warm with ice cream. This is what I remember having when I was a kid yummy. 

Try other variations with peach apple cherry canned pie filling will work for this as well. 

For a variation it's fun to sprinkle oatmeal and cinnamon on top for more texture. 

Eggs in the Crock Pot!

I made custard in the crock pot tastes great I'll use less sugar next time and tweak it with splenda at some point. --it turned out pretty well. 

Bread pudding I made in the crock pot vanished very quickly! 

Cobbler I cooked in the crock pot our grand daughters were competing who got to crack the eggs and put them in this recipe and helped mix it up making recipe so much more fun to do. What I learned was the cobbler should have been in the bigger crock pot, the custard needed to be mixed more.  Still tweaking these recipes a bit. 

Crust-less spinach quiche' was a surprise that it was such a hit! We had ours in a wrap the carb count is better and the family liked it that way; but it was a bit watery because I did not put flour in it. Next time I'll do it in the crock pot as well. Tonight we'll have egg salad in a wrap, or tuna salad in a wrap.  

I may try poached eggs as well. 
Recipes coming I have saved them some where around here! 

Got it!

For a treats the hens got crumbs from the box of vanilla wafer cookies and raisin bran cereal, some green grapes with seeds, and one green plum. 

I cleaned under the roost again today and got a frame I'm considering for a frame to hold the plastic we will put up over the wire mesh on part of the roof. The hens do not mind the rain as much as I do when it drips down my neck when I'm out doing chores the tin ends right on the walk way where I go through from one door to the other. I hope this will work. Last year we did not put up plastic because we figured the wind on the wire would just shred it. 

Part of the nest box has a nail loose and the bottom is coming out so we need to repair that this weekend. We moved it to solve that problem. I got 12 eggs today. The days are getting shorter so next month I'll be thinking about getting the light up and fall stuff we need to do. 

This week I've been trying out some recipes and I'll be posting those I finally got the cobbler one to turn out like I wanted. 

August News

Each week it seems I learn some thing new with chickens here. This weekend at a flea market an old timer had some eggs for sale and I was getting some pointers on what to do with a broody hen w no rooster that should be done sitting. I like what he said that they did. They moved the chicken that were broody out away from the others without any eggs, in to an isolation area then after a week they were ready to rejoin the flock. 

What I've been doing is moving the broody hen to a cage away from the others in the morning and then when the hens are done laying at noon closing the coop if there are stragglers they can use the outside nesting boxes. Then I let the broody hen out of the cage and she is more than ready to rejoin the flock. 

Today the broody hen that I was working with  has rejoined the flock after only a day and a half. I'm SO happy about that. Then today found another two that have gone broody of this years hens so I have isolated one and will do what I did yesterday with the other one next. It seems to be working. 

Today I gathered eleven eggs I got a thin shelled egg today so I added oyster shell calcium to the feed, they have it in the run but thought I'd better put it in their feeder as well. And one cracked egg so I had those for my brunch. 

I put up the big feeder that holds a lot for our weekend away. I've removed that one an put up the others. The hens were having a hard time getting the last of it out of the big feeder so I poured it out for them. 

The road construction in our area does not seem to bother the hens at all this week. 
Ten eggs yesterday one was not salvageable was broken. The cracked ones went for boiled eggs I'm thinking egg salad sandwiches or on half a bagel open faced style. That would be fun on the mini ones as well. 

I dug up some bulbs on the West side of the coop, the hens liked getting bugs, our grand daughter had so much fun digging in the dirt with me! First I had to move some wood and then  I watered it so the digging would be easier and would attract more bugs, then I put the hose on another section in front of that to do some more digging on later. 

We are rethinking the placement of the red coop to use for brooders it needs to be closer to the main coop and power source We may be redesigning one to fit on the current coop and incorporate the window we have on it for a hen access place.  


I've put of an eggs for sale sign in our window this week. 

Herding Hens

We've had some thunder and rain here this week. I've fed the chickens this morning and let them out. Today I need to water them and fill their big water font. Plus fill up the big feeder to see if it lasts a couple of days I got it hung up yesterday in the chicken run. 

I dismantled the nest of the broody hen that went next door to for an unsuccessful hatch not surprising with no roo. After a month it was time. The grand kids helped me heard her back home after she went back to that spot she was sitting again. She has showered in the rain and returned to the flock now. That's a relief!The other broody hen is still sitting on a golf ball but is in the coop. 

We got the smallest egg I've ever seen today about an inch and a half long I suspect it is just yolk. It's a very pretty egg dark and speckled a lovely egg. One of the New Hampshire red pullets have already started to lay eggs. We gathered eight eggs today. 

I made deviled eggs and our grand daughter helped me mix up two different kinds of cookie dough. 

Peanut Butter Cake mix cookies

P.B. Cake Mix Cookies 
Preheat oven 350* 
Prep. 5-10 min. 

Ingredients: 
1 yellow or chocolate cake mix
2 small eggs 
1 Tablespoon vanilla 
2 Tablespoons water
1 c. peanut butter 
1 cup toppings we like chocolate chips optional. 
Cinnamon

Directions: 
Stir eggs in to cake mix with vanilla peanut butter and water. 
spoon on cookie sheet; sprinkle cinnamon on top make fork marks on top. 

Option: add 7 chocolate chips or m & m's on each cookie for a variation 
Bake 10-12 min.@ 350 cool and enjoy. 
Great for ice cream sandwiches. 

Trip to the Tractor Supply Store

After breakfast our dear grand son helped with the chicken chores he's the fill in person to help out when needed around here. I had the grand kids eat breakfast on the deck I put a table cloth on it dear grand daughter wanted to know why there was a "cloth" on the table. Later we did some errands to the Tractor Supply Store got the hens some more food, putting away stuff from the farm and tractor store. 

I got a galvanized chick feeder I wanted a spare and they were out last time I was checking on them. I cut the bottom out of a plastic mayo. jar so I could use it for this one it makes so much easier to fill the feeder just being able to pour it in. The hens use this as well. 

Then Hubby got busy trying to beat the heat fixed the roosts and perch in the chicken run. The hens were not happy with him messing around out there in the chicken run one was really squawking a lot. It was really quiet outside unsualy so not a sound from other birds; I said "maybe that hawk is back who knows". Then I got busy with the tasks at hand and I rinsed off the ramps for the roosts got the roosts scraped off and the chicken ramps got those back up. 

Hubs grilled lunch yummy burgers for us for our lunch those were great. We also got a small five gallon sized galvanized bucket, like a trash cans we had when I was a kid. This one is like a miniature one of those. Saw they had them on sale, this one is for chicken feed. The clerk said this shipment came without a handle but I knew we had a wooden knob at home from another project. So I rounded that up and hubby put it on while the burgers were cooking. I filled the galvanized mini can with the bottom of the bag feed that was left and I'm glad that worked out so well. 

One egg was broken today when I gathered them seven so far today. Yesterday our grandson came up to the deck grinning ear to ear our grand daughter was tattling that "he got eggs without the basket"; he had eggs stuffed in all of his pockets; such memories we are building around here! They do love to gather eggs and help with the chicken chores.  

I set the waterer up on some 2" x 4" blocks to get the water up off the ground to keep it cleaner that is working well. 

I got a plastic egg carton for the fridge and some of the foam cartons for when folks want eggs those were on my list. 

Mopsy and Flopsy

After my walk today the two hens I'm calling Mopsy and Flopsy one has a floppy comb. Were busy in the nest box hanging out and lots of cluck cluck CLUCK clucking was going on. 

I was watering with the hose and spotted a hawk fly off out of the tree in the neighbor's back yard so it was a warning call to take cover that time instead of the "I've just laid and egg" clucking. I picked apples for them after getting on the old rickety ladder I've decided next time I need to get out the other one that's better and taller. I raked the chicken yard and got fresh apples chopped up for the hens so they can have the worms inside them too. 

I freshened up the nest boxes with shavings and cleaned under their roosts. I Saw one of the nest box perches needs some repair and I stabilized it for now until we can get to it in the morning when it's cooler this weekend. 

I gathered ten eggs today so far yea for a full basket of eggs. Of course when production was down I gave away all the egg cartons I had collected. [Me rolling my eyes.] I do have a couple of spares I keep the clear ones and some I cut in half to use when production is less so they will do for now. The broody hens took a break in the afternoon and got a drink stretch and had some food. The do not poo in their nests. 

One of the younger pullets sort of pecked at my hand when I went outside and had no food for them it was like she was saying "hey don't forget about us"! I picked her up and packed her out to the chicken run and put her by the food. A couple of them are tame enough to be petted and she was one of those. I'm going to see about getting them to eat out of my hand but I'll put on my leather gloves first. 

Summer Heat

Our chickens are all alive and well we have plenty of shade and water buckets all around the yard under shady areas. Some frozen treats or okay with the hens now they have decided. I've been watering the hot spots during the day to cool it off a bit and they enjoy the cool grass. They've been eating less feed. We got eight eggs yesterday. The guy from hubby's work was very happy with his eggs, on Sunday for family breakfast they made making pancakes and got a double yolk-er the kids got a kick out of seeing that they were helping to make the batter! Out of that doz. several were double yolkers. It's a challenge to explain that double yolk eggs are sort of random and do not all come from the same hen as far as I know any way. 

When I open up the coop window one hen jumps up on the ledge and I jump back expecting a chicken bomb, that's when a chicken takes flight and you need to get out of the way! But this one did not fly just saying hi and I petted her so that's the new routine a couple of them are tame enough so that's great. 

Our granddaughter got between the feed and one got pecked once so now she will not go out in to the chicken yard or coop she is afraid. Not all bad if we get a roo it's good that she remains a healthy distance from them but so far none are roos. The hens from this spring's crop of Rhode Island Reds all seem to be laying. Delaying my summer plans to paint the inside of the coop as it's a pretty busy place through out the morning. Maybe in the afternoon but it's been in the triple digits this week here so that's not very appealing. 

Chicken Notes & Ideas

Today I got one egg first thing today it was cold so had been laid a while ago none in the nest box last night when I last checked. 

U.S. farm report had good info. but an hour long was too much time. will have to try to catch the rest later on the net. I like to follow info. on crops and stuff and get ideas about feed. http://www.rfdtv.com/shows/agriculture/u.s._farm_report/

Speaking of feed I'm going to put the corn meal in the freezer to kill any potential bugs from hatching. I'd not thought about G.M.O. corn being in the feed we use until I saw the show this week,  I'll be giving that some thought. 

Decided we might try to get some Rhode Island White in the fall to have them ready to lay by spring to prevent the lag time we had this year. It's sort of an art from keeping on top of that. I'll have to call and put in my order. 

The hens are not keeping up with the apples at this point. I got a shrub rake, I had to attach the handle before I could use it. Then I cleaned out the coop and run yesterday. After that I Freshened up the nest boxes with new shavings hoping to prevent the occasional cracked eggs. Surprised how long it took me to figure that out! LOL! 

Beginning the new tech. stuff will get a new cable modem tomorrow afternoon. To get the tech. net stuff on the smart phones we have will double the bill so we will not be doing that. Bummer. =( Keeping my fingers crossed that I'll be able to get a tablet and do it with that using the cable net. 

Soft Shell

 Hoping to get some new technology by fall so I can put up some chicken videos, & pic. 

The other day a chicken laid an egg directly in front of me, it was a soft shelled one. So I upped the amount of oyster shells in with their feed. That was amazing and I could tell that she was one of the hens with the crook in her comb. 

I've been getting between 4-6 eggs a day this week. Only the EE is laying from the older hens. 

Hubby brought home a cage to use for chicks or isolation from a guy at work that wanted to trade it for eggs. I have sent the first doz. with hubby to work for the guy. He lives in the city limits and cannot have chickens and is really missing the fresh eggs. I was glad to hear that he did not mind green eggs! 

Grand kids have been having fun helping to feed and gather eggs naming the chickens that are their favorites. It's a challenge to tell them apart with most all of them the same breed this year. 

Ours do not like the frozen treats so much in the hot weather they wait until the treats of frozen fruit are thawed to eat it. 

Double

Double yolker egg today elongated shaped. That was a fun one to find it was an elongated egg more so than the average egg. Last night I put my gloves on and picked up the broody hen briefly so I could check her eggs and she had two pullet eggs in her nest so she's sitting on three eggs now. So the new hens have been laying for a week now. 

I got some herb plants marked down one each of lemon thyme and regular thyme planted those in the front yard, where the chickens will not eat them so much. 

At the farmers market I got some zucchini  Swiss chard, and carrots. Then I realized after I got home that I should have had the guy leave the tops on the carrots when he asked I could have given them to the chickens! 

I dropped of feed sacks to the gal that uses them to make feed sack totes and next time I'll ask if she does the feed sack aprons. Picked up another sack of feed while we were down town. This one is a new design! 

Egg-citing News!

Exciting news here from the hen house! Loud clucking was heard this morning and one of the new Rhode Island Red [RIR] pullets has laid an egg; so at 22-23 weeks we have a new productive batch of hens here! Yippie!  I suppose it is so silly to get this excited over such a tiny egg golf ball sized egg! I noticed she had been hanging out around the hen house a lot lately sitting in the nest boxes and being friendly with the others that were sitting & laying.  Our 5 year old grand daughter found it and was the most excited! We got 3 eggs yesterday one green one the Easter Egger has been laying really consistently this week. Plus one beige egg with a pointy end I'm trying to figure out which hen lays that one. 

While I was out in the yard I found a pink tomato but the chickens found it first and was 3/4ths of the way eaten; but I'm in such a good mood about having a new layer I'll forgive them this time. I put the tomato cage up it needs to be wrapped with netting still. That will be next up on my to do list.

When I was out in the yard the other broody hen came flying over the fence from next door clucking loudly as if to say "I'm home!" I had to step back because I was in her "flight path" so she could have a safe landing! She was home for food and water.

Other neighbors have their house up for sale and are clearing out stuff and I got a couple of new to me egg gathering baskets and crock pot for the chickens water-er in the winter to keep that from freezing. I'm going to try that out hoping it's not too hot.  I have sun tea brewing on the deck now so I'll be sipping on that soon. 

Looking forward to the farmers markets this weekend. Today one of the roos woke me up at 5:15 sort of a squack not really a crow; he's still learning. I'm not sure if it was Stewie or Golden Boy there are two I think are roos in this batch. It's time to think about getting their pen ready to go. The hen coop needs to be repainted. 

Fence Fixing and other 4th Activities

Yesterday our five year old grand daughter helped me fix the fence. Doesn't every farm girl fix fence at some point in her life on the 4th even plastic fences count! Then I cleaned up under the roost and moved a the feeders into the wagons and while I did that the chickens thought that was great fun to get up in the wagon to eat!  

I heard the the boody hen off her nest clucking in the back yard so I scurried out to take a look - see I was amazed at how many eggs she had in her clutch I counted between 9 to12 she was in a spot hard to see and took a pic of it but you could not tell much from it. 

We picked apples for the chickens to eat and took photos of the red tomato, and sunflowers in the yard and baked up come cookies for other fun activities. 

The chickens survived another loud night of fire works from the streets in front and behind us. Some one had a radio going and that seemed to help calm the chickens down some what. I will be glad when the fireworks are done especially the really loud ones! 

Chickens and Fireworks

This is the first 4th we've had chickens. lots of our neighbors are avid fireworks fans so I've been nervous about this holiday week. So last night I rounded up the chickens early and got them in to their run before the noise began. I must admit this is my least favorite holiday.  

Some kids buzzing around on an obnoxiously loud mini bike past the cop's house and he was out with a couple of chirps of his siren and lights going  and after their second trip round the block  they stopped. 

Today I've fed the chickens a bit late they were squawking to get out. They were okay after the fireworks not much worse than a T-storm here last night. I got them rounded up and in the run pen a bit early last night. But I know tonight will be worse. We are supposed to have some significant winds here today so that maybe delaying some of those. 

Broody Hen Found!

Today I found the broody hen had not seen her for a few days; she is alive and well. I put some water out for her near her nest and will take out some special treats in a bit. So glad she is okay.  She is in some underbrush in a well hidden spot. So all the chickens have survived this last heat wave we had. Yea! 

The heat and broody hens have taken away from egg production but the young hens are healthy and I'm so happy about that! Glad we took in to consideration how hot it gets here when we were thinking about the kind of chicks to raise last spring. 

This morning we've picked some cherry plums for them to eat from the purple leaf plum tree one of their favorite treats. 

Record Heat

I've been up since before five when hubby's alarm went off, thunder was rumbling, lightening was flashing and we even got a few big drops of rain. It's muggy out today. We've had record hi. temps here, yesterday we have a new hi. for this date 105* phew that's hot! 

The chickens seem to be doing okay. I've been putting out watering stations in the shade at various points in the yard. They like frozen fruit, I put it up last year cleaning out the freezer. With some left over corn on the cob for a breakfast treat as well. 

One of the Rhode Island reds grabbed an apple we were picked for them and took off with it across  the yard and off to the chicken run to eat it! That chicken got it's prize!

Flock Owner's Rainy Day Chili

This is the perfect flock owners crock pot chili recipe that I use. 

In crock pot pour in and stir gently. 

2 cans [15 oz.] Nalley's turkey chili 

1 small can tomato sauce 

2 turkey sausage patties cooked & crumbled

1-2 sliced sausage cheese dogs

1/4 cup salsa 

1 can pork n beans drained or red beans I was out today.

1 teaspoon cinnamon 

Mix ingredients in and cook on low 4 hrs.

Missing Hen Found

Missing Hen Found! Earlier this morning I realized that one of the black hens was missing. I have not found a pile of black feathers so that is good news I suppose. I looked all over the back yard and under the shed in and even in the neighbors yard they hang out sometimes I did not see her. Then later in the morning after I told hubby that I could not find here he opens up the kitchen door just as she flew in on top of the coop and had breakfast! 

I looked under the broody hen she is sitting on one egg. Today I made up omelet for Father's day for hubby and the two Easter Egger green eggs were both fertile that I used I've heard fertile eggs are supposed to be the best for you. 

As I type this I'm trying to think of what happened with the chickens here this week pretty uneventful. I had to buy eggs at the farmer's market this week to have enough to boil for lunches. Production is down a couple of the hens have gone broody and the older ones are slowing down in production. They young ones are not in production yet so we are sort of in between.  

The young roos are starting to scuffle among themselves now. The smaller one pullets are nearly fryer size are leary of them. 

The currents are nearly gone now, the chickens love the cherry sized plums from the purple leaved plum tree and eat the small green apples from the back yard so they are keeping that cleaned up. Now if I could just get them to catch and eat the yellow jackets! 

We are thinking of the cooking surface for the patio and we're thinking an outdoor sink would make butchering day a lot easier so we looked at some for that hoping to get a used sink for that. 

New Chicken Yard Fence

This week end we put up the new fencing in the chicken yard the other one was temporary and I learned I needed more access so we put in an additional point of access a make shift gate. The green plastic fencing is not permanent but should last better than the other one. 

Today the chickens are in the back yard while I water the chicken yard when ever I go out to change the sprinkler they think it's feeding time. When I moved it last time I put buckets upside down by the current berry bushes so they could get the taller berries. They seem to really enjoy them. The ones by the wagon were picked clean! Great free chicken food. 

Roses in the chicken yard have grown a lot this year that was great to see. I'm thinking where I can put one more old fashioned rose in as it's great cover for them. I've learned that they do not bother the things I plant as much if I let them get the bugs out first and then after planting but the netting around it. 

It's getting more difficult to tell the difference in the young birds and the older ones as they are all nearing the same size. Some are getting courser sounding squawk in their clucking making me thing this might be a roo. 

I got paint for the coop and I'm thinking how to get the wall inside the run done and dry in time for their nightly roosting.  I guess I'll be out cleaning it bright and early before I begin and then locking it up after they are out they don't mind feeders being moved out side under the trees. 

We need a bigger latch for the back gate/door and lower front one as they seem to be the ones I fight with to get to close not enough give in them it's frustrating and I'll be glad to have that problem solved! 

Chicken Adventures

Chicken adventures are expanding the neighbor kid is done with high school gave his chickens (2 hens) away to a friend and gave the coop to us we are going to remodel it for an isolation cage / roo run/ or brooder. So it was a very exciting day to get that last weekend! It's red the other neighbor made it I need to ask him if it is paint or stain the top needs a new coat. 

We are down to six hens we got rid of the older mean hens. Also we still have all ten of the chicks they are now fryer size and some are as big as the smaller hens. The four we got later are pullet size now of those four looks like only one is a hen.  :roll: 

This week hubby cut a 2" x 4" for a second roost and things have calmed down at night when they go to roost now that they have more room. We had been talking about doing that for a while. I put up a temporary one of a tree branch that broke off one of the the trees in the yard in a wind storm but it was too unstable for any of the bigger ones to use. The really like the 2" x 4" on the four inch part to roost on at night. 

I've changed them over to pellets and have less feed lost to song birds / mice stealing it because of the larger size. The chickens also love corn, canned corn I found some at a yard sale down the street,  and corn on the cob I got an extra one for them to enjoy. I need to go pick up the cobs! 

The younger chickens are learning to enjoy the backyard I have a few holes to plug up so they ones do not escape, but it's an easy fix as so far only one spot has been a problem.

Chicken Yard

I've been keeping the hens in until noon at least so they lay in the nest boxes, the pullets go out first so they can eat without the fryers bugging them, then the fryers get out in to the chicken yard. Having breakfast seems to be one of their favorite things! The pullets are all feathered out and incorporated in with the rest of the flock and now they want on the top roost too. [No eggs yesterday.] The day before the broody hen started to lay again so that is good news. Last weekend we culled some of the older ones so egg count is down. 

Yesterday I made up some fabric feed bags in various sizes smaller than the feed sacks I can lift them; I struggle with the 50-80 lb. ones. So these work out great! I was hoping to find corn print for cornmeal at the fabric store but no luck so I got yellow instead. I got some turkey hand print like kids do in school to make a print for turkey crafts. I can put the all flock feed in that one! I have one bag for the scratch made up and another one for the layer feed done. I need one for the grit next I think. These are fun to make up and fast! 

Speaking of fabric I got some different [green] fencing fabric to put up; the orange stuff is not so durable and when I put it up I knew it was just temporary. 

I need to decide what kind of fence area for an isolation / roo cage. I'm also hoping to change the chicken yard area so I can put them in different parts of it and rotate the over grazed parts to let it recover and put the chickens in under the apple tree when apples are on to help clean that up. They are great for eating the weed seed so that's helping. 

Last weekend I pulled chick weed was hoping they would eat that but they don't seem to like it. The roses are blooming in the chicken yard and we have some small fruit coming on now. 

This weekend we will be grilling one of the home grown chickens we raised yum! On interesting thing this week was finding a dead mouse in the water bucket that had dround and another outside the bucket in the coop so I had our grandson help bury those out side of the chicken area. 

Last week I cut out the bottom of a plastic apple sauce  jar to screw on the round chicken feeder to make it easier to fill that sure works better saves a lot of time and mess. 

Pumpkin Tree

Today I got up late it was raining the hens did not seem to mind waiting until the rain stopped to get up. I've been out to feed the chickens. No eggs yesterday that is rare that they all take the same day off. The spring egg push is over now I guess. I'll need to buy eggs if we are going to have deviled eggs and omelettes this weekend. 

Yesterday I did some gardening and I planted a pumpkin tree I by put seeds under a tree in the front yard.  Those white pumpkin seeds and it only had six seeds in the pack. I'm hoping they all grow! I got the carrot seeds in and mowed the front yard also.  I'm glad I did that before it rained. I enjoyed my day and spending some time outside cleaning the patio hanging out with the chickens hubby calls it playing with them! 

Looking forward to using the table on the deck and enjoying watching the chickens from the patio expansion we did last summer. This week I dug up some tulip bulbs that were poorly placed by it and not working out and move those the hens thought it was great fun to get the bugs when I dug in the yard doing that. 

Hubby said when he got home he had to take the broom after one of the Barred rock hens pecking the heck out of one of the pullets. Later it was fine.  I'm trying to incorporate the pullets in with the main flock this week. He thinks I should just keep them locked longer. The temporary fence is starting to give up so we need to figure out a different solution for the chicken yard. So I've been pondering various solutions for that. The broody hen is off her nest now and back with the flock. 

We can think about getting the coop back to the hens now that the pullets are out and put the other nest box set up back inside after I clean the coop out. But I might wait until after I've painted it I do have paint for that project. The hens seem to enjoy the lawn clippings for nesting material.  I've gotten one egg today so far another hen on the outside nest. 

It would be a great day to dig up some bulbs to move as it's been raining. I figured out where to move the next crop of onions to as they are going putting on this years crop of new sets/starts on now. 

Stuffed Peppers

Stuffed Peppers one thing I've never tried because I did not think I liked it boy was I wrong! I did these after deseeding the sweet red peppers and giving the seeds to the hens. I froze the peppers. Later I had to think how to do a low carb. version of meat loaf thawing out two ground beef patties I seasoned the filling added an egg and chopped carrots celery and onion tops from the garden stuffed the peppers and seasoned the baked them in the oven then added cheese. This was yummy and could be done with ground turkey or sausage hubby said that it was a keeper!  

For breakfast today we had omelettes with onion tops, mushrooms, cheese and eggs from our hens that's always a weekend treat around here after doing chores.

Next week will be chicken on the grill. 

May Flowers

We have flowers blooming in the free range area iris and roses, they love to dust bathe under the roses. I'm going to mow bag clippings for chickens this week. 

I got up at five today let out the fryers hens were still on the roost. Pullets were ok with the door to the run open last night they slept in the coop and came out to the run when I fed them and let the fryers out. 

Two of the four pullets New Hampshire Reds are chest bumping indicating roos what a bummer! I was hoping they were hens I wanted to know how they did laying compared to the Rhode Island Reds. I like the looks of the Rhode Island Reds so much better than the N.H. reds. I'll try some Rhode Island whites for replacements next spring. 

After putting some replacement sod patches down last weekend we had a lot of sand from that and put it in the chicken run with old sod we took out around it for a dust bath area all of the chickens have been enjoying scratching and pecking in it.  

Pepper seeds from deseeding peppers seem to be a favorite for some of the hens. A friend works at organic produce vegetable stand so the hens get scraps from there. 

Fruit is starting to set on here and we will be getting fruit next month for the chickens to eat currents are on first then the summer apples begin and later on apricots and plum cherries, nectarines and peaches followed by grapes and plums. 

We've planted tomatoes in the front flower beds this year. Some of the marigolds in the back as well. So far the chickens have left them alone yea! 


The broody hen moved sitting spot and left a nice clutch of eggs this week. 

Sunny Days

We are all enjoying the sunny days in our forecast this week. The fryers have learned the boundaries of the first free range pen now after a day or two they got used to that and were running out with the hens when I opened the door this morning. They were looking for worms! 

Hens clucking woke me up at 5:45 a.m. today. Our grandson helped me dig sod out of the last area and we removed it from the yard and we gave it to the chickens they love sod! It has bugs worms and they eat the grass too. 

I have more to move that we dug out earlier and then we can get to the garden area. our grandson brought some friends by after school to see the chickens earlier in the week. Our granddaughter can't wait to come and "help" dig today. She only likes to dig after I've removed sod and spaded it up it's easier. The hens are right there where the shovel is getting the prime spot for worms and bugs. Others want to see the set up when they come by as well. I'm glad the fryers are tame enough to catch and let visitors pet when I hold them. 

Broody Hen Again

This was the county fair weekend here I saw that they had three baby goats born at the fair! They were a hit!

The winds we had blew the one branch I was using for a roost down and we had to put it back up a couple of times. I cleaned the sod clumps out of the coop that the fryers had eaten the grass off of and put some fresh ones back in.

The pullets were under the light this morning, we have freeze warnings out for our area so they need the heat a bit more. I'll wait to plant the tomatoes and marigolds and bring those in tonight.

One hen has gone broody again so I've moved her to a nest more out of the way and she has not abandoned it like she has done in the past we will see how she does I took the golf balls out that she was sitting on the other hens added eggs to her clutch at one point there were three hens in that nest at the same time this weekend.

One of the birds is a male I'm thinking, we are still getting fertile eggs. That one we call Marshmallow is a  white Easter egger and does not crow or fight much so it's good. The four youngest birds pullets are doing good out in the coop, the fryers are getting along with the hens for the most part. If any hatch they will be the barn yard mix. The grand kids are still enthralled as we are with this process of gathering eggs and raising chicks.

I opened up the front and back of the nest boxes and the hens were able to get into back into the run at dusk, so I did not have to worry so much about them when we were not home before sunset. However two of them were in the top of the coop so had to be moved when we got home later than our norm one night.

We are still getting eggs from the one that lays thin shelled frustrating so it looks like we'll be culling all of the barred rocks sadly to say they are great for getting bugs and grubbing around in the dirt and follow me around the yard when I'm gardening, doing chores and yard work.

Happy Day

Life is good when the grand kids are happily digging up worms in the back yard for the chickens and playing with sticks. Give them dirt a shovel a stick a tree to climb and a sunny day and it's a heavenly day for them! 

This week we are incorporating the fryers in with the hens and next week the pullets go out to the coop. The pullets are getting the same feed as the fryers from now on they just ran out of chick food so at a month old that's perfect timing. 

It was cold the first part of the week yesterday I turned on the heat lamp but the fryers wanted nothing to do with going back into the coop so I turned it back off again. 

This is not the first time we've incorporated new chicks in with these hens they are all fine this morning.  

One of the hens is laying weak shelled eggs and we figured out which hen it is so I was able to make sure she got oyster shell-calcium and I'll need to make sure that is out for them separately. I've been mixing it in with the hen's food. I pulled weeds for the fryers and they did not eat them the hens were not interested in it either. 

I'm happy to have the pullets nearly ready to go out to the coop it will be good to have the chickens all together and will free up the basement counter space again. Egg count another green egg today so that one is laying every other day we got four other eggs today plus one that was broken in the nest. 

Clean Coop & Run

Now that the fryers are growing they needed better places to perch they opted for the top of the old doll house frame that had been gutted. I put it in for their use it's taller so I put some boards across the top for perching on and they fit better with lovely rows of the Rhode Island Reds perched across the top of it. My granny said they used to have a Rhode Island Red they called "Henny Penny" I guess most flock owners have a favorite hen. 

This morning I cleaned the run and after I got back from town discovered the hens had undid that pile I raked up, it was scattered about. So I raked it up again and they will do that again and it's a great way to have help turning the compost LOL! A couple more times and it will be good they will loose interest and I'll figure out the best place to move it to out of the traffic flow for egg gathering. 

I cleaned out the coop this afternoon as well, our grand daughter wanted to help feed the chickens so she came out with me but was not interested in the coop cleaning! Our fruit trees have been fertilized too. 

One green egg so far today and one hen still on the  nest box no telling how many she's sitting on today. 

  

New Perch Places

Last night I did not get the coop open in time for the hens to go back in oops! It was dark sooner because of clouds out side and they roosted in various places out side on top of an inverted nest box on saw horses, the ladder leaned up against the back of the coop on top of the run and in the tree behind the coop  and run. So hubby turned on the light and I got the hens off their roost and they wandered in to the run and got up on the normal roost, I thought I was done when I noticed the two on top of the run and I tried to get them down and they went on top of the coop and then in to the tree behind it. So next I had to get the latter and fetch them down out of the tree! Then I got the fryers down from the tall roost and back in the coop.  

Feeding Chickens

Good Sunday morning I'm back! Waving to all who read this I've slept in here too until 7:30 a.m,  up then did the chicken chores, made coffee while I was out doing the outside chores. Then later hubby we put the pullets in a bigger tote today. The fryers are beginning to mingle in the morning and evening with the hens slowly getting them used to each other. I'd let them out but remembered too many places they could get out of the yard so I'm re-thinking that. 

The pullets are getting feathers and splotchy looking the brown feathers are about half in and they look like half and half birds now, it's very interesting to watch this process! I've been giving the pullets some of the pumpkin too now. 

I got the last pumpkin out of the freezer for the birds now I'll be giving them the other stuff I put up for the birds we did not have yet last year. I can't believe that I even did that! LOL! 

Got one green egg with two other hens in the same nest box this morning. I"m going to track the green egg layer to see how often she produces one just for fun by marking the days she lays. 

We made blue berry muffins the other day the hens are getting the old ones.  I need to pull some weeds the fryers will love those. I've been working on digging out some sod and they love it when I give them a new batch to eat on in the pen! Ever heard of sodding a chicken pen? I'm wondering if they could living in a Soddy like in the covered wagon days! LOL the things I wonder about. 

Fryers!

One more week and then we will incorporate the fryer size pullets in with the hens, the new chicks are now pullet size and will go out to the coop. We're hoping it warms up at night by then. 

I have some yard work to do today the hens love to be out in the yard while I'm doing that so they can get the worms, bees, and bugs. 

Our grand son got to collect 6 eggs one day this week,  another day I gathered 4 eggs and one other day we had 5 eggs.  Of our nine hens not bad the older ones are not laying as much and culling time is coming. 

Chickens and Routines

Morning routine is under way chicken chores done here now. It is quite a bit of work having three different ages of chickens, the hens need one type of feed and care, the pullets are on a some thing else, as are the youngest chicks still another in the growing stage in the basement. Our grand son was asking when they go out to the coop. I told him we were just discussing that this weekend. In a couple weeks or so soon as it warms up at night a bit. This is me rolling my eyes what were we thinking, hubby said he pleads the fifth on getting this last batch of chicks I'm SO glad it's only four! They are cute and getting their feathers in and at the awkward scraggly stage with half fuzz and some feathering. The older pullets are feathered out and looking like miniature chickens at this point. 

The hens were happy to get some time in the yard yesterday while we were digging out side just before the hail came and the hens took cover under the deck! I've been closing the run for the pullets and the hens get access to the coop but they don't use it much except to grab a snack from the feeder. Speaking of snacks the treats have been apple cores, pumpkin and carrots. 

I'm learning to get the eggs when I see them instead of waiting until the grand kids show up after school one was broken yesterday, so of the five that were laid we got four. 

Six Eggs

We got six eggs yesterday one was green. The hens are adjusting to the reduced ranging area pretty well. The pullets are growing like weeds. I showed one to the baby that is here at the end of the week each week now. She got all excited seeing a chicken up close. She enjoyed watching the hens in the stroller from a distance.  

Squirrels enjoyed the pumpkin seeds that the hens turned their nose up at. I left a small sauce cup of seeds out on a table on the deck after moving the tomato sets and there were two doves sitting on that table one day that was an amazing sight I had the grand kids come quick to look! 

I have one more area to dig up in the lawn of the wrong kind of grass, last weekend I hurt my foot over doing it a bit so might wait for better weather on that it's a blustery days out we had rain in the night and the winds woke me up this morning. 

The new chicks were chirping in the basement to be fed and watered. Time to clean their cage today our grand daughter will be here so I"ll have her help she likes to tend to the birds with me. Our grand son is excellent at gathering up the eggs after school as well. Grandma's house is fun! 

Spring Weather

I was excited yesterday to see that there were two pullet eggs in the nest box, pullets are  now laying again after being broody. The hens enjoyed my weed pulling adventures and got the worms soon as the dirt was exposed! It rained and they were out grazing in it when I came home from a store run so the rain does not phase the hens! The chicks are delighted to have some sod I dug out of the lawn, the family calls that chicken salad! [No, it did not have weed n feed on it.] It's time to mow the back yard now that the barrier fence is up the grass is growing again and no longer looking over grazed. Time to think about the garden spot and getting a bit more work done on that. 

We had winds in the after noon so I put the chicks in the coop and hens in the run early to batten down the hatch. 

We got 5 eggs one green I'm glad that count is up we have not had as many boiled eggs this month. The newest baby chicks are doing great and starting to get their first feathers. It is an interesting process to watch as the feathers are coming in red after the yellow fuzz on the N.H. Reds.

Feed Store Trip

On a trip to the feed store yesterday we got a new ax handle to fix the ax head we had here and got a hatchet one of the hens was not doing well with an injury of sorts and had to be put down. While I was at the feed store I got feed crumble for layers, scratch, and un-hulled sunflower seeds. The hens love it [B.O.S.S.] Black Oil Sunflower Seeds. I got a small sack of sunflower seeds to mix in the scratch for their treats. I also got another three pound feeder I had to put together. I did that while hubby worked on getting the ax handle to fix on the ax head we had it was not a perfect fit and needed some modifications. 

Yesterday I dug up some  more sod and let the hens out to get the worms * note to self wait until after digging next time! 

Today I was up by six thirty a.m. I fed the new chicks they are doing fine and I checked on the hens, it was pouring down rain and three of them wanted out any way and they were squawking to be let out of the run. I guess there are more worms to get when it's raining out. It was not all that cold out. Some of the hens stayed on the roost until the rains stopped or at least slowed down, then they went out and I let the pullets out of the coop and into the run they were having their first adventure with weather! 

S- Hooks

Today I got up and I knew I'd better not mess around and checked on the chicks at five a.m. When I went to the basement to check on the newest baby chicks they were out of water so I was glad I did that first. Someone had put the plastic water transporter container in that I'd specifically said not to use in the bin for them because it was too light and would tip over when they tried to perch on it when drinking. [That person now knows not to do that again that was a bummer!] 

Their temp. in the container was just right at 80*  we put a temperature gauge using an S-hook to hang it on the side. The S-hooks come in handy for other things as well we have one on a chain to hang the heat lamp over head. 

Food ready for the outside chickens and pullets to take out after sun up in the mornings. Most of the time I get it ready to take out the night before. The pullets are getting their feathers and looking fine. They have adapted to the old doll house we rescued and it's working well for an area they can sleep in and roost on the 1"x 1" board on the top works well for that as they learn to be chickens. They've been enjoying the warmer spring weather and dust bathing on the floor of the coop! 

Egg Hunting

Today was a very satisfying day the grand kids helped me put up the fencing to keep the chickens off the lawn so I can have a garden and flower beds again now. Yea! The hens seem to be adjusting well to the new area they have less places to run but more things to climb on they seem to be enjoying the change. The first breeze blew the fence over and we had a do-over moment in the afternoon, but that's what you get when your working with ten year olds and some one that's not done much fencing. LOL! I just hope they remember the time they put up a chicken fence on spring break!  The hens acted like it was a new play ground to use. 

I'm very happy to say the second attempt we got the fence to stay up and it keep the hens off the main part of the yard so we can use it. So we did an egg hunt with plastic eggs in the back yard and it was great fun. When we start working on the B.B.Q. area to finish that update the temp. fence will be down so this is great!

The light went out in the coop so I changed that bulb so glad I noticed that before it was dark and cold out! Pullets are looking good. I brought the cage under that carport I got for chicks at a yard sale last summer this will work great for the four youngest chicks I hope any way. We shall see. 

Tomorrow our grandson will be here. So we can dig up some sod and the hens will love the treat of getting worms and help set up the cage have for the new chicks. 

Spring Break

Some of the fun for spring break around here is baby chicks for the grand kids to enjoy. We did hit a bit of a bump in the road however when; the broody hens failed to hatch out chicks; so we thought that we would help nature out. We bought four chicks but the hens were not fooled and attacked them and only one survived.  So we bought some companions for it and now have four new chicks here this week the survivor one Rhode Island Red I'm calling it chicken little, and three New Hampshire Reds these have been on my wish list! What fun for spring break with grand kids around! The N.H. Reds are a buff color and get darker as they grow I'm told!  Broody hens are off the nests during the day now we're hoping they start laying eggs again soon. 

The pullets are enjoying the chicken run during the day and are dust bathing in the warm sunny days we are having here this week! Hens are having a hay day getting after the bugs that are out now. Hunting and pecking for them in and around the flowers. I need to screen off a garden area got the steaks for doing that with this week. 

The apple apricot plum trees are in bloom now and the peach trees is not far behind so the chickens will enjoy the fruit that falls from them. That's one of the reasons I wanted chickens I hated seeing that fruit go to waste. 

Coop Repairs

Yesterday we got the coop doors fixed so the door latches are working on them again now yea! We also got the coop cleaned and tweaked the nest boxes to be accessible to the outside and closed from the inside. This is so the chicks won't escape while they are out in the run. They had their first time in the run yesterday and seemed to like it a lot they did not want to go back in the coop so I had to pick each one up and put them back inside. 

I got another bit of crab grass dug up yesterday so the hens were underfoot getting worms for their dinner. Sat. we only got one egg the hens did not like the cold weather or took the day off from laying. Three eggs yesterday. 

Got a Chickens magazine the article I read on cleaning the coop was good I just wish I would have read it before I cleaned the coop instead of after! 

We discussed turning the inside nest box on it side to give the hens more head room we will do that next and rounded up the stuff we will need for that project. It will need to have a ledge put on the other side to keep eggs from rolling out. This is a converted kitchen cupboard unit. 

I'm thinking of a couple of ideas for keeping the hens out of the areas that need to be reseeded while that grows. Some construction webbing could come in handy so I'll be checking on that next. 

Spring 2013

Today I've made breakfast coffee and the bed. Chicken chores first round done not quite on time, the hens let themselves out when I opened up the dining room curtain they saw that and charged the door the latch is not working and they were out like a rocket dashing to the fence by the patio! I hurried up to finish getting dressed take out the feed I had ready to go. It was cold and I had to break ice off the water buckets. 

All ten chicks are still alive and growing thriving! They love cooked pumpkin glad I had a stock pile of it in the freezer to use for this. The chicks had one that was not frozen the other water bucket closet to the door had ice in it. 

Today's temps. range 29* -49* next week it's supposed to warm up so we are figuring out how house the chicks and give them access run when the hens are out during the day and still give the hens access to the nest boxes for laying. I'm SO glad we put a door on the back of the nest boxes and we can block of the front so they can use the chicken ramp to it during the day. 

Broody hen's sister joined her on the nest no little peeps yet we are still waiting. If they do not hatch by next weekend I'll try sneaking in some day old chicks maybe I can get some Rhode Island whites! 

I'm back in from the chicken barn I mean coop! I got the outside nest boxes cleaned and spiffed up the lower chicken roost. While I was outside I  Rounded up the broody hen from her recess break next door she was frantic to get back to her nest. I got a peek at the eggs and no signs of chicks yet.  Then I removed the ice off chicken water buckets. 

Chicken Check In

The chicks are fine in the coop and have adjusted well to their new space. They've been devouring pumpkin, scratch and crumble. I've put fresh water in for them daily. All ten chicks are thriving! Yea!!!

The broody hen is under a crate and I put a towel over it to keep the other hens from pecking her they were bullying her. So this seems to help. She ate all of the corn bread and milk I put in for her last night it was gone this morning. I cleaned up her nest one egg had broken and her sister has figured out how to get in under that crate and has been adding eggs to this clutch so I removed those trying to keep the ones shes sitting on to a dozen. When hubby asked what we would do with those if they make it I said raise 'em for the freezer the roos any way. Nine days to go on them. 

The hens love it when we dig out old rose bushes that have died they grub around for worms and one was on bug patrol in the front yard. I don't mind one doing that but not ALL of them at the same time! The hens are still adjusting to being in the run and out of the coop. 

Collected seven eggs yesterday. 

Coop to Brooder Conversion

Today Hubby and I revamped the coop when we did that I found a hidden egg and a nest of mice!  Ack! So we pulled out all the straw from the loft area cleaned it up and cleaned the coop removed nest boxes. I changed the light to a heat lamp bulb. We have the thermometers to check to get the heat just right. 

I cleaned the waterer and put it up. I had purchased a roost a wooden dowel the thickness of a closet clothes hanger rod for 50 cents at a yard sale with holes in it already; so hubby put the in a low spot for the chicks to roost on too. 

The feed will not go in until tomorrow when we put the chicks in it. We closed up the coop door so the hens no longer have access to it. They were milling around wondering what all the activity was about as the sun was setting. 

The nest boxes were all removable so they are out in the run area for now with the others. The broody hen was taking some hits but last time I tried moving her and her eggs to a different spot she abandoned the nest so I just left her alone except to fend off some of the other hens. Taking note that they might be some in the next batch to cull. I will be glad to have the chicks out of the basement.  We've been talking about this for a few weeks now and I've been wondering how it would work out. The coop looks all cozy now this switch has been successful so far we will see how the chicks do with more room I'm sure they will love.