Tall Roost

This weekend we got the coop and chicken run cleaned. Did some yard work and mulching the beds in the back yard the hens and grand kids are helping me with cleaning the leaves from the beds in the front yard we are doing a bit at a time. 

Dropped one egg of the five we collected, only the 2nd one one we've had break. Dear grand daughter found a fun basket to use when she collects eggs it's white with tiny blue flowers painted on it. 

This week we will be working on cleaning out the nest boxes they were in use yesterday when we were outside doing yard work. Today it's a bit colder this morning we've had a skiff of new snow on the ground. It's nearly gone now. The hens slept out side again on their favorite spot on the tall roost. 

Rain

We have rain here well it's more of a drizzle I can tell that it has been raining because of the puddles we saw along side the road when we came home this morning 39-44* today's temps. range and for most of the week and quite a bit of rain. The grand kids helped with the chores, chickens light is on and next up will be getting the morning eggs, giving them some scratch and letting them out to range in the back yard mid morning. I might be raking up some leaves and doing some clean up. After the rain stopped and I got busy and cleaned the coop now that the temps. are above freezing it's nice to get outside. I removed the temporary roost for the cold snap we had put inside the coop, now it will be SO much easier to gather eggs and clean nest boxes out now.

Yesterday while we were out doing chicken chores hubby left a message he bought a turkey and to remind him to take it out of the back of the truck, dear grand son and I were excited to see if it was a live one or not, it was not. We put it in the freezer. One of the guys at work did not need the one he got for turkey day, hubby likes to smoke them on the grill.

I still have a spot in the fence to chicken proof and after doing that taa - daa no more escaping hens! Yea! We got five eggs today three large one and two pullet eggs.

Herding Hens

The chickens got out yesterday again a couple of times before I found the escape spot and secured the gate. They loved the warmth of the south lawn in the front and were happily scratching for bugs clearing leaves out of the front beds. Pecking in the driveway for gravel but when one got out in the road I had to take more immediate action. The neighbors grin as they drive by watching me trying to "herd" my hens only slightly easier than herding cats! They do come for feed unless they have discovered something really yummy in the garden of flower beds.

I got the leaves raked up that they scattered about the front lawn and it looks better it felt great to be doing yard work in the sunshine. Compared to the temps. we've had this past week 47* felt like summer loving that time for fresh air and exercise out side was good for all of us. This is great exercise for me!

So today I'll be checking fence lines to make sure they are secure and get treats thawing from the freezer and other fun things for the chickens to have in the pen to keep them interested in that while I do this. It's time to clean the run I did a bit of that yesterday will keep working at it a bit each day that we have above freezing making progress as I can. 

We need to see what we can do for the brooder prep. for chicks later on when it warms up a bit more. We were talking about that yesterday the stores will have chicks soon in the feed stores that is exciting to think about. We need to "make room". 


Tonight when I closed the coop the chickens were all tucked in for the night I noticed that some are sleeping outside others were in the coop, two here and three there, they have spread out now that it's warmed up they, do not need to huddle together for warmth. I put the tall roost back in today. Tomorrow I'll switch out the ladder roosts. 

Another New Layer

The second hen from the new ones we raised has started laying this week there were two small eggs in the chicken coop yesterday morning one is a slightly darker color than the first one. What a nice surprise to begin the day with! I thought the grand kids might enjoy seeing these smaller baby sized eggs I was right they love it! They can't wait to show the other granny and their parents these newest eggs. We will have to think of some thing special to use these ones for. We got five eggs and it's nice not to have to buy them at the store. 

The chickens have been faring well in the most recent cold snap that we've had. Getting out for exercise during the day sill even with snow and ice on the ground was amazing to watch. We got some video and photos of that hoping to put those up when I can figure out how or get help from our son the local tech. guy in the family. 

Escape Artists

The neighbor from across the street knocked on the door to let us know that the chickens were out. The chickens had fun today they got out twice today. I got them rounded up around noon and when I checked a couple hours later I noticed that they were out again, that was just before the bus got here so our grand son helped get them back in that time. They were scratching in the leaves in the front yard and in the neighbors front yard as well. Our next door neighbors do not mind when the hens are out on bug patrol so it's not a problem. 

I secured the gate so the wind would not blow it open that was simple enough. I noticed a chicken was out, and could not get it back in went back to raking leaves for a bit and then noticed another and another were out. I watched one got back in through the escape spot. 
I got them rounded up and back in then blocked that spot where they are getting out. 

We're still getting eggs yea! Another doz. for the week most recent counts are three on Tuesday, four yesterday, and four so far today. 

New Layer

This week we have a new layer one of the young hens we raised has started laying. Our grandson was doing chores and forgot the egg gathering basket that we use. He checked on the chickens and fed them their treats and came back with four eggs in his pockets! Beaming ear to ear saying the the new hen had laid another one of the small eggs! We have gotten two eggs like this so far this week they are about half the size of the other eggs. I'm thinking these are the size of a Banty egg. They are beige in color. Yea! We are  SO excited. 

I heard lots of cackling going on in the coop the morning we got the first one that was great to hear! I can't wait to show our grand daughter these. Hubby said that it will take two of those to make up a regular size egg for cooking with. We got five eggs yesterday. It was a happy day!

It's warmed up a bit and we have some green grass showing through the snow and the hens are happy now. Next week will be even warmer and we will be glad to say good bye to the ice and snow that we have had during this cold snap. But the chickens are doing fine.

Duck Duck Goose

We use to play this game in the snow when I was a kid called duck duck goose we had stomped the snow in to paths the shape of a wheel with spokes. We were supposed to stay on the path to try to tag others. The back yard looks like that with paths for the chickens to use. I thought of that when I looked out at our yard seeing the paths on the snow covered grass.

Our grand daughter was telling the chickens to "stay on the path" today when we were out doing chicken chores. They have taken a walk on the path around the yard today, eaten from the bare spots left from moving the wagons and a toy ball. The draw back to that is the pellets crumble from the moisture I forgot to to take that into consideration! The chickens are doing fine in the snow especially today with the sun out and the temps. warmed up to 32* but the snow did not all melt. Maybe tomorrow then it will be back to normal messiness. I spotted some deer tracks in the snow this morning when I was doing the chicken chore rounds. We shoveled snow for two neighbors today on our street. We got three eggs today.

Snow Today!

We have snow again today and it's been snowing all morning. When it finally stopped this afternoon we have two inches of the white stuff here. I've been out several times to clear it off the walkway, steps, patio, drive way and I broomed a path to the chicken run and around the outside of the yard. So when it starts to melt that will be cleared. We had a winter weather advisory out. I did not think much about it because I thought we were supposed to get melting temps. but that was not the case.

Our youngest grand daughter and I went out to check on the chickens give them fresh water and we scattered feed on the path that had been swept off; most the chickens were along the house under the eves except one on the nest and another in the roost did not want to deal with the cold snow I think. A couple were on patrol chasing birds off the the path getting the smaller birds to scatter.

The chickens have eaten one feeder full of feed their ration for the day so I know they are not going hungry.  We got 5 eggs today yea the most we've ever gotten so we are doing something right!

Chicken Spa

I've been out to the chicken pen with feed and water it's lovely to see the fresh snow again today, I could enjoy the morning stillness and the peacefulness of a new day. The chickens got up and out of the coop to greet the new day. 

They came into the run one by one for feed and water as I watched and then went back inside for a bit. They are enjoying the new feed. They all came of the chicken run when I opened up the coop door for range time they were out of it in not time and made a dash for under the deck. 

They fluffed their feathers under the deck they enjoyed the spa time having a dust bath followed by feather fluff time under the dryer vent totally ignoring the snow that was falling outside.   We got four eggs yesterday. 

Gift Giving

It's cold here today the water inside the chicken coop was frozen this morning I had a fresh supply of warm water and feed with me when I went out today first thing.  New snow less than an inch here they call it the banana belt here, all around in the higher elevations they are measuring snow in feet and  inches. The chickens did great in the snow here we got two eggs. They all came out of the coop and did their scratch and peck thing. When I open the kitchen door it squeaks just a bit the hens come running across the yard if it's during their range time thinking it's treat time for them. 

This fall they have done a good job cleaning out the flower beds from weeds and bugs maybe a bit too good a few bulbs have been unearthed that I planted before getting them so I'll be rethinking that a bit in the spring and moving some bulbs.  

Today I got sweet C.O.B. [corn, oats & barley] for the chickens something new for me to get for them but the store said people buy it all the time for chickens. It sure smells good and yummy! I can't wait to see how they react. The last that I got was not sweet did not have molasses added. I still feel silly getting a 55 lb. sack of feed for this few hens but they eventually eat it it does take a few months. 

On our list was a new hatchet handle but we were unable to find one so the hunt is on hubby is having a blast going to all the sporting goods store in his quest for this item. The one sporting goods shop was packed and they were lined up at the gun counter and ammo was stacked up with a sign that said while supplies last it was the busiest I've ever see it in there!

This afternoon I got to show off my chickens to some folks up the road with their kids and they said his dad wants some so they were talking about chicks for him I suggested a gift certificate and taking the grand kids with when he got the chicks instead of buying them for him in case he is not set up and told them how long it took us to get ready. As they might not know what breed he wanted they said that they would ask him. 

Winter Returns

A skiff of snow on the ground this morning melted off soon except in the shade by midday. The chickens enjoyed the berries after they figured out what they were, it seemed like a new food to them. I cooked up a pumpkin after I de-seeded it, and a squash went out for them to eat this afternoon. 

I got one egg this morning and the others later in the day after school our grandson said "it's warm" when he collected them he was so amazed, we got three today. I told him that is as fresh as they come! I discovered which of the other hens is laying now, it took the place of the one green egg we were getting one of the Barred Rocks as I suspected. The chickens did a lot of cackling today, one time I went outside and saw one of the hens out on the patio trying to get in, and just as I opened the gate a small hawk flew off. 

Tonight when I went out to the chicken coop I noticed that the hens were perched in a different that was spot closer to the light. I'm thinking it might be a good night to leave it on. I moved the water and feeders so it was not directly under them.  

Signs of Spring

The snow has melted and temps warmed up for a few days at least. The rain yesterday did not bother the chickens at all they were out in the yard in it doing their hunting and pecking. Spring song birds are back this week I've been seeing them around quite a bit here this week and squirrels too. We got three eggs yesterday completing the doz. plus one for the week. Yea! Our grand son collected those we only got one the day before. Berries thawed from the freezer will be some of the treats today. Our dear grand daughter carefully collected and carried in one of the four eggs we collected today after taking out the scraps for the hens. Today we made up some cookie dough with eggs from the coop gathered last week. The chickens like to climb up on the hay bale where the feeder is to eat. I spiffed up the nest box and clean around the coop and in the chicken run this afternoon.

Chickens in the Snow!

Today we have the first snow of the season. I'm SO glad we have the coop prepared and all ready for this so I don't have to do the mad dash trying to get things done in the snowy cold weather. Thinking ahead and our planning has paid off. But it would have been fine we opened up the run the chickens checked out the snow and then headed for the cover under the deck! 

This weekend we had to say good bye to the last rooster before he went to freezer camp. I cried the night before sad that it did not work out we would not get chicks from him and that he was beating up the hens. The next day when he flew at me as I separated the hens out for free range time I was warming up to the idea. For the safety of the grand children it had to be done.  After the deed was done the hens settled in so quickly into the new routine I was surprised. It was so quiet and peaceful the rest of the day and this morning as well that was a pleasant change.  

The new development of snow was exciting for our granddaughter to feed the chickens their treats. No eggs this morning however. =(  Hopefully when the snow turns to rain later on according to our forecast for today we will get some eggs. Yea! Got three eggs today our grand daughter was so excited to find these and she carefully collected them in the egg basket and carried them back to the house, saying "These need to be washed grandma!" 

I've been doing research of chicken breads hoping I can find some production red hens or chicks locally. But first we have to make room before that can happen.

Planing & Tweaks

Yesterday we got the hardware to suspend the ladder we've hung vertical for a roost. We also got hook & eye for the top door there is not a way to close just the top of the half door set up we have on the coop. We got chain also to hang the ladder with and secure the door outside when it's open from blowing shut possibly hurting a chicken. I've been using a stump of wood from the maple tree we took down a couple years ago. Limbs from that we saved have come in handy for a number of uses. I cleaned the nest boxes and the coop floor. On thing about the vinyl flooring is that it's slick trying to think of something with more traction. So we are doing some tweaking to the set up. 

Over breakfast we talked about how and where to put the brooder chicks the loft area could be used for that hubby said I assume he has a design in mind. I like to see it drawn out on paper for a better idea of what he is thinking. We also discussed chicken breed choices and how the goals of the flock work in with what we actually have which birds to cull and general flock management finally getting on the same page might help with some of these ideas. I'm learning as I go. [I'll read some thing or see a u-tube video and think wow that's a great idea I need to try that! Just because some thing works for one person does not always mean it will work here for us in this situation. Light bulb moment.]

I brought home scraps from the bday dinner for the chickens to eat. Got four eggs none of them from the Easter eggers. So that means one of the other hens has started laying again I'm excited about that. I can't believe how long it's taking the Morans chicks we bought last fall at 4-6 weeks old to mature at 6 mo. no eggs from them yet of the six I bought only two turn out to be hens. 

Today's temp. range 31*-38* the neighbors dogs were up before the chickens today. 

(45) Nancy Smith

I'm trying a link w/ my fb page to show of a photo of the coop in the back yard after we got the playhouse converted in to a chicken coop. The photo program on my p/c is not as good as I'd like and can't get the phone to sync my pics. so I have our son take some when he comes with his camera. 

(45) Nancy Smith 

The first Doz. Eggs!

Today we slept in I, let the chickens sleep in too, so the  neighbors did as well. =D The chickens barely had the light on this morning on. I let them out early at sunrise today. Hoping to get the roo to stop pecking the hens. 

It's 31* out the water was not frozen today and we are expecting 38* for a high temp. so this is shaping up to be a good day. Wind is dropping the temps. down a bit today so the outside water was frozen. 

We are hoping to get some eggs to try to hatch next month. 

This week has been successful in training the chickens to use the coop after we opened it up with the chicken door we cut into the run they were still roosting & laying eggs in the outside part. That was fine until the temps. dropped so we took those roosts down put a light up and they started using the coop. We were going to do that for a week but the caught on after three days! 

Today's Excitement

This morning's excitement was the neighbor kids set off an M-80 fire work this morning just after I was up doing chicken chores. Ack! Twice what a way to begin the day. That got my heart going! 

Other day I had to lift one of the hens out of the coop loft so I used some pieces of tree limbs we had here for the grand kids to make a tee pee with in for them to use in place of a ladder for the loft until we get one done for that top section. 

Opening the coop door out to the chicken run went smoother than I was thinking it would this morning so that was great! We will be getting material for slats on the chicken door that doubles as a ramp for them and put that on soon. I have not used the hook on the people door yet since we put that in. 

I've been watching westerns and civil war movies with hubby and dear grand son [dgs] we like to see the chickens in farm scenes and try to identify the breeds, ones that I enjoyed a lot were in the Hatfields and Macoys mini series when they did chicken chores and seeing the chickens run across their yard the many colors were fun to watch! 

I forgot to mention the time I did some dumpster diving for pumpkins for the chickens the guy up the street said I could have theirs when they were done with them for Halloween I got them last year and this year his wife did not get the message and they were at his work so we went after those with permission I mostly wanted them for the new kinds of squash I'd not grown here. So I'll be processing the rest of those this month.

I made out a list of chicken goals in my off line journal one of those was to chick proof the back yard, and get a brooder set up we have not done the brooder with chicks yet was sort of hoping to bypass that with the setting hen. 

Got three eggs today all beige ones no green ones only got one all week. Glad the others have been producing with this cold snap. It's supposed to warm up and by mid week be nearly fifty that will be nice but rain is in the forecast.  

Today I set the small feeder on a small bale of hay and they came in a few at a time hopped up on there and ate got some water and left the run area it worked great for keeping things peaceful away from the heard mentality. I'd like to have 13 birds 12 hens and one roo but that is just pushing it a bit much for the size of yard we have. May have to cut back a bit. 

I'm looking forward to the help of the birds to get the bugs and apples and other wind fall fruit that starts in June. Can't wait to see how they take care of the ants!!! 

Road Kill Pumpkin

The grand kids were here today and the youngest one got to collect the eggs today on different trips out to the coop. They were so excited about it they called their dad to tell him about it.

I cooked up a large squash I grew in the garden last summer got three gallons from it. We got a couple of pumpkins from the road side in Nov. and gave them to the chickens the last of that is gone and we have some seedy grapes not very tasty to use but the chickens love them and reject pancakes the grands don't want!

Two eggs today beige ones. [Not the green ones this week; we only got one of the green ones from the Easter Eggers.]

The barred rocks seem to be getting back in to production. We have enjoyed the first of the boiled eggs for breakfast and in tuna salad sandwiches in our meals this week.

Hubby said that the rooster's days are numbered he has been pecking the hens he has been limping also.

Hubby got the chicken door hinges and the latch on the inside of the main coop door. They were milling around the run and using the outside nest boxes for warmth. As soon as we finished up with this and cleared tools out and and put the roost ladder back up they lined up and piled in to the coop.  We still need to get the knob on the chicken door maybe tomorrow.

Chicken Happenings

I'm get up to do pet chores around five. Turning on the light in the coop. Then letting them out in to the run at day break.

This week temps. range 18*-34* and it was windy making it feel like 27* the house was a great wind break for them. We are looking forward to the warmer temps. up around 40* this weekend and next week.

Our flock goals are eggs and meat. Learned that Rhode Island Reds [RIR] lay nearly double what one of the breeds we currently have I was already considering replacing them with it's great to have another confirmation of that info.

Got a suggestion of putting roo in the garage got me to thinking that of putting Red our rooster, frequently called Red the roo by me, in the coop at night with the hens seems to be working. I open up the coop door and let them out in the run in the morning. It's a new routine that is going well. Hubby let me know that they did chores earlier than that on the farm than we did when I was a kid.

This week one of our goals is to get hinges on the coop chicken door so we can open and close it from outside the pen. I had the hinges here for the chicken door already found them today yea! Hubby is working on that and got the cabinet door off the inside of the playhouse to re-purpose for some thing else like a ramp out to the chicken run.

The roo and two of his hatch mates are French Black Copper Marans (FBCM). I'm told that they lay the very dark, chocolate colored eggs, I also have Easter Egger [EE] for novelty breeds.  Some folks are breeding these for a bird that lays an olive colored egg. I do not care for that color of egg so will not be trying to hatch the green eggs those will be eating eggs here!

Today I discovered that one of the older barred rocks that molted last fall was in the nest box today; yea for another hen laying. Two beige eggs today our dear grand son gathered those for me and checked the loft area while he was here. Last week we got four green eggs only one this week.


Oatmeal ready to warm for chocks I learned on U-tube that's what Aussies call their chickens. made it from the steams rolled oat and wheat mix I give to the chickens.

This New Years Day hubby grilled some chicken breasts he had his on a bun yum! I made chicken soup yesterday for us great for these cold winter days sure hit the spot.

Chicken News

Welcome to my chicken blog! Today's news about the chickens is great! I'm glad they were locked in the coop with all the fireworks going on in our neighborhood last night. 

Hubby got up and turned on the light first thing around six for me today. Then I got up at 6:15 rounded up the food and water bucket took that out opened up the door to the run after putting the roost back up and the chickens are out in the run this morning. The water inside water the coop was not frozen. So it's all good. They got two heals of bread apple core pumpkin a combo of pellets scratch grains rolled oat mix grit and oyster shell. 

Yesterdays egg count four all found in the coop this is the first time they have laid in the new nest boxes in the coop I was very excited! Three in the morning and one later in the day. One hen lays in the afternoon. So I'm happy with the four new hens my Christmas gift to myself! 

Goals:
We need to get hinges on the coop door and a latch so we can open it from the outside and don't have to keep taking down moving and putting up the roosts. But I got chickens for more exercise so I'm not complaining! 

Later on when the weather warms up I have paint for the inside of the coop when it's warm enough for them to be outside at night again. [They think that's this week LOL!]

I'd like to get some RIR Rhode Island Red that lay the darker eggs like we had when I was a kid. I remember getting eggs even in the winter with snow on the ground. Hubby's family had leghorns. I'm considering getting those as well for replacement stock. 

We need to get a better roosting set up for inside the coop at some point. 

Breeds we have: Someone the other day asked what breed we have I said barn yard mix when I got them I said I want one of those some of these and that one! Chicken count 12 one roo 11 hens I was hoping for 13 one roo [rooster] and 12 hens but this will work. 

Morans 3 youngsters
BR Barred Rock 4 hens *
EE Easter Eggers 3 hens One young one 2 adult older ones *
Australorp 1 Young hen *
Lt. Brama 1 Experienced Sitting hen *

* We have one of each these breeds laying eggs getting a greenish egg from the EE hen.
The family has given them all food names.