Productive Back Yard

I've been pondering my productive back yard goals... some are for this spring others for the fall and remembering some things we done in the past time for review. We used to raise rabbits for meat and fun.

I need to move some bulbs to the front yard. Our hens will have a great time digging in the dirt after I do that. Doing the rotation of hens around here needs a bit of fine tuning as we learn a bit more about the breeds we want and the limits of this size of this place we have here it's not a lot of room.

Using wood ash for the current berries and hens like to dust bath in it as well, so cleaning up and getting some of the old wood pile cleaned up is a great project and it's always fun to cook lunch over the fire pit while we have it going makes this a dual purpose activity. The apple next to the plum tree needs to be pruned back. Apricot tree got pruned back by deer. 

Making our back yard more productive a few years ago we put in more fruit trees these are great food for the birds, squirrels, and hens of course. [Not much for people however.] But the garden is good for that. I'm considering moving that into the front flower beds. I have just been putting them in with the flower beds until a few years back we had to take a tree out and that became the garden spot it's time to move it.  Last year I had a spot in the corner with pumpkin, tomatoes and squash in behind next to the current bushes. It's time to think about ground prep. for the onions. The multiplier onions the hens have ripped out so they will be in a different spot in the front along the West side I think it's pretty hot there, onions seem to tolerate the heat.

I got the rose bushes pruned late last fall, and I put in more flower bulbs so that will help with color this spring and summer bloom that is a treat to see. My irises are up and now the tulips and other bulbs are just peaking through the ground.

Eggs Galore!

We found 22 eggs today! I looked and only saw two eggs in the nest box this morning. Then later when our dear grand son went out with a friend he looked in the loft of the coop and found a stash of eggs. Today's total an amazing twenty - two eggs! ! ! The eggs found in the coop loft were all small pullet eggs. Cold however I put one of the portable nest boxes in the loft for us to look in after this hopefully the hen that's been stashing eggs in the loft will lay in that! Now I know where one of the hens was gone this morning just disappeared I looked all over for her several times have not idea where she was but around noon she showed up. I assume she came down from the loft. 


Dear grandson assured me he could climb up there and check for eggs when he was over but it seems that he had not been checking the loft as per our instructions after I put straw up there the hens had the perfect spot and they were concealed. I looked on the lower part for eggs stashed but there were none below. I have a flower pot with straw in it for them to lay in this is the first day that we found one in it too! 

We checked them to see if they floated and they did not and used a couple and seem to be fine! This is one memorable day! [They were cold; small pullet eggs.] Our grandson is taking home eighteen eggs today he had been wanting to fill one of those cartons that hold 18 eggs so we was able to fulfill that dream!   

You can bet he will be checking up there every time he is here from now on! His friend from down the street was with him to see the baby chicks after school and held the basket filling it as grandson handed him the eggs! They will both be talking about that over dinner tonight when they give the chicken and egg report! 


I think "the friendly hen" a barred rock might be in molt I had no idea how much of a challenge it was to keep hens laying consistently. Plus trying to figure out the rotation for replacement hens. Our replacement project was not the success we hoped it would be with four of the six being roosters and the hens that did start to lay are small. With only two replacements I had to think about a different plan so we bought some others this winter in December. Getting various breeds helped us to know what ones will not work out as well and we did not realize that smaller ones combined with bigger ones could be problematic as the bigger ones can be bullies; so we looked for breeds of similar size and temperament then settled on all the same ones hoping we can tell them apart when they are grown! 

I really enjoy watching the hens in the yard while I'm doing my kitchen chores! Looking out the window and seeing them. 

Eight Hens A Laying

Yesterday the coop was busy yesterday morning hens were socializing while one was laying, others waited their turn. Two of their nest boxes seem to be prime egg laying spots. 

I was SO excited to get two green eggs from the Easter Eggers [EE] that lay those eggs. It's the first time we have gotten two on the same day I am so glad the family favorite is laying now. I kept an eye on her and made sure she is laying now. We are all so happy that she is back in production again! That makes eight hens laying now out of ten. She had not been up until this week. I'm hoping the other two barred rocks that are not laying will begin again too. I overcooked mini muffins hens loved 'em! LOL!

We got a pullet eggs and two regular sized eggs also five total seems to be a common daily gathering for us. 

I can't believe how fast the chicks learn chicken behaviors! 

New Baby Chicks

I got ten Rhode Island Red baby chickens yesterday. They are fine I set them up in a tote in the basement as it's in the thirties at night here and we do not have the coop set up for a brooder yet.

I was so hoping the one of the hens would be broody but that did not happen. Sigh so we will try this. So far so good. I put dried leaves in the bottom for bedding as they try to eat what ever is on the bottom of the plastic bin and it does not have to go in the trash this way. I had the waterer, feeder, feed and heat lamp on hand from when the egg hatch failed last fall so that was a blessing.

I'm sort of wishing I would have gotten a couple more because it looks like there are at least two roos in this batch of pullets and hubby is already talking about rotating out some and freezer camp. We have differing ideas of how many to winter over! LOL!

When I was at the store there were people lining up to select their chicks, I took our grand daughter with me and she was so excited she was up at the containers for a close up look and enjoyed seeing them ducks too. I did not see any quail chicks this year. Dear grand son said the trouble with ducks is that they fly off when they are grown and gone. I had not thought of that. Well so far the chicks are easier than I thought they would be and great entertainment for the grand kids.

Cake mix cookies

Cake Mix Cookies

One yellow cake mix 
1 tea. vanilla 
1 egg
1 cube butter [melted] 

Mix well, chill 

Baking chips your favorite flavor 
Place 5-6 on each cookie. 

Bake 350* 12-15 min. 

Valentine From The Hens!

This week the hens left us a great gift on Valentine's day green egg from the Easter egger hen. So we have seven hens laying from our flock of ten.  Yea! 

I'm excited I found a chicken pattern I can use for an outline to paint on the coop this week too. Plus I might  be able to use it for a denim tote as well. I found an egg shaped cookie cutter that will be fun for the next cookie baking adventure when our dear grand daughter is over. 

We have added wood ash to the dust bathing area the hens loved that. This weekend we are going to get the top next box addition completed. Some more chicken proofing is on that list and brooder prep. as well as cleaning up coop run and nesting boxes. So we are loving the sunny weather for these actives! 

This Week

I need to take a used brick and smooth off the concrete blocks on the coop one of the hens had a hurt foot the other day so that is a just in case action if that's where she got hurt. Did that this afternoon. 

I also need to get a first aid kit for the coop. Will need to do a bit of research on that. I need to find a sue for the wood box I could put it over the hole we cut out for loft access to store hay / straw in. 

I 'd like to get a plan for the back yard, it's over grazed and the hens have dug up some onions iris bulbs are bare with out dirt on them, daffodils need to be moved to the front yard.

Clean Coop and chicken run another thing on my to do list as well. I have some leaves / mulch that need to be moved when it's a nice fifty degree day outside that is not today.

I have feed bags to make some totes from maybe the grand daughters want to have a sewing day over here after they get their sewing machine. That would be a great project for us to do.

We need to clear some things out of the big storage shed to make room for freezer camp day. 

Set up brooder as I learned this week that chicks will be in at the feed store on the nineteenth I'm hoping it will warm up by then! Wondering if we have a hen or two that might help to raise them and if we should get a few extras in case they don't all survive or if one of the mean hens kills one. I read about that happening in the Chicken magazine I got the other day.


We got three eggs today one pullet two normal size eggs. 

To Do

On this week's to do list:

Get oyster shells x = done
Get pelleted chicken feed. {I'm so glad the folks at the feed store lift that for me!} x
Get  plastic washable egg containers. {Opps I forgot to look for those!}

Clean coop run and ; nest boxes put fresh bedding in.
Finish building top nest boxes.

Today I have fed the chickens forgot to close up the gate door to the run because I was so involved in an indoor yarn project first time. I've left it open I'm so glad they are fine. [oops!]Going to try NOT to do THAT again. 

Yesterday we got four eggs I collected two and dear grand daughter collected the other two. She really enjoys feeding them and the hens are getting used to her being there and she knows the ones that she can pet! 

Six Hens A Laying

Chickens had water with out ice on it with the warmer temps. that is a nice change not having to deal with ice and snow they have been fed no eggs yet today. 45*-51* Today's temp range we got five eggs yesterday only one was a pullet egg we have six laying here for sure now! I have snow drops in bloom now and spring bulbs up yea!

Top nest box addition is in the works we have the frame from a discarded shelf needs a bottom still under construction. Our grand son is going to help with this project. It's fun to get to use tools together. I'd been wracking my brain thinking what could I do with this shelf instead of just tossing it! He came up with that while he was grilling lunch after church Sunday.

Chickens are staying in the back yard now for the most part so putting up the netting has been a success yea! As dear grand daughter called them "neighborhood chickens" the other day! The donkey on my walking route has been getting out nearly every day and ends up at the neighbors across the street they have the greenest grass. The hens are not the only escape artists! Seems to be common enough around here.

Less Range Time

I replaced the light bulb in the coop one morning this week when I was out doing chicken chores. The light in the run where they roost is okay.

I've rounded up the chickens that had escaped two times today and most are back in the pen. I've gotten the netting to put on the deck to help with keep them from getting out, until that is up they are going to be getting less and less free range time. At afternoon chore time just after school we let them out again, that was just before dark they stayed in the yard this time. Yea! Then at dusk a drizzling rain started so they came in a bit early. Hubby is figuring out how to  put up the netting on the deck but needs more daylight for this task.

The chickens are all present and accounted for and tucked in for the night. We got four eggs today and another egg broke from too much "help" the grand kids are still learning how delicate the egg shells can be. The new basket is smaller and three eggs looks like a lot in it.

I gathered two pullet eggs and three others today. Went for a walk picked up apples some one discarded half eaten for the hens, I chopped it up for their morning treat. Raked leaves and put them in the back for the chickens to scratch in today.

I got the run, coop and outside nest boxes cleaned and spiffed up the inside of the coop this week. Working on yard clean up leaf and mulch removal from the front yard now that the temps. have risen nearly up to the fifty degree mark here.

The grand kids were here helping to feed and do chicken chores and seeing which chickens they could pet! Enticing them with food helps them to accomplish this goal and coming in the coop while I do chores. They have earned the dozen eggs they took home.

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.