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. 

Toe Nail Clipping

The chicks are learning to eat regular food now. I'm introducing cooked pumpkin with corn meal and they seem to really love it! 

I'm learning how to clip chicken toe nails is a good thing to do on a tame chicken! I also learned how to get them in the pen after they have been out for free range time again; I just put their scratch feed in the pen for the afternoon feeding time when the grand kids usually come home on the bus and do it. I shut the gates when they were in eating that worked great! Then I looked at the hens and let out the ones that did not need toe nails clipped. 

Dear grand daughter likes to feed the hens on top of an over turned five gallon bucket the hens stand around while she puts hand fulls of feed on it and then later you can hear the clunk clunk clunk of the beaks on the bucket as they pick up their food. 

I got three extra eggs from the broody hen nest some how she got up to fifteen eggs the other hens are collaborating with her! LOL! So I reduced it to a dozen she was sitting on.  Tonight I noticed the broody hen was off the roost two other hens were in the coop, one was picking on one that wanted to lay so I shooed her out she had already laid earlier and then the one was on the clutch of eggs adding hers and later in the evening broody hen was back on it sitting keeping her eggs warm. 

She I do not let the grands very near the broody hen because she pecks. Now I know why my granny did not have us do her chicken chores she had a roo too I believe. I might need to put the broody hen in a pet carrier the other hens keep adding to her nest I guess they've heard of "chicken math" too! 

Dear grand son & I figured out why they don't have chickens on animal cops show because no one chains a hen to the back door and they can fly off and or forage and fend for them selves!  

Sat. Chicken Chores

My Sat. chicken chores this week included cleaning the chicken run, cleaning the out side nest boxes. Digging up daffodil bulbs from the back yard because the daffs. are not good for chickens. Moved those bulbs to the front yard in front of the house where they are out of the hens reach and I've replanted those bulbs. So I'm making great progress here. 

I moved some leaves from the last corner of the back yard I need to prep for some spring planting. It's looking better and was great exercise! Counting that today. 

Hubby got a wooden goose shape on a stake so I can put it in the garden as soon as youngest dear grand daughter helps me paint it. She was asking to help paint last week so she will get her wish. 

One thing left to do is clean inside nest boxes I hate to disturb the hen that's setting on eggs so trying to figure out how to do that with out bothering her to much. 

So glad I did those chores on Sat. as today is very windy here! We got some wood burned for ash for the beds the hens dust bathe in also. 

Senior Project Idea!

I was talking with the neighbor I asked what was in loaded in their trailer, wondering if it  was a house for their hens when I saw it. It was ready to assemble. It turned out that this project is what his son made for his senior project. An eight foot by eight foot green house for his grandmother. Today is the day they are going to put it together on site. This was one very proud dad! 

He said they will be moving and are going to give us their two hens, so we need to make room. I called on some eggs for sale that guy had a couple of free roos Rhode Island Reds. But the roos live in a different town and would only be for the deep freezer.  

Broody Hen update: Today I checked the broody hen after she switched nests and gently lifted her off her nest on to another nest temporarily after I put on my leather gloves. She only had three eggs and one golf ball she was sitting on, so I took out the golf ball and eggs that were not the breed we wanted chicks from, then I added four more eggs for her to sit on replaced her on the nest. 

Then I let out the rest hens that were restless after eating their treats. Turns out they love Spanish rice! LOL! Hubby said I spoil the hens then in the next breath suggests I buy some rice to cook for them! Makes me wonder WHO is spoiling them after all!!! 

Broody Hen

Our chicken news today is one hen has gone broody, this broody hen and has decided to sit on eggs.  Yea! A whole new adventure for us! One of our flock goals was to raise our own chicks. The other hens added to her nest I moved her to the loft in the coop so no eggs for us today. I add a couple of choice eggs to her clutch of eggs I figured we might as well try to raise the bigger breed we like for meat birds. She did not like being messed with but settled in the loft after that. I put food near her she does not seem interested. I'd be cranky too with out food or water. I put water near by for her. 

I did the first round of chicken and chick chores done usually done mid morning but the hens got out early to look for worms and bugs today. Youngest grandchild had plenty of energy yesterday when she helped with that. She wanted to see the inside of a green egg so requested to help mix up cookie dough so we mixed that up. The old two grand daughters will be over tomorrow too so they can have cookies with lunch and / or for snacks. 

Later on youngest grand child said "Grandma come look" then she pointed to a chick was sleeping on the top of the waterer, she was so amazed to see that! 

Then I cleaned out the chick's box in the basement and they settled back in and napped after their "dinner". 

The red heat lamp gave a weird color to the pics that I took earlier today I need to get better ones hoping the older grands can help me pose 'em tomorrow. I'd like to take weekly pics. of them to record their progress. 

Time Change is Coming!

The time change on March tenth has me wondering how that will effect the hens schedule this is going to be an interesting development. Now that it's warming up we put out more water buckets and it's nearly time to hang up the fount again since it's not been freezing. Spring is not far behind.

Got 1 green egg, two brown eggs, and two pullet eggs today so far for a grand total of five eggs. Yesterday the lighter colored one I'd not seen for a couple of weeks and was glad to see that hen is laying again, now I just have to figure out what hen is laying this lovely cream colored egg! 

The grand kids played in the dirt I'd spaded up for garden spots they had a blast, then the hens wanted in on that fresh dirt action after the grands moved on to play on the jungle gym! LOL! A sure sign of spring. 


Today I got out the hose for the back yard and got the roosts, ladders, and chicken crate hosed off today that were in the chicken run. I felt better having that done dear grandson helped! Grass was in need of moisture so watered it as bit to settle down the dust it helped to clean it up some more in the back yard.


When I checked on the chicks at lunch time one was perched on top of the water container, they can fly now. They are getting more feathers all the time too. top of the water container they are flying around a bit now too. With little tail feathers and top wing feathers they are growing fast and doing great! I put a board in there and they all lined up on it to sleep like it was their roost! It's not off the ground but works for them. 

Monday Monday

We've had a productive morning so far. Back inside from 'recess' we've spaded up the next garden spot behind the coop, and the hens are "working" that today. We've put up a bit of a wind block not that they noticed the breeze any way but as I move things out of the way that sort of just happened. They were delighted to discover the worms and slugs under boards as we were moving things around. I was thinking we could start up the fire pit but not with the wind gusting up to thirty miles an hour had to wait. 

Now that the chicks are a week old they are getting tail feathers and starting to shed their chick fuzz. We've been holding the chicks so they will be used to people. This is one advantage of having them in the basement they are handier and we can let them get used to us being around and hearing people noises like our voices. The grand kids are more than happy to help us with this task! 

Dear grand son help collect eggs we got two green ones two pullet ones and one regular size brown egg for a grand total of five eggs. 

Hens Working

I've been out to the chicken pen and have fed and watered the hens. The chicks have been fed as well they were asleep and not out of water. We still need to get a top on the tote the chicks are in. Coffee brewed while I did the chicken chores so it was ready and waiting when I was done yea! Br-r it was cold out today. 27* - 47 * is today's temp. range here. 

Yesterday I cleaned the chicken run it looks better. Then I put in fresh leaves for bedding. Next I spaded up the corner garden area the hens had a great time working at getting the bugs and weed seeds out of  it. I also raked leaves from the side yard and off  the small garden spot the hens had fun investigating that as well. Then while I raked the back yard and dethatched a great work out for the arms! The hens checked out the thatch I was removing for grubs and seeds. 

We got six eggs four brown ones regular size, and two small pullet eggs, no green eggs. The two barred rock hens that are not laying have one month left here unless they start laying by the end of next month that's the dead line for the stew pot. We have to make room for the new chicks as well so this fall the others will be going to freezer camp. But we don't have to worry about for a while anyway. 

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.