Happy Chick Day!

It was truly as exciting as Christmas morning!  The post office called at 7:00am to tell us that the chicks had

arrived and to ask us to pretty please come pick them up ASAP.  John said he could hear our chicks chirping from the parking lot when he went to get them!

They came in these little boxes.

John carefully opened each box as we all huddled around, pressing in to get a better look.

Here they are all nestled into their traveling box.

Our little chicken farmer helped John by carefully placing each chick into its new home.

taking in their new digs

These black chicks are Dominique chickens.  They are a beautiful, heritage breed.

These classic little yellow guys are Buff Orpingtons.  They will be a buff/golden color as adults.

Oh, and these little quackers tagged along. 

Funny story . . . we ordered 5 Dominques and 15 Buff Orpingtons.  Then, John's brother Justin decided he'd like a few ducklings, so John called the hatchery to revise our order.   When we opened our first box, we saw all 20 chicks and the 3 ducks.  What could be in the 2nd box?  Well, it was 5 more Dominques and 15 more Buff Orpingtons!  Apparently, when the hatchery "revised" the order to add the ducks, they actually re-ordered.  We can house 40 chicks for now, but they'll be over-crowded in a matter of days, so we've had to find homes for the lagniappe 20.  :)

Our kids were loving every minute of it!  Little Boy (age 3) said "Momma, they sound like birds!" and "They have chicken feet like our chickens!"  Guess he's got it all figured out!  He and I ate lunch at the elementary school with kindergartener Girl 2 today.  I mentioned to her teacher that we got chicks this morning, and she let me know that she and everyone else had heard ALL about it!  I love how excited our kids get about our little farming endeavors!  (It makes things like cleaning out the chicken coop, which I did when I got home from lunch, so worth it! ;)

DIY Brooder Boxes

Our chicks are scheduled to arrive tomorrow at our local post office.  Because they'll probably be chirping pretty loudly, I suspect the postmaster will give us a call to come pick them up pretty quickly.  So, this past weekend, we had to get all of our "nesting" done and be sure that everything was ready for their arrival.

Chicks are, of course, very fragile creatures at the very beginning.  They need ample food and water and space, just the right temperature, and clean living conditions.  Ready-made brooders, which can be purchased from various manufacturers, provide a good environment for chicks until they're old enough to transition out to the yard.  The cheapest decent one I could find on Amazon (our go-to shopping stop) can be viewed here and would run us $250.  After some debate, we opted to go a cheaper route for now.  We may, of course, be purchasing a brooder next year if this set-up doesn't work out, but here's what we've got rigged up for now.

Three separate tubs allow enough space for the 20 chicks and 2 ducklings that we'll be housing.  Framed screens provide mouse-proof protection but still allow air-flow.  A low-hanging shelf provides a sturdy place from which to hang heat lamps. 

Thermometers mounted to the inside wall allow us to monitor the internal temperature of each bin.  Feeders and waterers sit on the newspaper and paper towel-lined bin floors.

Including the bins, heat lamps, bulbs, feeders, waterers, and materials to build the screen lids, the set-up cost us just under $100.  Whether it will work as well as a more expensive design remains to be seen, but I am definitely in favor of the cheaper start-up cost.  :)

Let's Play "Name That Goat!"

That's right!  Your nominations have been made (and they were great, by the way!), so now it's time to play "Name That Goat!"  I mean, isn't he just too cute to be nameless?!

From the plentiful nominations, each family member has selected a favorite to submit for the final vote.  On the right, you should see the poll where you can cast your vote and view the current results.  I'll close the poll on Saturday and announce the winner.  By the way, if you have a real favorite and it's lagging behind in the polls, I'll let you in on a little secret . . . you can vote every time you pull up the blog!  Can't wait to see what name you'll select!

An Afternoon Walk Through the Yard

 These are our two Eurasian Collared-Doves.  I think they've set up nest in one of our trees.  The last several days, we've been able to hear the mating call as we eat breakfast.  (As Barbara Kingsolver says, April is the sexiest month!)  Today, as they preened one another, I was able to catch a glimpse of them up close.  Aren't they beautiful?

Also, this guy was out hunting for a mate today.

And, things are blooming.  These blooms are about 8 inches in diameter.  Love them!

And, the Knockout rose bushes are covered up.

All things green are growing strong.

Asparagus has grown tall and gone to seed, already preparing for next year's harvest.

And then there's the "fuzzy plant."  It's blooming!  Who knew?

And, my favorite sight of the afternoon: the school bus pulling into view. :)

Help Us Name This Cute Little Goat!

As mentioned in yesterday's post, we will soon be bringing home 5 adorable goats.  And, you, dear readers, get to help us name one of them!  Aren't you excited?!!?

So, here he is, the currently unnamed cutie!  He is considered red in color with a white "belt" around his belly.  He is just a little buckling right now, but he will later serve our herd by siring future kids. 

Here's how we'll do this.  You can make your name suggestions by commenting either on this post or on my FaceBook link to this post (please identify yourself when giving your nominations so that I can be sure to give you credit for your ideas).  I will collect name suggestions until Tuesday.  At that time, I'll create a sidebar poll to allow all readers to vote for their favorite nominees through the end of the week.  With your help, we can have this little one named in one week's time! 

So, put on your thinking cap (or ask your kids to come up with something fun) and submit those names!  I can't wait to hear what you come up with!

Why 1 Goat Means 5 Goats

So, it turns out that in order to maintain one dairy goat, we really need to have 5.  Here's our thought process. . . .

We decided that we wanted a milking doe.  Enter Goat #1, Razz, a 2-year-old doe that is currently in milk. 

Well, a milking doe is a milking doe because she has just had a kid.  Who would want to separate them?  Enter Goat #2, Razz's adorable fawn-colored doeling.

Also, goats are very social creatures that will whine when lonely.  And, apparently a goat doesn't really consider it's own baby much of a companion.  Enter Goat #3, Speck, a 1-year-old doe who will serve as Razz's companion and be a potential milker next year..

Speaking of breeding . . . a milking doe will only be in milk for 9-10 months before she dries up.  In order for her to be in milk again, she must be bred.  Artificial insemination is costly and unpredictable in goats. And, goat breeders are very particular about allowing animals from other herds (and their potential diseases and parasites) onto their farms for breeding.  So, it looks like we need a buck.  Enter Goat #4, a buckling that will be old enough to breed by fall.

But, bucks are stinky creatures.  And, they can't be kept with the ladies year-round.  So, poor Mr. Buck must be kept in a separate pen.  But, remember, they are social creatures, so he can't be alone out in the field.  Enter Goat #5, a wether (or neutered male), to serve as the buck's companion.

So, our quest to bring home a dairy goat actually means we'll be bringing home a small herd.  They should be here in a couple of weeks.  Keep checking in for updates.  :)

Are Chickens In Your Future?

According to the NPD research group, 9 out of 10 households always stock eggs.  What if you could permanently scratch that item off your grocery list.  That's what we and tons of other backyard chicken farmers have done.  Could backyard chickens be in your future?

Spring is in the air.  Take a  trip to your local co-op or Tractor Supply store, and you'll be able to hear the chirping that signifies spring.  Before you fall for those adorable chick-a-dees, though, be sure you understand the commitment you'd be making by taking them home.

The Laws:
Is it legal to keep chickens where you live?  You'd need to check out the zoning guidelines for where you live.  These guidelines may include "how many birds you can raise, how much space is required, how far from neighbors' property the coop needs to be set," and whether or not your flock can include a rooster  (which is only necessary if you're planning to hatch your own chicks in the future).  All that said, more and more big cities are catching on to the "urban chicken" craze and allowing chickens within the city limits.  Cities such as New York, San Franscisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, and St. Louis all now allow chickens as well as goats.

The Cost of Getting Started:
1.  Housing -- This will probably be the  most expensive investment.  I've seen some coops online that've been constructed for free by recycling old materials.  We opted for a locally-made chicken tractor that is moved around the yard and has a bottomless cage, allowing the chickens access to fresh grass and bugs.

My husband has since helped a friend construct a chicken tractor, mimicking the design of ours.  Also, a different, less-souped-up version for use with our meat chickens this spring is currently under construction.

2.  Fencing -- If you go the chicken tractor route, you've got a fenced-in run already.  If you go with a stationary coop, you'll need some type of fencing to keep your birds safe while allowing them access to fresh air and ground.

3.  Cost of birds -- Our birds were purchased as 5-month-old pullets that were just about to begin laying.  We paid $8 for each bird.  Chicks can be purchased for much cheaper.  They were $2.50 apiece at the co-op the other day.

4.  Feeders and waterers-- Here's what we purchased.

5.  Container to hold feed -- To keep mice and other critters out of your feed bags, you'll need a place to store them.  We just use Rubbermaid containers and trashcans with secure lids.

Maintenance Costs:
Other than start-up costs, you will have a few other costs to consider.  Of course, you'll have to keep your chickens fed.  You'll also need wood shavings, straw, or some other type of bedding for the coop.  And, if you're planning to use your chickens for meat and aren't up to processing them yourself, you'll need to factor in the cost of having someone else do that for you.

Time Commitment:
If you start with chicks, you'll need to plan on checking in on them several times a day for the first few weeks.  Once they're outside and laying, you'll need to gather eggs at least once a day (twice a day on days that are extremely hot or cold).  John moves our chicken tractor every-other day to a new patch of grass, feeds them daily, and provides fresh water daily.  He cleans out the coop and adds new bedding about every 10 days. 

Security Measures:
Raccoons are smart little critters.  So, if your backyard isn't raccoon-proof, you'll need to be sure that your coop is.  We added special latches to our laying boxes and gate so that raccoons can't get in.  Hawks are another danger, so be sure that your run (or area where your chickens hang out) is covered in some way to protect them from those flying pests.

After reading all this, you may be wondering if it's very cost-effective to produce your own eggs in your backyard.  I guess the short answer is  . . . no.  Yes, when we do the math, factoring in the feed and bedding costs, our eggs are cheaper than store-bought eggs.  But that doesn't factor in the significant start-up costs.  But there are some rewards to chicken farming that are not monetary.  If you've got kids, just wait until you see them race to don their muck boots at 6:30 am because they don't want to miss the morning feeding with dad.  Or, how excited they get when they go out with the basket and come back in with 8 eggs (We have 8 layers and since chickens lay about once every 28-32 hours, it's rare to have an "8-egg-day.").

Of course, if this all sounds good to you, you'll need to do some more research before taking the plunge.  Check out our Homesteading Resources tab for some of our recommended chicken reading.

A special thanks to the April/May Backyard Poultry magazine from which come some of the quotes included above. 

Easter Bunny

Happy Easter!  I know that Easter is really about the Resurrection, but pastels, eggs,  rabbits, and candy also come to mind.  So, for your viewing delight, I thought I'd put up a couple pics of Cocoa Puff, our Easter Bunny.  Here she is in her "play pen."  When I'm going to be working or playing in the yard for awhile, I put her in her pen, so that she can munch on some grass and enjoy some sunshine.  She loves it and spends most of her time sunbathing. 

I know it's hard to tell from the picture, but she's gotten huge.  She's at least doubled in size since we brought her home a few months back.  I had someone ask about using her as a prop for Easter pics with their baby.  This person had obviously not met Cocoa in person.  I tried to explain that while I'd be perfectly okay with Cocoa having a photo shoot, she's not exactly a cute, little, white, floppy-eared rabbit.  I mean, frankly, she's larger than the baby in question.  Now, that's not to say Cocoa's not cute.  Just look at her -- those ears!  That sweet little nose!  She is, however, what some would refer to as a "meat rabbit."  I prefer not to think about that, though.  She will definitely not be feeding us in any way other then through her fertilizer.  :)

New Goat Breeder

All the work John has done to try to find us a new goat has paid off.  And, man, did he work hard!  He followed so many leads, I had to have him make me a chart so that I could keep straight who all he had talked to and what he'd found out from them.  For those who read my last goat post about poor Lydia, she does seem to be doing some better but is not putting on the kind of weight that she should at this point in her pregnancy.  Her breeder has kept us informed but still doesn't feel comfortable selling her.  So, we are now working with a new breeder who will be selling us Razz as a milker.  These photos are actually of Razz's kids, but she looks most like this first pic.  We will get to see her in person when we go visit her later this week.  We are quite excited.

We are actually planning to purchase 3 goats.  Razz, is the momma who will be in milk.  We will also bring home her newly weaned doeling (female kid).  And, when we go to the farm, we plan to select a 1 year old doe as well.  This will provide us with the option of having two milkers next year. 

If all goes well, the doeling will be weaned and all three will be ready to make the move to our house by mid to late April.  I'll keep you informed!

Making the Most of Opportunity

Goats love to climb, but they're also escape artists.  We want our "goat habitat" to be as goat-friendly as possible, so we thought it would be great to give them a place to play "king of the mountain" all day long. Their climbing toy must be placed far enough away from a fence that they can't use it as a stepping stone to freedom and must be heavy enough that they can't roll it over to the fence for the same purpose.  We have a huge rock in the front yard that we thought would be perfect, but since a tractor or truck won't fit through our backyard fence it was out of the question.  Until . . . we got a new roof this past week and the roofers took down our fence to make way for their own truck.  How does the old saying go? . . . When life gives you a downed fence, move a rock. . . Or something like that.

Here's a pic of where the fence used to be.

Cousin Isaac, expert tractor driver, picked up the rock in one deft move, drove it to the backyard, and carefully deposited it over the fence of the goat pen.

The guys then attached chain and used the tractor to pull the rock into position.

Though the girls aren't sure about sharing their "climbing rock," I think the goats will love their new play space, and I love that I can see the rock perfectly from my kitchen sink window.  Thanks, Isaac!  We couldn't have done it without your help!

What Can I Say? They love me!

Yep.  These chickens adore me!  You should just see the way they line up by the door when they see me coming!  I'll be the first to admit, however, that I am undeserving of their favoritism.  After all, it is John who dutifully tends to them twice a day, cleaning their coop, refilling their water and feed, and moving their tractor to fresh ground.  He is definitely the one who puts in the time.  BUT, when he does his feeding, the chickens are all up in the coop, roosting, so his work goes unseen. When I come out the backdoor, ready to offer them whatever veggie scraps I've gathered up, it's in the light of day when they are all out in the run watching me make my way to them with the yummy strawberry hulls, lettuce cores, or carrot tops.

Though I felt a little guilty the other day when John saw how the chickens lit up when I came out the backdoor, I remind myself that I may have the chickens wrapped around my little finger, but John has the our girls wrapped around his.  Yep, he's "fun daddy," and there's not much I can do about that.  Boy hasn't quite gotten there yet and still favors me, but I know it's just a matter of time until he figures out how much fun dad is and his days as Momma's Boy will be a thing of the past.   

So, since John got the better deal here, I'll just keep on relishing the way those 8 ladies' eyes light up with excitement when I'm headed in their direction.

Sad Goat News

As I've mentioned, we've been eagerly awaiting the arrival of our Nubian dairy goats.  However, we found out this week that our arrangement with the goat farm was not going to work out.  It seems that this sweet goat, Lydia, is sick and may not survive her pregnancy. 

So, now we find ourselves with a  goat-ready pen and no goat to call it home.  We're definitely disappointed but have refused to wallow in self-pity.  I think John has already contacted 6 different farms, and we even paid one a visit last night to check out their goats.  We've yet to make a decision, but we do have some exciting leads.  We'll keep you posted.

Goats' Milk vs. Cows' Milk

If you've been following our blog, you know that we will soon be home to some adorable Nubian dairy goats.  In preparation, we've prepped a pen (which I finished painting just today), built a milking stand, and done lots and lots of reading.  A few months ago, I was oblivious to the health benefits of goats' milk.  We originally chose dairy goats over dairy cows for several reasons:
1.  goats are more easily managed (especially with young kids around)
2.  goats are fun and interactive (almost like dogs)
3.  cows produce much more milk than our family could possible consume
4.  goats can be milked either once or twice a day whereas cows must be milked twice daily

Notice that the amazing health benefits of goats' milk is nowhere on the list.  So, I was pleased to discover yet another reason that goats were probably a better option for us.

Goat milk is becoming a bit of a craze in the "Whole Foods" circle.  In fact, on a recent trip to the market, I priced a 1/2 gallon of goat milk at $7.69.  Yep, you read that right. . . and for a 1/2 gallon!  We opted for the 1/4 gallon ourselves, and the kids drank it all up happily.  I am a bit finicky about my milk, but I found that the goat milk had basically the same taste as cow milk.  The texture seemed a bit different to me, but that could just be that I'm accustomed to skim cows' milk.

Below are some excerpts from an article explaining some of the health benefits of goats' milk, for those of you who are not, just as I wasn't, already "in the know."


While cow’s milk remains one of America’s most common daily drinks, it is interesting to note that it may also be the reason why many Americans experience gas, bloating, mucous and other forms of indigestion.

source

Moreover, in a world where the common cow is pumped full of growth hormones, antibiotics, GMO feed, vaccinations and exposed to toxic conditions, it is no wonder that many humans experience negative effects of consuming pasteurized cow milk.
Goat’s milk is a much healthier alternative, especially if it is consumed raw and from a good organic source. The most common form of milk used on a global scale, it is estimated that around three fourths of the milk consumed worldwide comes from goats, not cows. And most of the people drinking this milk are not fat and do not have allergies or digestive complaints.

The Benefits of Goat Milk

Goat’s milk offers a wide variety of health benefits, with very few of the negative side effects of drinking regular cow milk.
1. Natural Anti-Inflammatory
Some research suggests that one of the main benefits of goat milk is that it may hold anti-inflammatory capacities. Another reason why it is easier for people with bowel inflammation to drink goat’s milk, instead of cow’s milk.
2. Environmentally Friendly
Goats require far less space and food than cows. Typically, you can comfortably raise six goats on the same acreage as two cows.
3. Metabolic agent
Studies done at the USDA and Prairie View A&M University, link goat’s milk to an increased ability to metabolize iron and copper, especially amongst individuals with digestion and absorption limitations. Besides drinking goat’s milk, you can also take a digestive enzymes supplement to help with this also.
4. Bio-availability
Another main health benefit of goat milk, is that it is closer to human mother’s milk than cow’s milk is. Because it has a chemical make up that is much closer to human milk, it is easier to digest and assimilate in the human body.

source

5. Lower in Fat
Goat’s milk is a great option for people who want to lose weight. It has less fat, but still maintains the high levels of proteins and essential amino acids found in cow’s milk.
6. High in Fatty Acids
While cow’s milk has about seventeen percent fatty acids, goat’s milk averages thirty five percent fatty acids, making it more nutritionally wholesome. In fact, up to 50% of people with lactose intolerance to cow’s milk find that they can easily digest goat’s milk, especially if it is raw.
7. Calcium-rich
Many people worry that they need to drink cow’s milk for calcium intake and the prevention of bone loss. Goat’s milk also offers high amounts of calcium.
8. Anti-Mucousal
While drinking cow’s milk is a common reason for allergies and excess mucous, goat’s milk is not. Cow’s milk is high in fat, which may increase mucous build-up. Moreover, the fat globules in goat’s milk are one ninth the size of those found in cow’s milk, another possible reason why it does not produce irritation in the gut.
9. Ultra-nourishing
In Naturopathic medicine, goat’s are referred to as bioorganic sodium animals. They are also associated with vigour, flexibility and vitality. Cows are calcium animals known for stability and heaviness. Bioorganic sodium is an important element in keeping joints mobile and limber. Goat milk has traditionally been used in medicinal cultures to nourish and regenerate an over-taxed nervous system. Goat’s milk is also extremely nutrient dense. It has almost 35% of your daily needs for calcium in one cup. Extremely high in riboflavin, just one cup of goat’s milk offers 20.0% of our daily needs. Add to that high amounts of phosphorous, Vitamin B12, protein and potassium. In fact, Ghandi himself restored his own health after extremely long periods of fasting through drinking raw goat’s milk.

10. Less toxic than Cow’s Milk
Whereas most cow’s milk is pumped full of bovine growth hormones as well as a substance known as bovine somatotropin, a hormone specific for increasing milk production in an unnatural way, goat’s are rarely treated with these substances. Because of its use on the fringes of big agriculture, goat’s milk is not only more nutritious for you, but also less toxic.
11. May Boost Immune System
Goat’s milk has the trace mineral, selenium, a key essential mineral in keeping the immune system strong and functioning correctly.

For the full article, see The Global Healing Center: Natural Health and Organic Living

Getting Ready for Goats!

Our goats are expecting!  Right now, they reside on their farm in Missouri.  We plan to go meet them in March, then bring them home in April after they've had their kids.  In preparation, John has worked hard to prepare a pen for them in the backyard. 

This is our backyard shed, home to everything from yard tools to Christmas decor.  The lean-to portion on the right used to house the lawn mower but has now been incorporated into the goat pen to provide a covered milking area and shelter for the goats.

This is a view of the lean-to from the side.  The fence meets the lean-to in the center.  To the left (where the ladder is in the photo) is the milking area. This area can be cut off from the goats using the gate, so that we can keep this area clean.  The area to the right is the covered shelter area. I plan to paint those two wooden panels later this week to match the brown of the rest of the shed.

This is just another view of the gate in the milking area.

This is a view of the pen from the backside of the yard.  Yes, that's a firepit in the middle of the pen.  What?  You don't have a firepit in the middle of your backyard goat pen?  We will have to move it and find a new part of the yard to use for marshmallow roasts.  So, there's still a bit left to do to get everything ready, but we still have another month or so. :)



Awaiting Spring

Even as I watch the snow gently falling outside my window, I am contemplating spring.  In fact, the last couple of years, I've started to wonder whether I'm seriously afflicted with SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder).  I say this in jest (mostly), but I did add a Vitamin D supplement to my vitamin regimen just in case.  I, like Girl 1 who was huddled up next to me whimpering this morning as we waited for the school bus in the blustery wind, just don't like to be cold.  I would always choose to be hot and sweaty rather than chilled to the bone.  So, temperatures alone would be enough to have me looking forward to spring, but this year, there's so much else going on here, too.

For example, this is Lydia.  She doesn't live here yet, but if all goes well, she will become a member of our household sometime in April.   She is a Nubian dairy goat.  She will kid in April, and both she and her kid will call our blossoming homestead home.  I am super excited about all the milk, cheese, butter, yogurt, soap, etc. that I will be able to make with the milk she and Smoochie will provide.

This is Smoochie.  This cutie and her adorable, silver ears will come along with Lydia.  Though she is not a registered Nubian, she will provide us additional milk and serve to keep Lydia and her kid company in their new surroundings.  Our girls are currently on a great Nubian farm in Missouri.  We plan to go meet them and see their farm sometime in February.  John has the goat pen and milking shed complete now in the backyard. Sorry, I don't have any pics of this yet, and now that it's snowing I don't think I'll trudge out to take any (due to my aforementioned distaste for the extreme cold).

Also in the works, we will be attempting a new strategy for our backyard garden this year.  Square Foot Gardening is a new method I read about this fall and am excited to try.  Also, after reading an article about the importance of using seeds generated close to home, I placed my seed order with Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds based in Missouri and enjoyed their catalog more than is probably natural.  The photos of the exotic varieties were breathtaking (over the top?).

Oh, and this is Cocoa Puff.  She is our newest addition.  She was a rescue from the local pet store where she was being housed in the "buffet cart" and intended as dinner for a giant snake.  Yikes!  While I really like the name the kids picked out, John had proposed that we name her Fertilizer Factory.  She is, after all, intended to do more for us than just provide super-soft snuggles.  Based on my reading, rabbit poo is just about the best thing ever for a garden.  Because it is so mild, it can be added directly to soil as fertilizer, whereas our chicken droppings have to compost for awhile before being garden-ready.  So, while she is a great pet, she is also working hard for us.  Anytime now, the cats are probably going to begin to question their place in our family.  After all, since they're not feeding us, they're not really pulling their weight in quite the way the chickens and rabbit are. :) 

Our Latest Project

Over the Thanksgiving weekend, John and Girl 1 worked on a project to get us ready for next spring:  a goat milking stanchion.  See below . . .

This little stand, hand-crafted by John, is designed for a milking goat to stand on while being milked.  Her head goes through the boards at the front where (on the side you can't see in this photo) a feeder is attached so that she can munch while being held securely in place for her milking. 

John has already begun work on the goat shelter and pen (photos soon).  We are hoping to get 1 or 2 milking does and probably a kid, too (because they're just so dad-gum cute!) in the early spring.  We're excited about all the things we can do with the milk, which will range from drinking it (obviously) and feeding it to other animals, to making products such as cheese, yogurt, butter, and soap.  Since I am mostly bed-bound right now, I've made myself a part of the project by reading.  I've read The Backyard Homestead, which has a great section on raising goats (and on a bazillion other amazing topics) and Milk Soapmaking, which is apparently the best book out there on the subject.  Yep, lots of exciting things are happening around here!

We've Got Chickens!

We've been thinking for awhile about adding chickens to our home.  We've read countless articles and a few books on the topic and finally decided that the best way to figure this out was just to dive in.  We were able to find a local guy who builds these great chicken tractors.  John did do some work on it to improve its design a bit. He added the white-framed door in the chicken wire, which allows us access to the girls while they are out of the house.  Also, he added the white door at the entrance to the house.  It's on a pulley so that we can open and close it from the outside.  Not pictured, on the back of the house are two nesting boxes that we can access from outside.  So far, it seems to be working great.  We like the idea of the tractor because it is on wheels and can be moved to fresh ground every day or so, so that the hens always have fresh ground to peck and fertilize. 

We bought our 8 hens from a local lady who got them as chicks in the spring.  They've been free-range on her farm since then.  They should be approaching laying age, so we are eagerly awaiting our first eggs!

We have 8 hens in all, 2 each of 4 different breeds.  The red one above is a Rhode Island Red.

The grayish hen on the left is an Araucana (she will lay green eggs).  The black one is an Australorp.  Her feathers have a blue sheen to them in the sun that is really very pretty.

This is a Plymouth / Barred Rock.  It is definitely my favorite.  I think they look like the quintessential chicken.

We have really enjoyed getting to know the girls.  With all their pecking and scratching and roosting and eating and dust bathing, they are definitely entertaining to watch.  They are actually a lot quieter than I expected them to be.  The only time they've really gotten to clucking was when Aslan (our outdoor cat) was examining the coop.  The kids are really enjoying the new additions.  They're eager to put on their rubber boots in the morning and let the girls out of the house.  We are definitely enjoying this new endeavor!