Nesting Boxes & First Free Range Day

Chicken Tales

Things have been busy in the chicken coop!

We are up to 18 eggs a day now

(it would be nice if the people who said they would buy them..would!)

They like their new nesting boxes but

I think we need a couple more as I am

finding up to 4 eggs at a time in a box, 

which leads to broken eggs just from the 

hens being in there.  The "rule" seems to be 

1 box per 5 hens, we have 24 so I guess we need 2 more

I find eggs on the ground and outside if all 

nests are busy OR I find 2 hens trying to set in the 

same box at the same time.  Kinda funny.

This little girl was the first to investigate the new boxes.

Today is the first day I have let the girls out of their yard.

Why, cause it is to cold out there, and I needed to stay outside

to see how things would go, it was 41 degrees.

They thought this was great and it was a good experience for us all.

See Tricksey there (by the wash tub), gives you an idea how small she is.

She has learned to respect the chickens.

There is alot for them to investigate.

Seeds and bugs to find, AND weeds to pull!

I worked a bit in the garden, but the ground is still frozen so 

about all I got done was to move about 6 straw bales to a new location

All our dogs are really good with the girls

They are more interested in what I am doing 

or rough housing together then bothering the chickens

The girls are a bright bit in the late winter dull and ugly landscape.

After about 2 hours the girls all went back into their yard,  two 

had gone back to lay eggs, the others I think were hungry

and thirsty, which was fine with me because the wind had started blowing 

and I was cold even with my coat on.  A very good first day out.  

They will love it in a few weeks as it gets warmer and

the grasses start growing more, lots of chicken snacks to be had.

Thank you for coming over, we enjoyed your visit.

God Bless you always.

Chickens on the Homestead

Chickens on the Homestead

On Sept 6th our little girls hatched out

they arrived here on Sept 9

It is amazing how they can travel through

the mail like that with no food or water

Here is a little video of them on their first day home.

First thing you have to do is dip their little beaks into water.

Now this triggers the digestive process, 

their little travel box was clean, but within minutes of

getting their first drinks they begin to poop.  

Now they spend their day eating, drinking, chirping and pooping.

LOL

With two lights in their little home no one was getting

much sleep, little naps here and there which,  were 

interrupted by someone else (chicken wise) jumping upon

the head.  So we decided despite the need for heat that we would

turn the lights off, cover them and let them sleep over the night.

So I turned the lights off and oh my goodness the racket was amazing

they did not like this change from bright light to darkness.

In about 10 minutes though they were snuggled together and very

very quite.  I checked on them about 4 times during 

the night to make sure they were not to cold, but they were fine.

So now we ALL go to bed at night.  Grin.

Today, 9-11 the girls are enjoying some time in the sun and warmth

of the green house.

We have also been working on the coop.  

The inside is getting cleaned out, and the yard is fenced

and the front porch is in progress.


 Looking at the coop from the house.
Fence is up, new roof is on

Work on the porch has begun

Gate is up, this is an old salvaged gate, goes perfect.

Roosts are up, walls cleaned.  The white spots are from
wall paper that was covering the inside, well contact paper really
I decided to leave the really adhered pieces, to help
with the buildings history.
Starting to insulate the ceiling.
Worked on cleaning the floor, it was about 1/2 inch thick
in stuff to vacuum up.
The dogs love coming in with us.
They met the chicks today.
I am sure Bear (in the back) wanted to lick them
One of the windows, another is to the left.

The girls are growing fast, I will share more soon.

Thank you for visiting.  Come on back.

May God Bless and Keep you.

Sheep Herder's Shack = Chicken Coop

OLD OLD

Sheep Herder's Shack

TURNING

Chicken Coop

I had seen this building years ago at a friends place

and thought it was a neat old building.

Yesterday morning, Kirk came home with the idea

of turning it into a chicken coop since it 

was going to be hauled off to the burn pile.

Of course, we will take the orphaned building.

It is perfect, reminiscent of a homestead. 

The building is 10' X 16' and is on skids.

If you want something done Kirk and Terry will find a way if there is one.

After dragging it through part of town, it is time

to go up our driveway.

The drive is rather steep and then

Does a switch back

With a few things in the way, but 

no backing was done.

Then on up the hill almost to the upper pad,

Now being pushed into place.

Not a beautiful building, very humble.  

Hard to believe someone lived in this building out

in the wilderness while grazing his sheep.

It has two windows, well really openings with screens on them.

The roof is just slightly rounded and needs replacing.

Here I am giving you an idea of its placement to the house.

For those new to this blog, we are still in the building

process here, 6 years of work from 

a dirt hill and just the 2 of us doing all the work.

This blog is all about the process, I invite you to explore.

Another picture to show placement of things.

The over grown late summer garden.

Note the grade of the hill to the left we are 

half way between the top and the road.

We do not know the age of the building, but it is well made

and will make a great home for our chicks. 

The wood is a wonderful grey.

I will update as we fix er up for the girls.

Thanks for coming over.

Please leave a comment so I know you came.

May God Bless and Keep You.