Friday, March 28, 2008
Oops!
Just checked the blog for comments and noticed that picture of the chicks didn't load in my previous post. Sorry about that. Still a newbie at all this blogging. I don't have time to figure it out today. Too much to do getting ready to leave for spring break. My next post will be after we return from the trip. We get back on Thursday, late, and by Monday I might have chicks! My daycare kids are so excited! ME TOO! Love to all.
Monday, March 24, 2008
For Heather, my motivator!
I was just thinking I should write again when I checked the comments from the previous post. My dear cousin invited me to write some more. Thanks Heather!
This weekend I visited a friend's farm and toured their coop and incubator and brooder. The teenage boy of the family taught me so much about the kinds of equipment I need and where to get it. My husband made this contact for me and even said he'd go to the auction next weekend to look at buying some equipment. WOW! He's been reluctant so this is very cool.
I held my first grown up chicken. The Australorp breed pictured at the bottom of this page is the one the boy handed me. I was so excited. You can't believe how soft they are. The feet are kind of scaly and might take some getting used to, but that doesn't bother me. (Former science teacher, remember?) This sweet chicken just sat on my one hand while I supported her underneath with my other. Now this boy is more the farmer-type, these are egg layers and meat birds...not pets. My babies will be spoiled rotten and loved to pieces.
I set up my brooder as soon as I got home from the farm. It's on the basement in a little area with a counter up off the cold floor and easy for me to get to without bending over. The heat lamp is set up and ready to go. Now just waiting for the baby girls to arrive! I promise to post pictures eventually. For now here's one of what the babies will look like:
This weekend I visited a friend's farm and toured their coop and incubator and brooder. The teenage boy of the family taught me so much about the kinds of equipment I need and where to get it. My husband made this contact for me and even said he'd go to the auction next weekend to look at buying some equipment. WOW! He's been reluctant so this is very cool.
I held my first grown up chicken. The Australorp breed pictured at the bottom of this page is the one the boy handed me. I was so excited. You can't believe how soft they are. The feet are kind of scaly and might take some getting used to, but that doesn't bother me. (Former science teacher, remember?) This sweet chicken just sat on my one hand while I supported her underneath with my other. Now this boy is more the farmer-type, these are egg layers and meat birds...not pets. My babies will be spoiled rotten and loved to pieces.
I set up my brooder as soon as I got home from the farm. It's on the basement in a little area with a counter up off the cold floor and easy for me to get to without bending over. The heat lamp is set up and ready to go. Now just waiting for the baby girls to arrive! I promise to post pictures eventually. For now here's one of what the babies will look like:
Monday, March 17, 2008
This blog is designed for anyone interested in raising chickens for the first time, but wants to watch someone else do it first! I'm going to start raising chickens this spring and I'm so excited! I've been wanting to do this for years but could never convince my husband that it was a good idea. He's still not convinced...but I think I wore him down. :) I'm really a farm girl at heart so this is a great opportunity to explore that part of me.
On these sites I was able to learn all the particulars of this hobby, and even research the kinds of chickens that fit my needs. I wanted chickens who would be friendly, hardy in Michigan's climate and lay lots of eggs. So I chose Australorps and Barred Rocks. And last week I ordered 5 chicks of each breed. They will arrive early in April...after I return from my cruise (aren't you jealous!). So, here's what I need to do before the babies arrive at a local farm supply store.
1. I need to create a temporary chick home called a brooder. The chicks need a place that stays clean and warm and safe from predators. They don't get to go outside until they are about eight weeks old when the adult feathers are more pronounced. This brooder can be as simple as a cardboard box with a heat lamp, or something more hi-tech that you purchase. I'll be using a wire rabbit cage, inside a cardboard box. This will protect the fluffy babies from my cat (!) and the cardbaord will help me regulate the temp. It needs to be 95 degrees F the first week then 5 degrees cooler each week after. The chicks will tell you if they are too hot or cold because, so the websites say, they will huddle together under the heat lamp if the temp is too cold, or they will stay far apart at the edges of the brooder of they're hot. I will have a good thermometer in the brooder as well. I'll need pine shavings, chick food, a chick feeder dish, and a water supply. All these can be ordered from mypetchicken.com or from the local feed store.
2. I'll need to build a chicken coop for when the babies are old enough to be outside. We have an existing outbuilding that has an indoor/outdoor dog run. We'll be converting that part into the coop. For coop designs look at the websites I already mentioned. Each coop needs three components: nesting boxes where they'll lay an egg each day, roosting poles(1" dowels at different heights across one wall), and an outside area for exercise.
3. Contact my neighbors and let them know they can buy eggs later this summer. I think the chickens will be ready to start laying in August.
4. Keep reading and learning so I do this right!
OK, that's all for today...I'll give you another update and maybe pictures when I get the chicks!
I spent all winter researching the process of raising chickens. Two of my favorite sites are:
backyardchickens.com and mypetchicken.com
On these sites I was able to learn all the particulars of this hobby, and even research the kinds of chickens that fit my needs. I wanted chickens who would be friendly, hardy in Michigan's climate and lay lots of eggs. So I chose Australorps and Barred Rocks. And last week I ordered 5 chicks of each breed. They will arrive early in April...after I return from my cruise (aren't you jealous!). So, here's what I need to do before the babies arrive at a local farm supply store.
1. I need to create a temporary chick home called a brooder. The chicks need a place that stays clean and warm and safe from predators. They don't get to go outside until they are about eight weeks old when the adult feathers are more pronounced. This brooder can be as simple as a cardboard box with a heat lamp, or something more hi-tech that you purchase. I'll be using a wire rabbit cage, inside a cardboard box. This will protect the fluffy babies from my cat (!) and the cardbaord will help me regulate the temp. It needs to be 95 degrees F the first week then 5 degrees cooler each week after. The chicks will tell you if they are too hot or cold because, so the websites say, they will huddle together under the heat lamp if the temp is too cold, or they will stay far apart at the edges of the brooder of they're hot. I will have a good thermometer in the brooder as well. I'll need pine shavings, chick food, a chick feeder dish, and a water supply. All these can be ordered from mypetchicken.com or from the local feed store.
2. I'll need to build a chicken coop for when the babies are old enough to be outside. We have an existing outbuilding that has an indoor/outdoor dog run. We'll be converting that part into the coop. For coop designs look at the websites I already mentioned. Each coop needs three components: nesting boxes where they'll lay an egg each day, roosting poles(1" dowels at different heights across one wall), and an outside area for exercise.
3. Contact my neighbors and let them know they can buy eggs later this summer. I think the chickens will be ready to start laying in August.
4. Keep reading and learning so I do this right!
OK, that's all for today...I'll give you another update and maybe pictures when I get the chicks!
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