I hope these pictures load properly and forgive me for the low-grade photography skills. I should hire a couple of my cousins who are much better at this to come over for a photo shoot! But at least I can share pictures of the sweetest lil chicks taking over my laundry room. All they do right now is eat, drink, poop, and sleep. Sounds like any other baby, huh? They're a little scared to be held but they're getting used to it. If you look closely you can see the two different breeds, the Barred Rock and Australorps. One is almost all black with just a yellowish smudge on the top of the head and the other has lots more white and yellow on the belly. The all black ones are much smaller than the other. I have to admit, at the moment I can't remember which breed is which. But I'll figure it out and let you know.
One of the chicks is pretty assertive and has rushed at and pecked my hand when I reach in. I hope she doesn't turn out to be a rooster! My neighbors would not appreciate a noisy rooster so she/he will have to be adopted by a farmer friend if it happens. More later...
Friday, April 25, 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
They are here, but no camera until tonight. I promise to post photos soon of the cutest little fluffy-puffs you've ever seen! They're making that soft peeping almost non-stop and already found the water and food bowls on their own. Fascinating! It's so cute when they are standing and then suddenly fall asleep, falling over to let their beaks rest on the floor.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Coop in progress and still waiting
Well, the donated shed didn't work out so we're back at square one. The shed was huge and falling apart. Mike and I shopped at Lowes today and priced out the lumber needed. I think we may start building this weekend. (YAY!) I'll try to get pictures of that process. Should be interesting since neither of us is very good at carpentry. If any of our friends and family are reading this...you might get a phone call asking for advice or tools to borrow. :0)
I found some cool plans online for a 6'x6' coop that's 8 feet tall. Here's the link for those of you planning to start this hobby, like Diane! www.buildeazy.com/chicken_coop_8.html that will get you there and you can choose different parts of the plan to look over.
My brooder works! I heated up the heat lamp and got it to stay 95 degrees. Now we just need the chicks. While we wait I'll post a picture of my real baby chicks, my kids: Ryan, Jessie, and Parker. Also known as my coop cleaners! Now they're groaning in the background, reading over my shoulder, wish you could hear it!
I found some cool plans online for a 6'x6' coop that's 8 feet tall. Here's the link for those of you planning to start this hobby, like Diane! www.buildeazy.com/chicken_coop_8.html that will get you there and you can choose different parts of the plan to look over.
My brooder works! I heated up the heat lamp and got it to stay 95 degrees. Now we just need the chicks. While we wait I'll post a picture of my real baby chicks, my kids: Ryan, Jessie, and Parker. Also known as my coop cleaners! Now they're groaning in the background, reading over my shoulder, wish you could hear it!
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
More waiting!
I just called the feed store today who were supposed to order my chicks and have them ready for me when I got back from my cruise. I guess they tried to get a hold of me while I was gone to confirm my order. They didn't want to order the chicks without confirming that I wanted to pay extra to guarantee that they all were female. Only 30 cents a piece more and they couldn't just go ahead and do it. Now I have to wait two more weeks. UGH! It's only $3 more than what we originally planned! Oh well.
The brooder is ready...I even warmed it up last night to be sure it was all set. And I just got a call about someone's shed they want to donate to me. Have you heard of freecycle.org? It's this great site about passing on stuff you don't need to people who can use it. Like a classified ad but all free. I posted a request for an outbuilding or leftover building supplies and someone is letting me have a shed. CHICKEN COOP IS ON THE WAY!
The brooder is ready...I even warmed it up last night to be sure it was all set. And I just got a call about someone's shed they want to donate to me. Have you heard of freecycle.org? It's this great site about passing on stuff you don't need to people who can use it. Like a classified ad but all free. I posted a request for an outbuilding or leftover building supplies and someone is letting me have a shed. CHICKEN COOP IS ON THE WAY!
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:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
