Chickens in their new coop
2 nights ago we found a local ad for chickens - and took the plunge! The above not so good pic is of the 6 hens I bought from a local lady downsizing her flock - I also had 2 roosters (conditional to get the nicer hens) but had to give ‘em away for free - don’t think the neighbors would like the noise.
Got 2 Rhode Island Reds, 2 Barred Rocs, 1 Silver Laced Wyandote, and 1 unknown/mixed breed (very pretty too). The girls haven’t started laying eggs yet - I was told they won’t until they settle in - so maybe a week? Once they are laying eggs in there for a few days I’m gonna let them free range. Meanwhile I am searching for organic chicken feed because after a bit of research I found commercial feed has arsenic in it. Yuck!!
These chickens are only for their eggs - not meat (although I was told they are built for both). The other breed I’m looking for is called “Easter Eggers” - birds originally raised by Indiginous South Americans with blue, green, and sometimes even pink eggs - and a higher nutritional content than regular brown and whites (am all for that).
In my garden my beets and swiss chard are doing well - there is only one lonely green tomato left after my 2 year old daughters foraging - a ton of basil that is doing a bit too well and some broccoli still hanging on. The pumpkins are starting to come along and the sunflowers are looking pretty droopy. Any idea how to harvest seeds from them??
Alan's?? Hummingbird
Last night the air was full of hummingbirds, dancing in the air, and hovering by the feeder. This is the best shot I got - it was night time and my camera doesn’t work so good without sun - and you can see the pretty (albeit blurry) green body. They are different than the ones at my old house - I think these are Alan’s hummingbirds - and they are also larger. So pretty!
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow! On the 18th you weren’t talking about them but on the 22nd, you had them! That’s fast. I bet you’ve been thinking for a while. That’s awesome. I’ve been vetoed twice on getting chickens.
If you haven’t built a coop for them, take a look at GardenGirlTV’s Chicken Tractor (1 of 6), it shows you how to build a chicken tractor that allows you to move them from bed to bed to fertilize your garden beds.
Very cool! Can’t wait to hear how the eggs taste and how many you’re getting from the ladies!
Sinfonian - It was a really fast decision - we got a book the day we started talking about it and 2 days later found the chickens. I thought it would take a lot longer but it just came together. I wanted a goat but got vetoed on that LOL
Got Chickens?!! YES!!! Lucky you!!
I’ll be watching this project with GREAT interest.
I’d love to have some hens but we have cats so it would be a problem. I also know nothing about caring for them.
But, we have room. I could build a catproof coup. I could learn about keeping them. Look, I’m convincing myself already.
I’ve just got to work on Jan now, may need your assistance, pg.
Hey, take my advice and pass on the goat. I had one years ago and it drove me nuts with its constant bleating. I gave it back in the end.
Mick.
I read that, Mick.
PG, I’m jealous of your chickens, I would love to have some, and I’m sure our cats would, too. That’s why it’s a big no-no. We couldn’t keep them cooped up in a coup all the time, that’s as bad a battery hens. Besides which, we get free-range eggs from one of our neighbors. But good luck with your girls, I’ll look forward to a pic of your first egg.
Speaking of hummingbirds, a couple of nights ago we sat out on our porch quite late and saw our first hummingbird moth. At first I thought it was a hummingbird, but it was night time and dark, and then we realized what it was. It was pretty amazing, just like a hummingbird.
I am so excited for you, and so thrilled that you won’t be killing them. I love to eat chicken, but I don’t think I could kill my own chickens for the meat. But I am soo excited that you’re going to have eggs (hopefully). How much land do you guys have?
Cam and I want chickens to have eggs also, but he lives in a subdivision, so having chickens wouldn’t be a good idea. I would hate to coop them up… although how much space do they need? lol.
Maybe when Cam and I go back to Salt Lake, I’ll go beg for an egg from you. lol.
Enjoy your chickens!
just jumping in there with a little of everything.. animals.. feeders.. gardens.. fun!
I like your blog.. please come check out my new blog sometime where we post tips for landscaping, gardening and offer some free plants and images.
http://www.OnMyGreenThumb.blogspot.com
Just stopping by to let you know I’ve given you an award, but you’ll need to stop by my cooking blog to collect it.
http://range-warfare.blogspot.com
Mick & Jan - whoops hope I’m not causing a couples spat!!! Jan-I’ve never seen a hummingbird moth am jealous - ty for the reward
DP - we have about .28 of an acre - so I don’t think it’s enough to legally have chickens - is very hush hush at this point LOL
modeling agent’s daughter - ty for stopping by
If I could have chickens in my neighborhood—I would. I think they are pretty. I love fresh eggs. They taste so different. You should keep a chicken photo album for the first year– so your kids can document the progress and look back on it when they get older. They will love it some day.
Anna - I think I’ve had fresh eggs maybe once in my life. So sad. I want to get chicks - next year I think.
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