(old picture of my buff rock)
I promised myself I would be patient. I did all my research so I knew it could be a while. Yet here I sit in anticipation of what you wonder?
Of eggs my friends.
I have 10 hens and 1 Rooster. Of those 10 hens, 4 of them are about 25-30 weeks old and laying DAILY since they were 18 weeks old (got to love those black star hens). There are 6 hens however, the ones that I have raised since they were tiny little peeps and loved with all my heart… Those 6 hens (2 Buff rocks, 2 gold sex links, and 2 New Hampshire’s) who [...]
Anticipaaaayaaaayshunnnn
Proof of Life
The sun has actually come out the last few days here at shmoopywood south. Not today mind you, but the 5 previous days it was mostly sunny with just enough rain to keep my bike in the garage! This has enabled things to bloom here. In fact, I actually saw a bumble bee yesterday helping me pollinate the cucumbers.
I am usually full of jokes, but today I want to talk about what is bothering me. You see, I am fearful because I have not yet seen some pretty important species… Starting with, honeybees… do you realize I have yet to see a honeybee this year???? Not A SINGLE ONE. To [...]
Model Spotlight: Pearl
Not long ago Dave and I decided we wanted to get a jump on egg production so we purchased 2 started pullets from MM. They came to us via this story (dude in my life, there is always a story). About a week after they came to live with us, they began to lay their cute tiny little eggs! Well now a month has passed and their eggs are larger. They are actually egg machines these two as they are laying pretty much daily. We were so excited about them and they came to us so healthy and vibrant, we actually got 2 more started pullets from MM [...]
Phyllis Diller Tour 2009
I wanted to keep you all updated on the situation that I referred to Here In case you were curious about what ever came of the drunken chicken. I have excellent news. We treated her 2 more times for mites and continued to feed her poly vi sol and a healthy feed and a VERY nice family (who also have great danes!) adopted her as an INDOOR chicken!! She is doing well and the family have named her … sarah.
Green eggs and ham
A few weeks ago, D and I were driving down the road and I noticed a sign that said “free pallets”. “Free Pallets? You love Pallets!” I exclaimed.
And so he does, and so we stopped and we took a couple pallets (read: as much as we could fit into the truck) and we were on our way. Fast forward to today. THE SUN CAME OUT!!! And off we went like little worker bees into the yard to do some long forgotten chores.
I gave up on the lettuce and the radishes(old) and pulled the wilted and eaten remains out, turned the soil and plopped in MORE lettuce, some more Tom [...]
Mensa Chickens
I have thought that my chickens are exceptional really the whole time we have had them. When they spill their water, or when they fill their feeder with litter, I am always defending them. No matter what Dave says I am all “no our chickens are geniuses, you don’t need to do that”. Between you and I though? I am really starting to wonder. Dave created these great roosts that fold up. They are specifically made for 6 chickens, 3 on the top, 3 on the bottom. Then on the other side of the coop there are other roosts for the other 5 chickens. Its not hard to figure out. [...]
Eggdicator
We have 2 chickens that have been laying only a few weeks so their eggs I am told, are to be small and as they get older and more “eggsperienced” (sorry) they will start laying larger eggs.
Every so often though.. we get an egg that will “tip” the scale…
here we have a store bought egg. No surprise here, the egg is eggstra large (sorry again really)
Now lets move to our “normal” egg.
As you can see, its edible, its usable, but it is rather small… puny if you will.
Well yesterday, Marge , who by the way is our smallest chicken, laid this:
I was Eggstatic and of course I had to share [...]
Loosey Goosie
Dave and I took a few days off from work to celebrate my birthday as well as get some things done. As you have seen in the last few weeks, Dave and I have finished the pen and the coop enclosures, we have a latch on the door that fits securely. Unfortunately it fits SO securely right now that we need a brick to smack the latch open.
Its been raining here in New Hampshire for what seems like weeks but we headed out early Thursday morning to go look at van’s. A van may not sound like the greenest vehicle we could drive but because we cannot [...]
Of Lessons Learned
I am going to tell you a story. Currently this story has no end, because its an ongoing story but I will be sure to fill you in as things move along.
I will begin my story with explaining that I am learning alot about myself in the process of becoming more “self sufficient”. One of the things I have learned is that I am pretty strong, but I am extremely stubborn. I do not necessarily jump into things but I engross myself completely in the research and when I think I “got it” then I go for it. Last weekend is an example of that.
Since beginning the chicken thing, I [...]
Whats up? Chicken Butt?
Its a long weekend and we did not go to the cabin poor swood… we will be there soon S-wood but right now we had some things at home we needed to get off our plate… such as… *insert cool music*THE COOP!!
Yes folks, it is almost done, the outdoor pen is just about completed… Thought we would share the progress with you! I will be interested to see if the girls know enough to go into their coop when it gets dark, we are about 45 minutes away from that moment. I may find myself running around trying to shoo the chickens up the tube. Who knows but [...]