It's Official!

I’m a chicken hoarder.  How do I know?!  I placed an ad to sell some of the newly hatched chicks, and have had two people respond so far.  I "chickened" out and told them they were all taken.  I failed to mention by me….

Happy 25th Birthday Daughter #1

She was my first of many firsts as a Mom.  She was a joy from the very beginning.  Our first night at home she we slept for 14 hours.  This was after the nurse at the hospital told me I “had too many visitors and that she wouldn’t sleep at all for me now”.  I’ve said for the past 25 years, I should have called that old bag and told her she slept like a charm!

She had her very first broken bone at birth, a broken collar bone.  My delivery doctor was very sorry, as he didn’t hear or notice a thing during the delivery, and the break was not found until the following day during a routine physical.  There she was all bundled up with a sling on her arm.  It was sad, but she looked so darn cute! 

Needless to say she was the first grandchild in our family, and got more than her fair share of attention.  Daytime naps ended when she turned about 8 months old.  To this day, unless she’s sick, she never naps.  She’d never make a fuss about taking one, she’d just lay there and play with a toy, or when she was old enough, sneak out of bed and watch a movie.  More than likely it was Disney’s The Little Mermaid.  There she was, in a Little Mermaid dress, light brown curly hair, singing at the top of her lungs.  It just doesn't get better.  Until she asked if she could rewind and play it all over again.  Again Mom!  Again Mom!

She is a great older sister, and to this day is always watching out for her little sister.  I'm not sure the youngest truly appreciates this side of her sister, but she's always looking out for her.  School, homework, studying, and a gift for languages seemed to always come easy to her.  I know it really wasn’t easy, but her ability to absorb information did not come from my DNA, had to be the Moose.

She’s become a beautiful, charming young lady and we couldn’t be more proud.

Happy Birthday Daughter #1! 

Chick Update - 2013

We ended up with 16 hatched chicks.  Not sure about a couple, on whether or not they'll make it.  I have one with a "gimp" leg, and another that is not eating.  The one with the bad leg reminds me of Nugget from the original Hooligans.  She got around just fine, a bit slower, but she even laid eggs.  This one is also moving around, eating, drinking etc.  We'll give her another day or so to see how she does and make the tough decision if we have to. 

The sickly one, I'm trying to nurse throughout the day.  I have to try and save it if I can.   It's just me.  I'm sure some that read this would think it more humane to "do away with it", but I figure there's a reason God delivered her to me.

New Hatch has begun!

The eggs we put in the incubator 21 days ago have begun to hatch!  6 so far.  5 from the Hooligan side (Miss Corrie has three, and the other two are from Rose and/or Pennie) and 1 lonely White Orpington so far.  6 additional eggs have started pipping.  It's a happy day!

These 4 are part of the Hooligan's, right now they have black legs and beaks.  Don't know where in the genetic line that comes from.

This one is also from the Hooligan line. Looks just like a Production Red. 
 

Repurpose Project - Chicken Tractor

I promised a post regarding our recent (February) repurpose project, a bachelor pad for Monkey, and subsequently for Rooster Cogburn.  Neither rooster is people friendly.  They carry the same genes.  Funny how, reading up on the breed it mentions them, the Buckeye breed, as a good friendly breed.  I think they only looked at the hens, which are truly a delight.  Not so much for the roosters.  From day 2 of their little lives they were ornery.

Anyway, since we purchased the Horde of 19 Easter Eggers, and Monkey was an absolute ass about everything, he drew the short straw.  He was relocated.  We researched chicken tractors, looked online, and frankly I thought they were overpriced for the amount of and type of materials and labor needed to build one.  I also wasn’t happy with the quality or safety.  After our event last summer, safety is a huge issue. http://www.theschultzcompound.blogspot.com/2012/07/rest-in-peace-hooligans.html

How we got to this repurpose project;

We ran in to a really good deal on tile for our home.  The tile came in 4 wooden crates.  Those crates sat full in our garage for a couple of weeks, when the Moose came up with the idea of using those crates to create a bachelor pad.  They are heavy duty crates, and when flipped upside down become the right height for chickens to sit under and scratch throughout the day.  Especially for one incredibly grumpy rooster.  It also provides additional security with the cross pieces.

The Moose purchased some scrap pieces, about $30.00, from the local hardware store.  Along with a few pieces already at The Compound, that’s all we have invested in a total of TWO chicken tractors.

 

 

 

 

 

They have flip up sides, so we can get in and out for feed and water.  Chicken wire runs around the bottom perimeter, and we place concrete blocks on those to keep animals from digging under.  Every week or so, they are moved to a new green, grassy area.

 

 

 

 

 

After Rooster Cogburn decided to fight with Pig Pen, he has a new residence as well.  I’m sure they are not happy being alone at this point.  We do have plans to expand them, so we can breed them with some of our girls when the time is right.   We also have a set of wheels to install, still to be worked on.  We’ll let you know how that goes…

Not bad for about 30 bucks!

Just too Darn Busy

We've just been too darn busy to do much posting lately.  So, you'll get a little more than a week in pictures.. 

Miss Izzy's just the best dog with chickens!

Just stopping by to look at Miss Izzy.

Sharing Miss Izzy's water.

Reminds me of a Sesame Street song, "one of these things is not like the others, one of these things just isn't the same".

How comfortable is she? 

I wonder what Miss Corrie's thinking?

The Horde, you can see some are getting their beards and ear muffs.

Rooster Cogburns bachelor pad.  A repurpose project.