Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Coop Swag and Eggs, Eggs Eggs

A chicken mom always has something to do in the chicken zone, well at least in my zone anyway.  I did my monthly coop clean on Saturday as I am having family in this coming week and I want to DAZZLE them with my coop and my chickens.  A clean coop is just a clean coop, who would even notice?  But you kick it up a notch and add some swag, people will notice.




Just a plain coop window
With a little fabric, a staple gun, scissors and some love this is what you can accomplish...........

A lovely window


Window #2
I had bought some marked down lace, cut it in half and then half again.  Stapled it above window (from under the fabric, so it would fall down over staples) Took my scissors and cut up the middle and then I cut some strips of a cut green primitive fabric for the tie backs. 

I also wanted to decorate the nesting boxes.

So cute!!


Love!!!!!!!!

For the boxes I took some fabric and cut it length wise, and staples it above the boxes as I had with the windows.  Then I cut vertically at each nest box divider, then vertically again in the center of each nesting box. They took some more strips of the green and made tie backs. 

Then I put fresh hay back into the coop, filled the waterers and food containers, they all were so excited to check it out.  Well except Will, he really could have cared less.

Eggs, eggs, eggs............... I have been saving eggs for when my family comes so they are equally as dazzled with eating eggs as I am. (I dazzle easily)  Yesterday when I got home I went out to gather eggs and was met with one.  One loan egg, at first I thought maybe B. already gathered them, then I remembered Saturday and the landscaped area of the chicken zone. (I found one egg and a broken egg)  So I walked over and this is what was waiting for me............

Four eggs laid in the wild


And this makes Five!

I do not know who is laying outside but believe you me, there is now a coop cam aimed right there!

Biggest bounty yet

My hatching eggs will be arriving this week, so the dazzling will continue when they see eggs incubating in my kitchen.  I~CANNOT~WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!

My etsy shop is now open, I have a few bath and body and laundry items in so far.  Go check it out!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ThePrimHen











Friday, February 22, 2013

Jenny my sole Silkie

February 21, 2013

Yes, my calendar has chickens on it.

But more importantly the day I have been waiting for since July 8, 2012 - My Jenny laid her first egg. I am so proud I could burst. 

The cream one

Sadly ~ my trail camera was not working due to battery failure! (Note to self order "C" rechargeable batteries"

Jenny is the black ball of fur behind Will~I ~Am

Jenny is the cutest thing I have going in the chicken zone.   The way she walks, the way she just doesn't even care that she is so much smaller then the rest.  The way she mothered Mo and Sno and the way she still roosts with them.  The other night on post-dark chicken patrol we saw Mo roosting right next to Jenny with her wing up and over Jenny.  It was cold here, down in the 40's, I guess Jenny was cold. 

Last night on patrol I had to pick her up and cuddle and kiss her.  I don't think she weighs 5 pounds and she made an egg come out of her body!!  I always thank my girls everyday! I almost want to put a bow in her fro!

So to date, I have five (5) layers. Nothing consistent yet though, mostly two (2) a day.  But my egg basket is filling.  I have family coming down next week and I want to make them all a huge breakfast using the eggs my girls have laid. It is such a great feeling knowing that my Dad is going to sit at my table and eat eggs that my chickens laid.  He always asks how they are all doing!  I think he sometimes wonders about my sanity. 

Thanks for visiting!!




Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Chickens, Celery and Crafts

I have become mildly obsessed with Will~I~Am.  Before I had chickens my thoughts on roosters merely added up to the cock~a~doodle~do they make.  In my neighborhood we have a few, I have no idea where they are and I am hoping that goes for everyone that hears Will do his shout out. I hope no one knows where he is. He is so handsome I just do not want to remove him from my flock.  Roosters have a serious job and he takes his responsibilities to heart. He is always on the look out for unsavory characters that may do harm to his girls, he is always roaming about making sure they are all OK and well.  He puts the smack down on Rogue almost daily, (and yet Rogue comes back almost daily) I think Rogue wants to belong so badly, and I don't mind, I will adopt him and feed him and love him and call him my own. But Will's main love is posing in front of my trail camera that is set up outside directed towards the front gate of the chicken zone.  He is literally in almost every shot, standing up on a pile of paver blocks as though he is standing court.

Will ~ I ~Am

Will

When I go out to check for eggs after work and say hello they all come running towards me.  They are used to the treats I often bring.  Will is always in the front of the pack but keeps his distance.  I want so bad to pick him up and snuggle him.

No snuggling allowed

I have ordered some hatching eggs ~ Six (6) Lavender Orpingtons, Six (6) New Hampshire Reds and Six (6) Salmon Faverolles.  They are shipping out to me next week and I am wanting to set them the 1st for a weekend hatch in March. 

Now for the garden........... CELERY!  Who knew really?  How flipping easy it is to grow celery?  Not me that's for sure.  We cut a few stalks off last night for tuna fish.

Celery

Very tasty celery

On the crafty front I have opened an Etsy store to sell some things I am making.  So far there is soap and sugar scrub up.  All natural, lovely smelling and quite nice. You can see my store here - The Prim Hen
I really enjoy making the soap, I thought it would be a challenge but it really is easy once you do your homework and you make sure you have all your supplies on hand.  The benefits of using homemade soaps are endless, all natural, no chemicals, your choice of smells and additions. 


Lavender Oatmeal Soap 

More flavors coming SOON!!!!

Lavender Sugar Scrub

I have also made an all natural Laundry Whip that I have been using and LOVE!  So clean and fresh. A fabric Softener is in the testing stages and some Prim Home Accents are in the works.

With the ONE year birthday of this little handsome man, time is limited with the planning of the party!

The Ring Master turning ONE!!!!

Thank you for visiting and come back soon!!

















Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Coop Cleaning, Chickens and Cats

Which one of the above do not belong? Well in the chicken zone, I mean.

Cats............... Now let me start by saying we have cats, in fact we have more then a few kitty cats. My cat collection (NOT hoarding) started with an article in the paper saying (and I DO NOT quote) "To many adults cats, come get one for free or we will kill them" Sounded more like a hostage situation then a plea for help.  But I called my daughter and we drove up to a county NORTH of here and went inside.  I have always wanted a smooshed faced kitty cat.  They didn't have any. But I found my Isabelle.

Isabelle

She is a snowshoe kitty. She is very friendly and loyal.  Then came some more kitties, I wanted another like Izz ~ and was convinced to take sisters. So that was Brittney and Santana. (Yes, Glee, No, I didn't name them) Next was the poor little guy that was skin and bones and declared mean at the Cat (hoarding location) ooops I mean Shelter. His name is Benz and he followed me around and kept looking at me with those "I know you are a sucker, take me home pleeeeeeeese" eyes.

Benz

Yes I finally got my smooshed face kitty cat. I kept him, yes, I just took him one day to "fatten" him up and I kept him. How can you not love this face?  I could write an entire blog about Benz and his faces. But then I would be digressing.

After Benz, B and I decided to rescue this little boy that was failing quickly, not eating, being picked on, yatta yatta yatta.  Yea they saw me coming a frickin mile away.  Little Tucker is a a tiny little tuxedo boy, but we cannot leave with just one kitten, nooooooooooooo, B saw an orange dude that he kinda fancied. So now we have Isabelle, Brit, San, Tucker, Tiereny and that night, and I am NOT making this up, the night we brought Tucker and Tierney home the dogs treed Fergus and Fiona. Two little feral brother/sister kittas that were literally scared stuck.  We climbed a ladder and got them. We decided to find them a home.  OURS! Gahhhhhhh. 

So clearly I like cats, but when the feral cats in my neighbor's yards are climbing my fence and doing recon on my chickens something has to change.  So I bought the Predator Lights from Amazon. Put them out, apparently cats could give a crap about a red blinking light.  

Last night I went outside to close the door to the run after dark.  The chickens had already roosted and that door shuts automatically.  I closed the door, latched it and heard a rustling noise.  I stood up straight and ready to run, shown my big ass mag light around and I see movement, in the run.  Holy FRICK!!!!!!!!!! It is a kitten.  NO NO NO I am saying NO NO no more. I unlocked the gate and out it ran. Closed the door again and latched it. Heard the same FRICKIN noise again. Now I am peeing myself.  Unlocked the gate and opened it and another freaked-out kitten comes flying out of the run. A larger cat had been standing guard on the fence and he bailed as soon as I opened the fence to the chicken zone. I stood there for a bit and then decided the coast was clear, no more flippin cats in the run.  Went inside, told B and then worried all night that one was hiding and upon sunrise it would be completely manic and kill all of my chickens in the run area. 

No, that did not happen, but I have to figure this cat situation out.  Hungry cats will kill my chickens while free ranging and then it will get ugly!  Just sayin.  
The cats are feral, my neighbor feeds them but doesn't spay or neuter them. So it is kitten palooza around my area.  I so want to call animal control, but cannot do it, that's just a sad end for the cats. Do I trap and relocate, or otherwise known as passing your troubles to another. Do I put razor wire up along fence?  What oh what do I do?

I did a major coop clean over the weekend, everything was removed and hosed down, then spritzed with a water/bleach mixture and left to dry.  After everything was dry I sprinkled DE everywhere, and I mean EVERYWHERE. Then put all new fresh hay in for the chickens.  All the waste was put into an empty garden box to compost. 

Prior to my coop cleaning, whether it be a major or a general one, I wear my chicken boots, gloves, a mask and eye protection. I had an eye infection two months ago that was NASTY, and the only thing I could link it to was not wearing goggles and touching my eye with chicken hands. I would post a picture of my eye in full rage but this isn't that kind of blog. Trust me it~was~gross!

So wear your safety protection and use it all ONLY for cleaning your coop.  I keep my boots in my garage and then rest of the gear is in the shed by the coop. 

When I clean out my coop I make sure to keep an eye out for little tiny pests such as mites, ants, fleas, etc. DE will usually handle that situation, so I keep a huge galvanized garbage can full of it on hand.  I sprinkle it liberally inside and outside around the perimeter of the coop. Ants Ants Ants.  Always a problem here in Florida.  The chickens don't seem to mind, but when I pick up a paver and there are 40 kazillion ants under it all carrying eggs, I gotta TERMINATE! I use the DE instead of chemicals because ~ well my chickens might nibble on that piece of grass I just coated in chemical warfare.

So there we have it, Cats and chickens ~ not normally a good mix, and in my case, I declare war.................
Tonight it is on like Donkey Kong. Water bottle or maybe a hose and flash light perimeter watch.


Friday, January 25, 2013

Sno, my beautiful little white Amerucana


I want to share a little story about one of my hens.  Her name is Sno, I got her and her sister Mo after one of my Silkies went to the big coop in the sky.  I didn't think Jenny would do good alone, so I rushed off to Griff's and got two baby chicks. Both Amerucanas.  Sno was the only pure white one and ~ well I had to have that one and then we picked mo, because she had a black patch in her head that looked like a mohawk.  That lasted about a month and then it was gone.

Snow and Mo have been raised by my Jenny, they always nestled next to her and roosted with her when they got bigger.  They were so much smaller than she was, but being a Batam Silkie Jenny is now dwarfed by Sno and Mo.
Jenny and Sno
That is Jenny and Mo, right when I introduced them.  I am sure Jenny was like "what the heck is this thing?". But she quickly started mothering them.  Never a peck or a squawk towards them.

Jenny and Mo

They all stayed in the brooder until Mo and Sno had their feathers and then I put them in the little coop.  I didn't want to throw them right in with Carrie and Miranda, they were already established and HUGE!!!

So after about another month after it was dark and I put all three into the big coop, I call it the "slip 'em in while they are asleep" tactic.  They all wake up and would be like, "Yo who are you?" "Dude I have been here forever, you are losing it"

It worked, they all five get along great.  In fact sometimes they all roost side by side. Carrie laid her first egg November 25, 2012, Miranda followed about 3-4 weeks later. 

Then on Wednesday January 23, 2013 I came home and gathered eggs, there were THREE! I was sure I collected late the night before so I knew I had a mystery layer. I had a mystery to solve and by golly I grabbed my Nancy Drew hat and I dug right in.  I gathered DNA, took finger prints, made mold castings of foot prints. It was on, on like Donkey Kong.  

Three blue eggs, the brown is a wooden one
Apparently I was so excited I could not hold camera still


Actually I popped out the SIM card of the trail camera I set up in the coop aimed right at box number one, the one Carrie and Miranda use. Ran into the house, and put it in my computer to find the frame that told who dun it!

Thanks to technology mystery solved, time date and temperature recorded  

This picture is the exact moment she stood up after laying her very first egg.  I am so proud..........tear!

She was hatched sometime at the end of July 2012 or the beginning August 2012, I got her on the 24th, and she had to have been a few weeks old before they sell them.  So the wait is on for Mo to start laying.  Jenny should be close too. So roughly 5-1/2 - 6 months old when she laid her first egg. 

I have since bought two more cameras for outside when they are free ranging. I want to see more of what Rogue does during the day when mine are in their run and he is outside looking in.

This weekend is my first official "Super Duper Coop Clean", I am going to remove all hay, feeders and pressure wash the coop and spritz some bleach, rinse and let dry.  Once dry I will sprinkle some DE about and re hay the coop.  Chickens do not really smell per say, but the poop is I guess what people complain about being so smelly.  I dump and clean off the poop tray weekly and I don't think I ever say "OMG these things stink". I smell their bodies more then the poop actually.  But that has that warm animal smell.  But then again when you compare three Labradors and one cock-a-poo's poop everything smells good.  The big dogs - WOW!!!!! I feel like I am on constant poop patrol, chickens, dogs and cats. POOP POOP POOP!

The pressure wash plan was hatched (pun intended) after my neighbor two doors down pressure washed his sidewalk.  NOW I have to do mine, and since I will have it out, may as well do the back patio and end out the day with a coop clean. (I will probably start with the coop so it can dry before dark).

If you are interested in joining a fantastic chicken community group on facebook please type into the search bar ~ Annmarie Fino.  Friend request her and you can join this group, we are hoping to form a little community 
Here is what the creator has to say about it:

ATTENTION: South Florida areas of Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe, and Collier County.We are attempting to build a network of chicken friends, breeders, and backyard enthusiasts for production birds, pets, and show in the (very south) South Florida areas of Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe, and Collier County.Once we have a group of 5 or more, we would like to begin immediately with workshops, backyard tours, and swaps so that we can learn from each other, and share resources and support.Will you please help us find others in our area by promoting our new Facebook group via this search term ...SoFlo Chick N Friends or contact me directly through private message on BYC.I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S HELP!XOXO ANNMARIE







Monday, January 21, 2013

Three Months Hiatus....................

Wow, the holidays kept me so busy, with a new grandson and all that good stuff! I hope that everyone had a safe and happy holiday season.

I have been busy crafting, gardening and chicken wrangling. Not so much wrangling except for those two times, more just sitting and watching them do what chickens do and getting to know all of their personalities.

CHICKENS 
Well since I posted last Carrie laid the first egg on November 25, 2012

Carrie's first egg

I was laying in bed on that Sunday, the windows were open since we were having a cold front. All of a sudden I heard chicken screaming, not the "we are getting attacked" noise but more of a "OMGOSH this hurts" noise. I knew what it was as soon as I heard it.  But I didn't count my eggs before they laid, oh no I got up and ready for church in my normal mode and when I went out to the coop ~ THERE IT WAS!!!!!!!!!
A little tiny perfect blue egg. So proud.

Since then we have had two layers, Carrie and Miranda.  This past Sunday I gathered two small eggs, not sure if I have a third layer or missed Miranda's egg the night before.  They use the same nesting box, out of six, they use just the first one.

We had to build a chicken fence to keep the dogs from terrorizing the chickens and also wanted them to have free range time as much as possible.



Coop Fence
Here it is partially complete, it is finished, I just failed to take a photo.  We also have a rouge chicken that comes into the yard. "My milkshake brings all the boys to my yard" or rather 
my chickens bring all the ................... you know where I am going with that.  Anyway, I named it Rouge, I am still not sure whether it is a roo or a hen.  I think it is a wild chicken though, looks like my Amerucanas do, but skinny and just different.  It hasn't held still enough to take a photo, but it is getting more used to me, this morning I was out there and it stayed rather then running away. 

Speaking of roos...............  Willow ~ one of my Buff Orpingtons that I hatched well, now it's Will I Am ~ like the dude from The Black Eye Peas. He is a lovely rooster that has yet to crow, but two out of two experts (myself and my chicken partner in crime) agree that this IS a rooster.

Will I Am

I hatched that handsome fellow!!  The chickens have been free ranging while I am home and they really love it. (Please note that in this photo you will see two orange 5 gallon buckets, they are covering sprinkler heads that would drench the coops, so until I get them capped, we have buckets) Don't judge.

Free Range

I haven't yet put down mulch over the sand, so I have been putting the hay from the nesting boxes down when I clean out the coop. Honestly I don't think they care one way or another, as long as they can scratch they are happy, and a worm or grub BONUS!!! They have the whole side of the house (top of pic) and more space behind where I was standing to take the pic. That is Will I Am and Jenny in the fore ground, Mo and snow and one of the Cookoo Marans with either Carrie or Miranda. 

And so you know, one person ~ even with a pool net CANNOT catch a chicken that doesn't want to be caught. Ever.

GARDEN

The garden has been a huge learning experience, I haven't learn near enough yet though.  South Florida is a challenge to grow veggies.  To date I have harvested; tomatoes, broccoli, a few beans, peppers, cauliflower, carrots, lettuce and the ever popular dollar weed! Most of the crops grew and grew and then overnight died. Such as squash and zucchini, in fact I had actual vegetable growth and starts for both and then overnight it seemed the whole plant died. The carrots were bitter, the chickens enjoyed the green parts and I gave the carrots to a friend with a bunny. We ate the cauliflower, broccoli, banana peppers, lettuce and  tomatoes too,  but now I am down to only tomatoes.  I have been giving the chicken the actual plants they love the green parts!

Cauliflower 

Fresh veggies!


CRAFTINESS

I was super crafty for Christmas, I made almost all the gifts I gave. Cookie recipe in a jar, cinnamon ornaments, beeswax candles, spice simmer and dish clothes.  I also made a new wreath for my front door.

Christmas Wreath 2013


Over this past weekend I tried my hand at soap making and last week I made laundry detergent.  I have to also give props to the inventor(s) of Pinterest.  Such wonderful inspiration!!!!!!!!!!  Thank you.

So I made this laundry sauce as it was called, mine came out more like laundry whip, which has a pretty cool ring to it. And I do not mean ring around the collar.  Anyway, I will be selling it in my etsy store once I have that all up and running, I am in testing mode right now.  If it doesn't test well I won't sell.  But here is a little before and after, yes the pictures were not taken in the same room, but the only lighting was the flash. 

Before Laundry Whip

And here is the after

After

The reason I took after pics in another room was so I could put all four dog beds together, did not think to do that before. The whip has the purest, cleanest, freshest smell ever.  Even better than fresh cut grass!!!

Cold Process Soap.  I had to, just had to, I love homemade soap so much I had it stocked piled from when I would go to New Hampshire. Lately though, non, zilch, nada.  I had to resort to commercially made soap. (Kicking rocks) So I did my research, I read books, blogs, looked at Pinterest until I am officially addicted to it.  But over this past weekend I officially became a soap maker.  Can I have an AMEN! Now mind you soap takes four weeks or more to cure, so the testing will have to wait, but during clean up there were some bits and pieces left on the mold and who am I to waste so I washed my little hands with the bits.  Even 24 hours into the cure I had lather, I had softness and most important I have a great smelling guest room now.  The soap is in there curing. 

Soap in the molds

The soap is Lemon Lavender Oatmeal Soap

Curing

Curing 

I also tried my hand at making a sugar scrub and a chicken suet ring, unfortunately no pictures yet.

So that is a few months all wrapped up into a few paragraphs, you are probably sitting there thinking she did like four things, she totally could have blogged more.  You are right, I could have, but things happen, things change, people need to readjust to what is going on in their worlds. 

Thanks for visiting and come back soon.


















Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Coop and Flock Care


Southern Coop Care

Having chickens in the South brings on a different level of care and maintenance for housing your chickens.

We don’t have to worry about cold temperatures or freezing water in South Florida, in fact we introduce frozen water in the dead of summer to give our chickens a much needed break from the heat. Kind of a chicken a/c unit ~ hanging frozen bottles of water. They emit a small amount of cooler air.  During summer months it is not unusual for our temperatures to reach 100 degrees.  Our winter months run pretty warm with temps often above 80 degrees.

Some things to keep in mind when securing your coop and run:
·         Be predator-proof, not just from the sides, but from above and below as well. Make sure the “holes” in your fencing or hardware cloth are as small as possible.
·         Be secure from nasty rodents that will be attracted to the feed and droppings. Rodents are burrowing creatures, so you need to block them from slipping into the coop from below. If you coop doesn't have a floor, you need to bury small-mesh fencing down into the ground about 12" all around the coop. 
·         Be breezy enough to prevent respiratory diseases, to which chickens are especially prone.
·         Be easy to clean so bugs and bacteria don't fester.
·         Provide "roosting poles" for your flock to sleep on (2" wide; rounded edges; allot 5-10" of space per bird side to side and 10" between poles if more than one is necessary; plus ladder-like grading so the pole furthest away is several inches higher than the closest).
·         Encourage egg-laying with 1 nest box for every four or five chickens. Nest boxes should be raised off the ground at least a few inches, but lower than the lowest roosting pole. They should also be dark and "out of the way" to cater to the hen's instinct to lay her eggs in a safe, place.
·         Be roomy: at least 4 square feet per bird if birds are able to roam freely during the day, and at least 10 square feet per bird if they are permanently confined.
·         Supply a feeder and waterer, which should hang 6-8" off the ground.
·         Include a removable "droppings tray" under roosting poles for capture and easy disposal of droppings.





Here is how I maintain my coop in order to keep it clean, safe and healthy for my girls:


1)    I had to ensure firstly that they are safe in their home.  In order to keep predators out and them in I laid paver blocks around the perimeter of the coop, this ensures that nothing can dig under and they cannot dig out.  I also buried small mesh hardware cloth in the ground BEFORE assembly of our coop. We have free range cats in my neighborhood, I often see them in our yard, and we all know how cats love chicken ~ right?  Dogs, opossums, cats, rodents and raccoons have all been spotted around the area.  In order to keep them all from harming my chickens I constantly check for any possible openings in the coop and run. 
Did you know that mice and rats can harm your chickens while they roost at night?  Chickens naturally become unable to defend themselves when the sun goes down; their bodies go into a form of hibernation.  The rodents can come right up to them and nibble on feathers and toes, well actually any part of their cute little bodies.   So making sure there are no possible openings is very important to assuring your flocks safety.
2)    Day time vs. night time ~ your chickens enjoy being outside as much as possible.  They have so many outdoor activities they partake in.  Such as digging for bugs, scratching about, dust bathing, and the popular weed eating. Night time is meant for sleeping, your chickens will naturally roost when the sun goes down. Keeping them safe is as easy as closing the door from the run to the coop.  You may have to guide them to the roosting area a few times, after that it becomes second nature.  Sun down = inside coop.  Once they are all inside for the night you can close their door.  My coop from Horizon Structures has a dusk to dawn automatic door.  This upgrade pays for itself in about one minute of the sun setting.  When the sun rises it opens like magic and outside they all scamper to start their activities.
3)    Coop cleaning is an essential part of maintain your flock. You don’t have to clean the coop daily or even weekly, but you should do a complete coop clean once a month.  Chicken waste can build up and create an excess of ammonia that hinders the air quality of your coop.  I am able to leave the windows and vent areas open all year, allowing for a good cross ventilation for the girls. Once a month I gather my cleaning supplies and do a thorough clean.  I remove all food and water containers and scrub them with hot soapy water and a drop or two of bleach.  I remove all the bedding from the nesting boxes and floor area inside the coop.  I don’t know about your chickens but pooping in the nesting boxes is a favorite thing to do.  Since they at some point will start laying in those boxes it is imperative to keep waste out of them.  I remove the “cleaner coop” tray and clean that with hot soapy water and a touch of bleach as well.  After it is dry I can replace it.  The area under the roosting bars is a hot bed of yuck! This part is the hardest to keep clean, but it is essential to remove the waste.  I use a long handled brush and a long handle dust pan.  Once everything old is out of the coop I spray a mix of one part bleach, one part dish soap and ten parts water on all the surfaces.  I allow the entire inside to dry completely before replace the “cleaner coop tray” and new bedding.  I also sprinkle Diatomaceous Earth everywhere.  DE is a natural ant deterrent as well as mites and other little creepy crawlies.  I decided a while ago that my hens needed to know what the nesting boxes are actually for ~ EGG LAYING.  I have in each one a wooden egg, lead by example right? The bedding I use is pine shavings, NEVER use hay, it molds far too quickly and puts off a dust that can harm their respiratory systems.  Straw can also be used.
4)    What do I do with all the used bedding? You ask.  Well you can use it as a compost for your garden or you can dispose of it like you would your yard waste. I use it as compost occasionally but mostly have to put it out to the trash pickup in our yard waste receptacle. Pine shavings do not break down very fast so unless you have a huge compost area you will have an abundance of used chicken bedding. However when placing it in your garden area you are guaranteed a nice surprise crop of plants.  I currently have a 4X4 bed of sunflowers and some sort of squash or melons.  Once the sunflowers are done blooming they will once again be returned to the chickens for a nice treat. The circle of poop!

As far as a run vs. free ranging this is entirely up to you.  Everyone has a different yard or land.  I live in a suburban/urban area. Keeping my coop odor free is a top priority to me, so that my neighbors are not inconvenienced by my chickens.  Consideration is always appreciated; it will go a long way in keeping your chickens on your property. My girls currently enjoy their run and also the under coop area is a favorite.  I have the under coop enclosures to keep them safe.  A note to consider, chickens and long term grassy areas in an enclosed area are NOT compatible. Once I put the girls into their new home the grass in the run and under the coop was completely gone in less than a week. My coop is not portable so there is no moving it to a better location.  Chickens naturally scratch the ground to find bugs, worms and seeds. Eventually we will have a low 4’ fence built so that I can free range them occasionally.  Currently I am unable to allow them this freedom, as our four dogs think that the chickens are fun moving targets.  One tragedy was one to many.
Rest in peace Abigail.

I have a friend that can allow her chickens to roam her entire back yard whenever she chooses. I really do enjoy watching them do what chickens do when they have almost endless possibilities.  

Following these easy guidelines will go a long way towards keeping your flock safe, happy and healthy.  After all a happy flock is a productive flock. Well, or so I am told, raising chicks from hatch really does provide a long wait for that first egg.

Do you have a chicken first aid kit? The first time I ever needed a first aid kit was when my son was just a wee little boy. I am not sure if the first “emergency” was the pressure treated splinter or the penny up the nose. But ever since then I have had a first aid box ready to go. The kids are grown and on their own and their first aid kit is now the doggy first aid kit.  Surprising as it may be they both require a lot of the same items. Now I also have my chicken first aid box.  Knock on wood – there has been no need for me to use it. (I hope I am not jinxing myself).
  

Every chicken owner should have the following on hand in the event of a sick or injured chicken:


Vetericyn vitamins & electrolytes, epsom salt, non-stick gauze pads, Vetwrap, gloves, Epsom salt, sterile scalpels, tweezers, scissors and Duramycin, antibiotic ointment, Nutri-Drench and povodine-iodine. During an urgent, medical situation, acquiring supplies should not be the priority.

PLEASE NOTE: It is very important that the antibiotic ointment used on chickens NOT contain a PAIN KILLER. Any ingredient ending in “caine” or “cane” (eg: benzocaine, lidocaine) can be harmful, if not fatal to chickens.
Some other items you may wish to keep in a more extensive medical kit for your chickens are: 
  • a flashlight
  • dog nail clippers
  • styptic powder 
  • Popsicle sticks
  • Preparation-H cream 
  • Superglue 
  • Old towels
  • Rubber gloves
When I was getting ready for my first hatch I was co-hatching with my chicken friend in crime.  She had a egg that hatched with a broken yolk and the chick was in distress, so she had to QUICKLY gather up some general first aid items in hopes of saving her little chickie. After the emergency was averted she called me and told me to “get the following ready – this is a 911 situation”.
My hatch medical supplies are as follows:
·         Towel to work on
·         Alcohol
·         Tweezers
·         Q-Tips
·         Paper Towels
·         Extra towels
·         Sharp scissors
·         Rubber gloves
·         Flash light
·         Gauze pads
·         Cotton balls
I did not need any of it, but was comforted to have them available.  Hatches are stressful for the chicks as well as the human. Better to be safe than sorry.
Prevention is the key to keeping your flock healthy.
·         Keep water dishes clean and food dry and contained.
·         Manage you coop in such a way to minimize health risks (sanitation and number of chickens).
·         Although chickens love your kitchen scraps, beware of what you give them. Do not feed moldy or rotten foods.
·         Spend time with your flock and observe their behaviors, poop, and physical characteristics. If there is a problem, catching it early is key! If you find a sick bird, be sure to isolate it from the flock.
·         Some possible symptoms to look for indicating injury/illness/disease include: Coughing, wheezing, labored breathing, warts/scabs, swollen joints, loss of feathers, reduced egg production, thin egg shells, fever, abscesses or open wounds, paralysis, twisting of neck/head, discharge from nose/mouth, diarrhea/blood in stool, not eating/drinking, weight loss, retarded growth, lack of coordination, enlarged abdomen.
Even when you follow proper care habits however, injury and disease/illness can still strike your flock. Many chicken keepers feel helpless when they have a sick bird, and it can be difficult to find an avian vet that specializes in chickens. Many chicken diseases also present similar symptoms, so diagnosis and treatment can be tricky. Here are some resources to help you learn about chicken illnesses, injuries, and disease.
What’s wrong with my chicken?
While many diseases present similar symptoms, the following resources may help you in identifying what is wrong with your bird.
·         Common Poultry Diseases (w/ diagnostic charts of clinical signs) from the University of Florida IFAS Extension


Getting your chickens used to being handled as early as possible is a good idea; I did not do this – so please learn from me.  My friend handled her chickens daily and they literally come running as soon as they see her.  I am working on the “treat bribery system” I came up with.  (Offer treats to trick them into coming to me) So you know this tactic takes a long long time to see results. I honestly believe that allowing them to free range early on would have helped this, as getting them out of their coop/run is a feet within itself.  Chickens are not naturally trusting creatures.  (We can thank Coronal Sanders for that little bit of truth)

Here is a list of safe treats that your flock would enjoy: (Not all chickens enjoy the same things, so trial and error to see what your flock enjoys)


I am an avid user of the BACKYARD CHICKEN website.  You can answer practically any question you may have. It is a wealth of information that anyone can use.




I offer my flock meal worms often, I also have my own little worm factory that I am able to provide live red wigglers to my girls. They love the excitement of the chase as much as they love the worms. The worm factory allows me to use kitchen waste that I would not offer my flock and thus keeping it out of the landfills. I got my worm factory from Gardeners Supply http://www.gardeners.com/Worm-Factory-Composter/39-424,default,pd.html.

So there you have it, coop care, chicken care and a side of healthy snacks for your flock. I hope you have enjoyed this posting and hope to see you back soon for more chicken topics.  If you have a subject you would like to see addressed please let us know.  Also if you have any questions you can contact me my leaving a comment below.