chickens

92 articles
Do Our Chickens Pay for Themselves?

Do Our Chickens Pay for Themselves?

When you keep chickens, you have to take care of them.  You have to water them, clean out their coop, feed them and collect their eggs.  You can also ooohhh and aaahhh over the chick cuteness, pick them up, pet them, give them treats and laugh at their antics, but those are happy options and not necessities.We jumped into keeping…
August 14, 2011
Pecking Order

Pecking Order

It's official!  Our Newbies are laying!!!  Yesterday we got 6 eggs from 7 chickens!!!  We are so incredibly excited!!!The one downside to this whole thing is that one of our Newbies hasn't figured out that you need to leave the Originals alone when they're trying to lay.  It's not a party, it's a private thing.Tool Lady found this Newbie in…
August 13, 2011
When Spinach Bolts

When Spinach Bolts

My attempt at growing spinach through the summer has been foiled by all the crazy hot weather we've been experiencing.  I thought that because there is a spot in the front yard that never gets any direct sun, I just might be able to grow lettuces and spinach all summer.  Also, it worked last year perfectly!Well,  the arugula and lettuce…
August 4, 2011
Newbie Eggs?

Newbie Eggs?

Last year, when our 5 Ameracaunas first started laying, we were greeted each day with a weird, shell-less, goopy thing that looked like it wanted to be an egg, but just wasn't quite sure how to get there.  This lasted for about 2 eggs per chicken and was real fun to clean up.Needless to say, I was not looking forward…
August 3, 2011
Garden Happiness(es)

Garden Happiness(es)

Hilled up potatoes!A corner of our back yardFantastic sunset shot from the back yardChickens like beets :-)The Butternut Squash is starting to run!Snap Peas and beans starting the long climb!Beans make for a pretty cover cropSpinach (second planting) under a tree in the front yardMint and a transplanted tomato...couldn't tell you what kind it is though...it will just have to…
July 13, 2011
(Un)finished Projects

(Un)finished Projects

We finally finished the roofing on the Chicken Mansion!!!  If you remember, we built the massive mansion a couple of months ago thinking that it was almost complete.  As time has passed, it has become apparent that it needed some roofing so as to avoid wet chickens through the (as of yet imaginary) monsoon season and the eventual winter months.Aerial view of…
July 7, 2011