Chickens

The first egg is here!

Posted on August 27, 2007 by Anisa

A few pictures of our first egg ever (pictured next to a store bought egg for size and color comparison)! 

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It’s from our Aruacana… the green egg layer!  The egg is dirty because, she had quite a lot of trouble with it, she got egg-bound.  It’s something that can sometimes happen to young hens when they first start laying eggs.  We actually had to put her in some warm water and “help” it out.  I felt so bad for her!  I am actually a little worried about her.  I keep watching her, and trying to keep her from getting infected…. not an easy feat with a dirty bird like a chicken. 

We decided not to eat the egg either… we weren’t sure how long it was stuck, so we fed it to Josie.  But I am excited to try the next one! 

The eggs will get bigger over time… it may take a couple months, but they should get as big as the eggs you can get at the store.  I think the color is so cool though! 

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Hippie Chick

Posted on August 9, 2007 by Anisa

Well almost two weeks ago, we found a new home for our Susan the Terrible… he now lives up in Longmont at Roan Oak Farm.  It’s a horse farm, but the lady there has a ton of chickens, all free ranging, so Susan will have his pick of the ladies.  We put Susan on Craigslist, and she was the person we liked best.  Rick, H and I dropped him off and enjoyed watching the other farm animals there as well.  H was fascinated with a noisy goat that stood on top of his little house.  It was too funny.

Last weekend I went to my friend Nora’s baby shower.  The shower was beautiful, and Nora looked great.  I got visit with my friend Amy, who I worked with at the Sports Authority too.  I had a great time, despite the realization that I really am that weird hippy girl…. I was promoting natural birth and natural soap, and my gift to Nora…  a breast feeding support kit.  Oy!  Hehehe… oh well.  At least Nora is going for a Natural birth too… yay!  She will do awesome!

Today I met my friends, Kim and Genny, at the park with our kiddos to let them play together.  It was a really nice time, and we didn’t do much but sit and visit… but now I am pooped!  They were talking about the farmer’s markets they’ve been going to, and now I have a craving for peaches….  yum!  I’m going to have to hunt some down this weekend.   And Kim kidded me about Rick and I having our own farmers market with our garden and chickens (if they’d ever lay an egg!).  Wouldn’t that just be great!  I would love it!

I promised Kim a picture of the garden, so I’ll post one tomorrow morning.  It always looks best in the morning.  By this time of day (2:15pm) the squash plants are all droopy from the hot sun.

I’m so glad I married someone with such a green thumb!  And he has totally passed his love of gardening on to me.  I love it!

Categories: Chickens, Community, Garden, Urban Homesteading | 1 Comment

Are you there???

Posted on July 20, 2007 by Anisa

Are you there?

Ok, so I’ve been neglecting the blog…. nothing since May!?!  

Do you love the curious close up of Mayzie & Lavender…. funny little hens.

One of our flock, Susan, started to take on some very roosterish traits.  She got a very red, prominent comb & wattle, which sometimes the hens in her breed do, and she was always the most aggressive and had the sharpest claws, which earned her the nickname “Susan the Terrible.”  But then, last week, she started to sprout the most beautiful green-black tail feathers that just flowed over her tail, and I started to realize that I had been in denial… Susan was a boy.  All week, Rick and I have been commiserating over what we are going to do with him.  And of course the most practical solution is to off him and invite the neighbor over for roast chicken.

 

Susan the Terrible

Rick’s been holding out on the hope that he’ll be a quiet rooster, never crow, and we can keep him… he is so pretty after all.  And Susan has spunk!  And why can’t we have a rooster, again?  We’ve talked about finding a 4-Her to give him to so they can show him off at the county fair.  But the fair started this week… too late.  And we’ve joked about re-christening him “Stew” or “Kenny” (think South Park).  But this morning, I think poor Susan sealed his fate.  I let the chickens out of the coop, as usual, and Susan ran across the yard to his favorite spot under the lilacs, stretched his wings and crowed three times, as clear as day.  **sigh**  He’s so pretty, it’s sort of a shame, but it is the fate of most barn yard creatures, and what God intended them for.  I guess chicken will be on the menu soon.

I’ll try not to wait so long between posts next time.

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Coop Construction!

Posted on May 11, 2007 by Anisa

Well, it’s almost 100% complete!  Below are a few pictures of the process:

roost.jpg      nest-box-beginnings.jpg      nest-box-hung.jpg     coop-nest-with-siding.jpg     

The Finished Nest Box      Nest Roof for Egg Access      Coop on Legs     Inside Nest Box View      

Inside Roost View      Coop Open

Still to do:  Build the fenced-in run with gate, install coop window, add the ramp for the chicken door, and add just a little charm (paint, maybe an old tin “fresh eggs” sign, etc.).

Many, many thanks go to our awesome neighbor, Doug.  He gave us some old tin from his garage for the roof and a left over piece of plywood when we came up short!  Yay!!!  Thanks Doug!  You saved us a bundle!!

Categories: Chickens, DIY, Garden, Urban Homesteading | Tags: | 6 Comments

I witnessed this first hand today….

Posted on April 29, 2007 by Anisa

Henhouse Henery

 This is what happens when you have the chickens outside and Josie on the chain.  Too Funny!  Check back for pictures later of Rick building the hen house… our project this weekend. 

Categories: Chickens, Garden, Urban Homesteading | 1 Comment

Spring in Colorado!

Posted on April 1, 2007 by Anisa

Yesterday we spent the morning planning and scheming for this year’s garden.  Then we went to a new -to us- garden center called Arapahoe Acres down on Santa Fe.  We picked up a bunch of seeds in preparation for today!

This morning we dusted off the shovels and got the garden started. We planted the peas, lettuce, spinach, kale, carrots, radishes and onions.  OH!  And brussel sprouts!  (I know, I’m crazy to be excited about brussel sprouts).  And we had a little help in the garden:

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The peepers came and explored the dirt and H looked on while we planted the rows.

Then it was off to Murdoch’s again to pick up the rest of our flock… I was planning on two Rhode Island Reds, but, again, they did not have any.  So I got a New Hampshire Red, a Golden Laced Wyandotte AND a Blue Andalusian.  I know, that’s three more, not two.  I just couldn’t resist the cuteness.  Here they all are:

 

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Isn’t the size difference between 1 day and 1 week amazing!

I think I need to go live on a farm.

Categories: Chickens, Garden, Urban Homesteading | 2 Comments

Chicken Saviour

Posted on March 27, 2007 by Anisa

Posted on my Uncle Joe’s website….

Chicken Saviour 

Too Funny not to share!

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Jeepers Creepers…

Posted on March 26, 2007 by Anisa

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Look at our new Peepers!

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Yesterday we brought home our new little chick-chick-chickadees!  The plan was to get three chicks… two Rhode Island Reds and one Araucana, but the store didn’t have the RIR’s in yet.  I didn’t want to bring home one lonely little chick, so I got a Buff Orpington to go with my Araucana.  SO after next weekend when the RIR’s come in, we’ll have four chicks total.

Now we just need to come up with their names!  The Araucana is the one that looks like a chipmunk.  She will, one day, lay green eggs.  I really think we should name her something in honor of Dr. Suess, but I havn’t come up with anything I love yet.  Last night I did catch Rick calling her Princess Fluffer-Cup though.  😉 

The Buff is the little yellow chick (duh, since she the only other chick we have).  I picked her because her tag said she was winter hardy and had a “quiet disposition.”  And so far, she’s a little doll.  If you put your hand down in their box, she just hops right up on it.  It’s so cute! 

I’ve drawn and re-drawn a couple of different coop designs.  Now Rick & I just have to narrow it down and build one.  The chicks have to live inside until they have their feathers (a good 6 weeks or so), so we have a little time to decide.  In the mean time they’ve been exploring their box.  So far they’ve discovered a string, some grass and a twig.  All placed there by me of course.  Supposedly it helps them not be bored and therefore peck at eachother less.  And I can already see that our little Fluffer-Cup’s trying to establish herself as the top of the pecking order.

Categories: Chickens, Urban Homesteading | 2 Comments

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