Saturday, December 12, 2009
Uh oh, it has been quite a while since I posted news on Chicken sCoop. I have been busy enjoying Thanksgiving and getting ready for Christmas. Yes, I have been baking, and would like to thank Anna and Alice, for their egg contributions.
We have been experiencing freezing temperatures here and have still been getting an egg a day from each of the ladies. They continue to lay in the same nesting box too. We did put a tarp over the coop to protect my hens from the cold wind. I left the front open so they could enjoy the sunshine during the day, but at night I dropped the tarp over the entire coop.
Besides keeping Anna and Alice comfy with the tarp, I do contribute getting 2 eggs a day to the hot meal I give the girls each morning. I heat up cooked oatmeal, or cooked rice, or cooked pasta, in the microwave each morning. Sometimes I add in something special. Today I had part of a container of Ricotta Cheese left over from last week's lasagna, and added that in. They really liked the left over pumpkin pie I divided out over several days after Thanksgiving.
I hope I can get back to writing on a more regular basis . . . but preparing for Christmas is my most important priority right now. Merry Christmas and Peace to the World . . .
Friday, November 20, 2009
Moved them to a new patch of ground. They got pasta this morning. Hot pasta (no sauce of any kind). Also brought them some swiss chard. I guess they love the greens because of the calcium it has in it.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Its been raining and we have had the wind blowing for the last several days. Its cold, but not freezing. I supposed it gets down to about about 40 degrees and the high is only about 50 degrees. The hens are out in this weather, pecking and scratching away. When I pass by them they cluck as if to say hello, do you have anything good to eat? I think they are just used to me bringing them food. So, when they see me, they thing its time to eat again.
We started out today with hot oatmeal again. For 2 hens I use about 1 cup of water, with about 1/4+ cup of oats. Bring it to a boil and it really starts to thicken up. If its too thin I add more oats. I put it in a container and out to the coop, after I have moved the girls to a nice new patch of ground. While they are pecking at the oatmeal I pick up their waterer and clean it and refill it. Then I throw in a few leafs of Swiss chard I still have growing in the garden.
This gives them a good start on the day.
Later on I will fill their cup with chicken grain, but I let them go after the natural food for some time, like ants or grubs, or snells they may find on their own.
Got 2 eggs again, and both in the same nesting box.
Wesnesday, November 18, 2009
First of all, we started out with chickens that were already laying. They were 6 months old. This way, we knew for sure we had hens, not roosters. Its very difficult for the average person to tell the difference when they are young, not-to-mention, chicks. Yes, chicks are fun to get, but it does take a special area inside the house. Their temperature needs to be regulated as well. So, I just asked around, and found a couple 6 month old, Wyandotte hens that had already been steadily laying, from a real nice lady a few miles out of town.
I figured it would take them a while to get used to the routine of laying again, so did not expect to start getting eggs right away. I was amazed that every single day since we got them they have been laying an egg a day, each. I did do as the farm wife instructed however . . . and that was to start them off with a little warm breakfast,every morning - either oatmeal, or pasta, or rice. And that's just what I did.
We didn't name them right away on purpose. We needed to examine their personalities - to see if they reminded us of a distant relative, or a friend from the past.
One of the hens, pecks at my diamond on my wedding ring, when I reach down to put in a handful of greens every day. So, I thought about naming her, "Lucy in the sky with diamonds", but I can't do that, because MY name is Lucy. So we are back to square one.
Here is a list of names of chickens from the people we talked to during our recent show circut . . .
Wilma
Panic
Mabel
Dinner
Agnes
Bossy
Priscilla
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
When designing the Nomad Chicken Pad we put our best intentions into answering the preditor problem with keeping chickens.
So, that's why the Nomad Chicken Pad is made of welded steel. The opening size of the steel screen, is too small for weasels and the other preditors.
Raccoons can tug on chicken wire and stretch it out, and usually can find a way in to the birds. So, our screen is welded completely around the metal frame.
The heavy-duty barn roofing prohibits owls or other birds of prey from snatching our chickens from above.
We are located in rural Chehalis, WA, about 77 miles north of Portland,OR, and about the same distance, south of Seattle.
We hear coyotes howling in the night,as well as owls hooting, we have seen raccoons, opossum, skunks, and have a variety of birds of prey gliding around, not-to-mention ferral cats and/or a dog loose here and there. We are going on 6 months without an attack from any of these preditors.
I let my chickens scratch and peck for most of their nutrition. I do spoil them with a little hot oatmeal or left-over pasta in the morning, and any greens (mine love swiss chard the best). Then in the evening before it gets too dark, I give them a little chicken feed and maybe a little chicken scratch to help give them a cozy nights sleep. I don't give them more grain then they can eat, or if it appears that I have, I take the extra out of the coop, so I won't tempt any mice.
I am always open for discussion. If you have any questions or comments, please email me at info@NomadChickenPad.com
Monday, November 16, 2009
We just got back from an EGGhausting, yet EGGciting Show Circut.
The first show in mid October was to the Tacoma Dome, in Tacoma, WA, at the Fall Home and Garden Show. At this show, I learned that when you are showing a coop, you are going to attract many people who LOVE chickens. They either had them as children , or they had them, but lost them to coyotes, ferral cats, hawks or most often . . . raccoons. These people were very happy that there is now a coop that has answered the preditor problem, yet still invites the chickens to free range.
The chicken keepers we talked to were filled with little known facts about chickens. For instance . . .
1. If you notice your chickens starting to mold, throw in a handful of cat food every other day.
2. Give your chickens a little hot oatmeal or hot left-over cooked pasta, or hot left over cooked rice in the morning to keep them laying in the winter.
3. They absolutley LOVE a little lowfat Cottage Cheese.
4. They really love hard boiled eggs (yes, I know), but break them up with the shell included, so they do not know they are eggs, otherwise they will think they are supposed to eat their eggs after they lay them.
Best Breeds
1. Wyandotte Chickens are the best! Best layers, and Calmest!
2. Barred Rock Chickens are the cleanest! (No poop on their eggs)
3. There's nothing like the good ole' Rhode Island Red for great laying hens.
I'll look through my notes and get more info out to you soon again. . .
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