Coop Construction Continues

Coop and Run

We spent Memorial Day in Leavenworth, WA so I didn't make too much progress on the chicken castle. I did get the coop window, egg box opening and chicken door all framed and cut out. Really the last big part is to make two doors so the chickens can be moved into the coop. I also need to finish the roof so they stay dry and safe from critters.

Coop Closeup

It's supposed to rain some this week so I put some temporary plywood scraps over the coop area to try to keep it dry. In the coop closeup photo you can see the window and egg box opening as well as the chicken door. It's starting to look like a coop now and I can't wait until next weekend to get it all closed up so the chicks can move in.

There is going to be a lot of painting to do too. Since I'm using lots of recycled material, you can really see the different paint colors and unpainted pieces. It looks a little tacky right now, but it should look great with some fresh paint. Terri is already thinking about how to decorate the outside of the coop. I can't wait to see what she comes up with. She can be pretty crafty!

Treats for Chicks

Sadie our Dominique Chick

During lunch yesterday I paid a visit to Del's Farm supply; it was time to upgrade the waterer and feeder. The less expensive plastic versions are not proving to be useful for more than one day each anymore. I should have started with the larger, sturdier galvanized models. Since the chicks are eating between two and three pounds of starter feed each day the new 11 pound feeder should be much better. The new waterer holds 3 gallons versus 1 gallon for the plastic one. I won't have to worry about the girls running out of either if I can't get to them every day.

While I was browsing for more feed and the upgraded feeders, I noticed something called dried mealworms and grabbed a bag as treats for the little pullets. I have read that this might be a great way for the chicks to begin to tame down a little bit. Until now every time I open the brooder lid to change water and add feed, the chicks scattered to get as far away from me as possible, even though I move very slowly. Today I put a few of the dried mealworms in my hand and slowly lowered it into the brooder and almost immediately Sadie, the Dominique chick (the oldest one) came over an started pecking at the worms. Once she was comfortable and gobbling all the treats, the others soon followed and before long they were picking worms and running off to their own corner to enjoy their treat before coming back for more. I should be fun to see how they react to me today.

Outsmarting the Chicks

Our chicks can make a mess in a hurry during the day while we are at work. Two of them are bigger than the rest and they love to try to fly already. As I watch them, they fly to the top of the feeder and have tipped it over making a mess when the bottom nut on the feeder fell off (I still have not found it). Now I have noticed that when the water gets low, it gets light enough to rock back and forth spilling water in the brooder and making a big mess.

Last night I decided to clean the bedding and while I was at it I put the water on a solid base so they can't move it as easily. We will see later today if my plan worked. The chicks are eating and drinking a lot every day, which is surprising considering their size. When I bought 25 pounds of food the sales person quipped that it would last me about a week; I almost laughed! Well 10 or so days into that first bag it's about half gone already so he was not too far off, and they seem to be eating more each day. I might have to buy a bigger, more sturdy feeder sooner than I thought!

Here is a portrait of one of our barred rock chicks. So cute...

Coop Construction

The Hen House

Today I spent the day working on the coop for the chickens. They will be using it before I know it so I wanted to get a lot done while the weather was good. I finished the roof outline and the floor for the hen house. I also put some of the screen on the far right side of the run and below the hen house floor. They can hang out under there when it's hot outside.

Tomorrow I need to do some more work on the roof and put more screen up. I think another trip to the lumber store is in my future. I am trying to use as much reclaimed material as possible. I am demolishing an old wood shed and there is a lot of usable material there so that's saving me some money.

I might also get around to adding some plywood to the hen house walls. There is still a lot do to before the girls can move in though. I need to make the egg boxes, two doors and a couple of windows too!

Busy Chicks

Before I left for work yesterday I filled the chick's feeder and noticed that the nut that holds the feeder together was missing. I have no idea where it went, but looking through the bedding was fruitless so I set up a title platform and set the feeder on it and headed to work.

When I got home the feeder was on its side and the food was everywhere in the brooder. I took me a while to find the feeder parts. They must have been playing pretty rough with it all day! Terri located a replacement nut and I put the feeder back together and things are back to normal.

This weekend, work on the coop continues. It won't be long before these chicks will be living outside and running around the yard. Watch out bugs and slugs.

I plan to get some chick portraits today too. That should be fun.

Chicken Profile #4

Plymouth Rock

The Plymouth Rock originated in New England in the 19th Century and was first recognized as a breed in the year 1869. They created the first Rock (Barred) by using breeds such as Dominique, Dorkings Cochins, etc. After that other colors and forms of the Plymouth Rock were created. It has been a great bird due to hardiness, egg laying, broodiness, and meat production. The first production meat chicken happened to be the Barred Rock. But now The White Rock is typically the female used to create Cornish X meat chickens.

We have two of these little chicks. They are black and fluffy and go peep, peep, peep. This is the second most popular breed on the backyard chickens breed ranking.

Photo and history courtesy of http://www.backyardchickens.com/

Chicken Profile #3

Ameraucana

The Ameraucana was developed in the 70's by a few people who were trying to standardize the Araucana breed. The Ameraucana is easier to breed as there are no complications due to lethal genes. A very detailed history of the Ameraucana can be read at the Ameraucana Breeders Club website. Besides the above color requirements the following are some of the traits Ameraucanas should posess:

{eyes - bay (reddish brown)}
{shanks & feet - slate (blue grey) black accepted on black birds, bottoms of feet white}
{ear lobes - red, pale on females (no white)}
{comb - pea}
{wattles - very small, absent}
{skin - white}
{toes - four}
{muffs & beard - forming three seperate lobes, absence is a DQ}
{egg color - blue, minty green}
{cock weight - 6.5 lbs/cockerel - 5.5 lbs}
{hen weight - 5.5 lbs/pullet - 4.5 lbs}
{full breast, medium back, and tail carried at 45 degrees above horizontal}
{the bird must breed true to color}

Photo and history courtesy of http://www.backyardchickens.com/

We have two of these chicks that are about two weeks old and are very pretty. They are starting to get little wing and tail feathers. So cute. 

Chicken Profile #2

Golden Sex Link

Imported originally from the Netherlands, this strain is used in over 60 countries worldwide. Capable of laying over 300 strong shelled eggs per year, the Golden Sex Link also known as the Bovan Brown is a very hearty bird that can withstand cold temperatures. When hatched, the males are a creamy white with the females colored in shades of red.

We have one of these chicks, she is now about three weeks old and is starting to get her tail feathers and is doing a lot of flapping.

Photo and profile courtesy of http://www.backyardchickens.com/

Chicken Profile #1

Dominique

Dominique Chickens have endured a long and rich history. First developed by the Colonists, they were not recognized as a specific breed until the early 1800's.

They steadily lost popularity as Asiatic breeds became the norm on American farms, and were almost extinct by the early 1900s. The National American Dominique Club was founded to help boost their popularity, but folded in the 1930s.

After facing another near extinction by the 1970s, Dominiques began to again regain popularity and more people sought to add these wonderful birds to their farms and breeding programs. In the past few years however, their popularity has again waned, and many folks have moved on to other breeds.

The Dominique Club of America was founded in 1973 to help promote the breed and serve as a source of information and breeding stock for members working on their own strain. For more information on the DCA, visit their website at http://www.dominiqueclub.org

I have one of these in my new flock and she is the oldest at almost 4 weeks. She appears to be acting as the mother hen to the younger chicks.

Photo and history courtesy of http://www.backyardchickens.com/ 

Around The Garden

The warm weather has been great for the seeds and plants we have put in over the past few weeks. So far the lettuce, kale, tomatoes and onions are doing well. The strawberries and blueberries are also looking great! Over the weekend when Hannah and I were in the yard, we saw lots of Honey Bees, little Bumble Bees and Mason Bees! I am really happy to see the Mason Bees buzzing around the nest blocks.

I also planted some squash seeds that I saved two years ago and they are coming up in spades. If I can keep the neighborhood peacocks from eating them we should have lots of little squash in the fall.

More later...

Wing Flapping

My morning visit to the brooder found some of the chicks roosting on the new roost, and others sleeping in the bedding material. When they saw me they all popped up and two of them stretched their wings and started flapping them! The Dominique and Golden Sex-Link are getting lots of feathers and they do lots of preening and flapping.

I moved the heat lamp out of the brooder because they can now almost reach it when they are on the roost. This will give them a little more room too.

They all seem to like their new home!

They Made It

The six little chicks made it through the day without us! When I got home the Dominique was taking a "dust bath" in the pine shavings and she seemed to be enjoying herself a lot. She was also spreading her wings and hoping up to the top of the feeder trying to roost I think. I made them a little roost so they can get used to that too. After I put the roost in the brooder, I left them alone for a few minutes. When I returned they were all hopping up on it and pecking at it. I guess they like it!

Chickens

On Saturday afternoon I made the trip to Enumclaw, WA and visited Country Farm & Feed to chose my new chicks. I picked out six chicks and brought them home. I ended up with 1 three week old Dominique chick, 1 two week old Golden Sex-Link chick, 2 week old Plymouth Barred Rock chicks, and 2 week old Ameraucana chicks. They are all getting along well in the brooder I made for them.

The older Dominique has already taken the other five chick under her wind as they all cuddle together when they sleep, so cute.

Today the chicks will be alone for the day since we are all off to work. I will post some pictures this week and also coop progress.

That's it for my first post!