Cluckingham Palace

It all started with my modest little coop that I ended up adding on to.

(because of chicken math- you go to get 2 chickens, end up bringing home 4).

But our modest little coop was turning 8 years old,

and it just wasn't in good shape any more.  

Wood began to rot, and it was time for a replacement.

So we headed over to the local big box hardware store,

and 3 large carts later, we started the new 8x10' shed for the chickens.

Big E and I spent some time checking out some of the sheds at a local retail shed lot.

We took measurements and made notes on what we liked and didn't like.

Mostly I took notes on what I liked and didn't like.

And then the work began.

We used pressure treated lumber for the pieces closest to the ground and

put those on top of cinder blocks to help prevent rot.

One the floor joists were done, we laid out the floor.

Then we started the process of putting up the walls

and the roof trusses.

It was a whole family effort.

My son in law, grandson, son and mom all helped get it completed.

We had a deadline of the beginning of November

because I already had 3 new Guineas coming and had purchased 

early bird tickets for a local chicken swap

hoping to score some more birds.

 

Wasn't too long before we had the T1-11 siding going on

and the plywood being put on the roof.

Once the shingles were on, we only had to build a door, 

nesting boxes and roosting bars to be fully functional.

We used the 2 small windows from our old coop to put on the front.

We have plenty of roosting space and nesting boxes for additional birds.

I now keep 50 pounds of feed in a metal trash can in the coop.

We also used the old PVC feeders from the old coop only now they are completely inside the coop

instead of being on the outside.

The waterer made out of a 5 gallon bucket with side nipples is also kept in the coop.

We have a sliding door that we can raise and lower without going into the coop or run. 

It works on a rope run through eye bolts that can be tied to a cleat on the side of the coop to keep it open.

We weren't able to build the permanent run before the weather changed, 

but we've utilized the existed fencing, some netting and T-Posts 

from a temporary run we had to make a run they can be safe from 

most predators during the day.

At night they're all locked up tight in the coop.

We still have some finishing touches to do.

We plan on installing 3 more larger windows (18"x22") 

on each of the other walls to provide more natural light and ventilation in the summer. 

I'd like a small loft built to provide an area to store the 

bales of shavings and straw to keep them up off the floor.

I also want to install linoleum on the floor to protect the wood from moisture

and make it easier to clean and disinfect when needed.

And of course, we need a secure run.

We finished just in time for all the new birds.

I call the shed

Cluckingham Palace. 

So far it houses 3 Guineas King Richard, Beatrice and Eugenie,

the 4 original hens- 2 Barred Rocks Louise and Bertha, the Light Brahma Daisy and the Naked Neck who is still unnamed.

I've added a blue laced red Wyandotte, a standard white silkie,

an orange and white Satin Silkie named Beaker, a bantam silkie named Fuzzball, 2 Salmon Favorelles- one named Jaws the other nameless, an Ameraucana still unnamed and a black bantam cochin my friend had to rehome who we think is going to be called Raven Lucretia.

She's kind of a bad ass. 

I have 3 more pullets coming in a couple of weeks:

another Ameraucana, another Light Brahma and a Blue Rock.

I'm sure there will be many more chicken posts to come in the near future along with some updates about things around the house.

We've been pretty busy around here!

Arrivals

So, how many people walk into their Post Office and say,

"I'm here to pick up chicks!"

They're now safe and warm in the brooder in the laundry room.

Originally, I ordered 5, but the Speckled Sussex wasn't available. 

That isn't unusual when you're waiting for eggs to hatch, 

sometimes they hatch as predicted, sometimes they don't.

The Sussex is easy for me to find, so it's no big deal to pick a couple up in the spring.

So in the bottom right is the white Chochin, to the left the white crested Polish

(she already has a white topknot and her name is Lorraine)

the top left is the Dominique I think and then the Silver Lace Wyandotte.

They're so cute and tiny when they're only a day old!

What's Going On

Things have been busy.

I say that, and part of me doesn't even know what I've been doing to feel so busy.

All I know is, one minute it was May, 

 and then suddenly it's the middle of July and my summer is nearly gone.

Things have been so busy that our garden has been neglected.

It looked more like "The Garden of Weedin"

than anything that might actually produce edible vegetables.

It might surprise you to know that this photo was taken only a few days after Big E 

and I weeded the left half of the garden.

It took 2 days and a total of about 6 hours,

but we finally got the thing weeded!

I also found my nemesis: squash bugs on some plants.

This year my plan of attack is to use diatomaceous earth combined with

using duct tape sticky side out to pull eggs and bugs off plants.

It's best to try to do that every other day.

Yesterday I found Squash bugs, cucumber beetles and squash beetles on the squash, cucumbers and

whatever volunteers we have growing in various places 

(possibly pumpkin, watermelon and cantaloupe, it'll be a surprise).

Hopefully I can get a handle on things so they don't get out of control.

You'd think these chickens would like to eat some plump, juicy bugs out of my garden.

But all they want to do is dig up my beets so they can roll in the dirt

and eat the leaves off things.

I'm not ashamed to say that I take pleasure it squirting them with the hose while I'm watering.

This little guy was the first ever baby chick hatched the old fashioned way at the homestead.

Unfortunately, he didn't live longer than a couple of days.  

I had a total of 3 chicks emerge from eggs and none survived.

I'm hoping I get to the bottom of that problem 

as I would like to add to the flock when needed

by letting my hens do the work 

and not having to bring babies into the house in the brooder.

If anyone has any advice, that would be great.

We also now have a bunny.

This is Harvey.

He's named after the 6 foot tall invisible rabbit in the old James Stewart movie.

James Stewart played a man who talked to the invisible rabbit.

He was thought to be insane.

Draw your own conclusions.

Harvey's only job is to amuse me.

He also likes to torment my 2 year old grandson 

by chewing on and stealing toys.

Here he is resting amongst his spoils of war.

I haven't been able to take photos of the bathroom.

That's next on my list-

really, I've resorted to lists of things I need to update on the blog.

Problem with the bathroom is that there is no longer light in there now that the old window opening has been boarded up. 

But, we do have the wires run for the outlets and lights

(and I just thought I might ask the hubby to add and outlet along a wall I don't think I told him I wanted before he ran the wires.... ooops).

So hopefully in the next day or two, 

I'll share the bathroom updates that have happened.

Raising Peeps Vs. Buying Hens

I've been a chicken owner for a few years now, and I've both raised my own chicks and purchased pullets and laying hens that were coop ready.  Each has its pros and cons.  Buying coop ready pullets or hens that are already laying mean all the hard work has been done and you'll be getting eggs pretty quick.  Raising chicks is a lot of work. They're messy and their brooder requires constant cleaning.  I can't even describe to you the amount of dust they create in the weeks that they live in your home (or wherever you keep your brooder).  Despite all that, my personal recommendation would be to raise your own chicks.  Seriously. 
I came to this conclusion last evening when I went to close up the coop for the night.  As I walked out the back door, the 2 hens that I started as chicks this year (the only 2 out of the flock that I raised myself), came racing towards me.  You might assume they only do this because they hope that I might have some type of food, but they do this every time.  They follow me down the barn, they come running to me when they see me and they come when I call them.  Not only does this make me feel loved (it doesn't take much), but it also makes it easier to check them for any signs of illness or injury.  And if there is a need to treat them, it's easier to do that as well not only for me, but a little less stressful for them.
So if you're thinking of getting your own chickens, I highly recommend raising them yourself if you have the ability.

A Dose of Cute

New Chicks On The Block

Going into a farm store in the spring when you have a chicken fetish is a dangerous thing.
But I was fairly confident I could resist those cute little fluffs of feathers
because I made the decision I was done raising chicks.
My chickens live at my parents' house on 6.5 acres
while I live 10 minutes away in a small town
in a one  bedroom apartment.
I found a place that will raise your chicks for you from their flock
and once they are ready to be in the coop, you pick them up.
But after some thought,
I didn't know if I wanted to spend the extra money on chickens
when I already had all the items I needed to raise them myself.
So, while looking at the cute fuzzy little chicks,
I decided to get some and raise them myself.
(all it took to convince the husband was the sign that said Jersey Giants lay extra large eggs).
I did have to figure out what to put them in since using a water trough won't work in a one bedroom apartment.
Later that night,
I remembered the large rabbit hutch I had in the attic,
and the next day I went and picked up the chicks.

I was supposed to get 3.
I ended up with 4 because there were only 4 left
and I couldn't leave one left behind.
I have 2 black Jersey Giant chicks and
2 Speckled Sussex chicks.
Jersey Giants are a Heritage breed from America
(they originated in New Jersey in 1870-1890)
They are the largest purebred chicken breed
and very docile.

This one is named Black Betty
(like the song, which I sing in my head constantly now)

This one we call The Jersey Devil
named for the monster in the New Jersey Pine Barrens.

The Speckled Sussex breed is from England that originated
in about 43 A.D.
They are friendly and docile and have a curiosity
that has them exploring and following you around.

This one is Amelia Peabody

(after a favorite character in a novel)

And this one is most likely going to be called
Royal Farms
as in Royal Farms fried chicken.
My 8 year old named her,
I was thinking Margaret Thatcher or Queen Victoria

They're all set up in their brooder

in my small bathroom-

temporarily.

They'll be moved to another area today.

So far this gals are a riot.

While I was getting the brooder ready, 

they all jumped up and perched on the edge of the bottom portion of the cage

while I was putting together the wire parts.  

Then one would jump off onto the floor

and while I was catching that one and putting it back

another would jump off 

and it continued on and on like some sort of 

I Love Lucy episode.

This is going to be fun!