Half way to Eggs!

Even though it rained nearly all day, we had a little celebration. Today the chickens (no longer are they chicks) turned 11 weeks old or about halfway to being laying pullets. Still no "signs" of roosters which is good as I'll find it hard to part with any of the "girls".

Having had chickens (and ducks, geese, and guinea hens) in the past, I was happy that they have all survived. Likewise, I'm happy that I survived this long too! Whenever I walk past their temporary housing in the brooder house, they beg for attention and we have long conversations whenever I feed.

Because they've gotten bigger and I haven't built their proper Hen House, I created a small run for them to spend nice days out on the ground. I've also let them out to forge a bit as they've cleared out all of the grass in their pen and run.

Much of the garden is complete with the onions, peas, broccoli, potatoes, and Spring vegs up and growing. Soon the tomatoes, peppers, and squash plants will be in too. Then I'll have time to mulch the walkways and get ready to enjoy the garden as it grows.

Busy as a Bee

At last the weather feels like its broken Winter's grip and Spring is settling in.

Unfortunately that usually means that I have many tasks to do in a short period - Garden prep, bed protection, planting, transplanting, seed starting (in doors and out), chicks to clean, hen houses to build, trees to trim up, fences to mend, wood piles to clean, Spring cabin cleaning, and a host of other tasks.

Luckily, today is rainy so I'll be back after breakfast to catch up on in door tasks!

Puff Balls to Prickly Chicks

Well the cute little fuzz balls have become half feather pin cushions as the chicks are growing quickly. All have sprouted tiny wings and tails, and have spikey hair dos as their heads are more pin feathers than real feathers. One of the Wynadottes is very friendly, in part to a little hand feeding of egg yolks and bread crumbs that they all share. Given the chance she/he would sit on my arm all day checking out buttons, pens, paper, my iphone and anything else I have in my shirt pocket. One of the Araucana is also becoming chummy which I hope they all do before they move outside. That makes it easier to call them together if they're going to out free ranging.

Now, if I could just get the Spring snows to stop long enough to get started on their outdoor hen house, I'd be much happier.

Another Step

Another step toward sustainability that I planned to take, in addition to the garden beds, is to have a few chickens for eggs, manure, and bug control. A few hens are able to provide a lot of eggs over a years time, and while that isn't really that much of a cost savings, every little bit helps. The production of their nitrogen rich manure will also be very helpful in improving and maintaining the garden soils. Lastly, if I can free range (under a watchful eye) them a bit, they'll be a help in reducing insect pests.


To that end, I picked up a number of chicks at one of the local farm stores. In the end I got four chicks each of Silver Laced Wyandottes, Buff Orpingtons, Araucana, and Rhode Island Reds. I pick them carefully and hopefully will have mostly hens, although there isn't a sure way to sex most chicks. There are a few other breeds that I would like and so I may add a few more later this Spring.


If I end up with 12 hens, they should produce around three dozen eggs per week which will be more than enough for me. I'll be send some down to my Mother and maybe have enough to sell once in a while - but I'll have to wait to see.


The most immediate need will be to construct out door housing. I'll be constructing a smaller "chicken tractor" for short term (and breeding later on) housing. Eventually, I'll get the permanent hen house constructed at one end of the wood shed that also needs to be built this Spring.

Finally. . .

The beginning of Spring appears to have finally arrived. They temperatures have risen to the upper 40s during the bright sunshine and sunset has moved on to about 7:15 PM. We'll surely get a few more overnights of cold air and maybe a flake or two, but it looks like Winter is moving on.

This week will be busy. My birthday is on Monday (shameless plug) and I've decided to start the brooder up in anticipation of getting the chicks this week. I haven't decided on the final count yet, and the breeds will be what's available when I get to the Farm Supply. This will put the chicks at about 10 weeks by the end of May when they should be fine outside. That's also long enough to get a Chicken Tractor constructed as their permanent home will be built in with the new wood shed coming this year.

Some of the herbs are sprouted as well as a few early flowers. I planted some ornamental hot peppers today that will go into the new planters to be built for the deck. I'll also need to start some of the tomatoes for pots and a few for early sets in the garden. Speaking of the garden, while it has been melting, the beds are still under about a foot of snow, but all things considered, I hope they will be nearly visible before any cooler weather returns. With luck, things will be really ready to run over the next few weeks.

Finally, of note, in two weeks I will be celebrating one full year living here on my ten acres. While some of the work preparing the homestead has been done over the last year, there is still much to do.

Spring is in the Air

While its a long way off, Spring is finally in the air today. The temperatures are into the middle 40s and the eves are dripping water from the snow on the roof. We're scheduled for a number of mild days until the middle of next week when another (last?) dip in temperature is expected.

The Winter birds are still coming to the feeders, but with the warmer weather, I won;t be surprised that some will be moving on back up north. Along with the Chickadees, Nuthatches, and Jays, I've spent much of the late Winter with Pine siskins and Redpolls.

Deer have been pretty bold most of the Winter as well. Even with the feeding ban, I don't worry about them getting through the Winter as they come in to clean up under the feeders and to play "king of the snow hills" created when the driveway gets plowed.

Hopefully, it won't be long and they can move back deep into the woods and leave the turkeys and squirrels to any spilled seeds!

Winter Dragging on. . .

January was quite brutal. We had two Arctic fronts that dropped the temperatures (without wind chills) down to -29 and -26 degrees for three or four days in a row with each front. In between the fronts, the snow continues to pile up - more than 125 inches total this winter!

One thing that has to be considered preparing for winter is where to plow the snow. I underestimated the space needed and so I have hills of snow blocking my view out at the feeders, around the wood stacks and along the front garden. All of that snow will be around well into to Spring to remind me of the changing seasons.

A bright spot was seeing this bird down in Bay City at my recent visit to my mother's feeders. Leuchistic coloration in birds is not that uncommon, but I can hardly believe the affects on this House Finch!