| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| YellowRose |
Posted - Jan 07 2015 : 12:59:11 PM
I'm getting closer to making a decision on whether to get a couple of chickens or not for my backyard. MaryJane gave me a gentle push today when I received her magazine, and there was a article on chickens.
I really liked her choice of chickens, and the story of keeping one in her home. Not sure I am to the point of diapering a chicken, but it would solve the problem of having to tend to them in icy weather.
In the next couple of weeks a carpenter will be working around my home. Will show him several chicken coop & run plans and see how much it will cost to have them built. Cost will play a big part on whether I will have chickens.
Sara
Walk in Peace - Live with Joy
FarmGirl Sister #6034 Aug 25, 2014 |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| YellowRose |
Posted - Aug 01 2016 : 11:37:34 AM
My year of having chickens is coming to an end. I knew this day was coming since Annie came to live with me. Annie and chickens do not mix and as she grows it becomes harder for me to walk her every two hours when the girls are free range in the back yard.
Wednesday Claude, Maude, and Mo'Dean will go live with my sister who has 50 chickens. It's sad for me but necessary so I am content with it. When her grandsons can help her move the little red barn coop it will go to her farm too. She lets her chickens sit so when there are chicks they may stay in the coop. Or it could be a home for bantams.
I enjoyed every moment of watching the girls grow, scratch in the dirt, listen to them sing in their coop, and have beautiful big brown eggs to share with neighbors.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14
FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015.
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth. |
| YellowRose |
Posted - Mar 31 2016 : 05:18:58 AM
On Fox & Friends this morning they had a Tractor Supply rep who showed & talked about baby chicks and hens. Also the cutest chicken coop. So many good little coops are available for small flocks and yards.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14
FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015.
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth. |
| YellowRose |
Posted - Mar 13 2016 : 07:02:32 AM
I have had my girls ~ Claude, Maude, & Mo'Dean for a year today. Got them when they were three days old and have enjoyed everyday with them. My backyard hasn't been the same since they have taken it over.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14
FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015.
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth. |
| YellowRose |
Posted - Feb 14 2016 : 08:34:19 AM
There was a bit of excitement around my house this morning. When I went out to let the girls out of their coop my neighbors two very young pit bull puppies were in my back yard. The chickens ignored them at first so I thought I would wait and see how they got a long with them.
It didn't take long before the tan puppy was screaming bloody murder. All three chickens had him down rolling him along the ground. I picked him up and he was unharmed but terrified. It was 7:30a.m. by then so I took the puppies home.
Now I know that when I introduce a puppy into our household my work with the girls is cut out for me. It's sorta funny that they get along with the squirrels but then the squirrels were here first. A stray cat passes through my backyard now and then and the girls are okay with it. Don't know why they went after the puppy.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14
FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015.
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth. |
| Kangaroo Kate |
Posted - Feb 13 2016 : 12:15:05 PM
sara
guess they are all different in what they like.
I have a old bird cage it is big and was going to
convert it to a hen house. but the roof is a
issue. It is real high and pointed hard to make
a roof to fit to keep rain out. going to do some more
brain storming on it. ha
the girls roost on a fence panel in wallaby barn
that divides boys from girls. need to fix a better
roosting place they will use.
Teresa
sister #1506
Dance Like No One Is
Watching. |
| YellowRose |
Posted - Feb 13 2016 : 11:12:19 AM
I have three chickens that lay their eggs in a nesting box. The little red barn coop has three boxes but they all prefer the same one. They lay at different times so so-far it hasn't been a problem.
They free range in my back yard all day but go into the coop's screened in area to roost. Sometimes when it's cold and the heat lamp is on they will sleep in the nesting boxes but have nothing to do with the perch inside the little red barn.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14
FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015.
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth. |
| Kangaroo Kate |
Posted - Feb 13 2016 : 10:48:52 AM
Do most of you have chickens that use a nest box?
My girls want nothing to do with one. I have tried
different things, they still go to the wallaby barn
in their favorite corner. and one corner is also
quigley's favorite spot is a battle of the wills
someday's on who gets the spot. ha
my girls run amuck where ever they please they think
they own the whole 1/2 acre. ha ha
One silly girl laid a egg one day IN the roo boys food bowl!
what was she thinking? ha ha guess the hay in it looked
sufficient that day?
I am wanting to fix up a hen house this summer and
trying to figure out the best arrangement for them
laying eggs. they also like the dog igloos but the ones
I have are large wallabies use them. may have to find small ones for them? fix them up high enough to reach into easily.
I thought would see what some of you may have set up for your girls.
Teresa
sister #1506
Teresa
sister #1506
Dance Like No One Is
Watching. |
| YellowRose |
Posted - Jan 25 2016 : 05:21:08 AM
I was wondering if any of you FarmGirls have a chart for weight & size of eggs. Thought it would be fun to know how my girls are measuring up with their egg production. I weighted the largest & smallest. Largest 3oz - Smallest 2 1/2oz.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14
FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015.
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth. |
| levisgrammy |
Posted - Jan 23 2016 : 08:51:17 AM
My girls are all Black Sex Link Sara.
~Denise~
Farmgirl Sister #43
"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." Psalm 119:105
http://www.ladybugsandlilacs.blogspot.com/
http://www.torisgram.etsy.com |
| YellowRose |
Posted - Jan 23 2016 : 07:13:01 AM
Denise I use a heat lamp too but the girls still sleep on the perch in the screened in area. Had the heat lamp on last night - got down to hi 20s and they were on the outside perch this morning. Sometimes they will get in their nesting boxes but they won't have anything to do with the coop's inside perch.
What breeds to you have? My girls are Golden Sex Link.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14
FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015.
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth. |
| levisgrammy |
Posted - Jan 23 2016 : 07:07:13 AM
Have enjoyed reading this thread. I so enjoy getting fresh eggs everyday. Today the girls are all safely in the coop with a heat lamp to keep the toasty through this storm. I need to go check on them shortly and make sure everyone is good and get the eggs.
~Denise~
Farmgirl Sister #43
"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." Psalm 119:105
http://www.ladybugsandlilacs.blogspot.com/
http://www.torisgram.etsy.com |
| YellowRose |
Posted - Jan 23 2016 : 06:02:22 AM
It's been since Sept that I talked about my girls - Claude, Maude, and Mo'Dean. They're all doing good and laying every day except for Maude who skips a day now and then.
They're out of their coop no later than 8a.m. everyday come rain or shine. They do a lot of talking before I free them to run & scratch and do whatever chickens do.
I had my computer worked on this week and the 'computer man' came to my house. Took him less than thirty minutes to get it up and running. He didn't want to take anything for doing it since he was in town anyway. But I told him I appreciated him coming to my home rather than me taking laptop to him, so I paid him $10 and gave him 10 eggs. I think he was happier with the eggs than the money. My girls do lay big pretty brown eggs.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14
FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015.
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth. |
| Red Tractor Girl |
Posted - Sep 27 2015 : 4:16:55 PM
Such a sweet story,Sara! I bet she will remember this experience for a very long time. Maybe one day she will have chickens as well?
Winnie #3109
Red Tractor Girl
Farm Sister of the Year 2014-2015 |
| YellowRose |
Posted - Sep 27 2015 : 10:02:42 AM
The little 5 year old from across the street came over this morning to see the chickens. I checked and there was one egg in the nest so she gathered it and took it home with her. Her expression on her face when she picked up the egg was a little bit of wonder and a little bit of fear that she would break it.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14
FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth.
|
| Red Tractor Girl |
Posted - Sep 26 2015 : 08:59:12 AM
NO doubt, M'Dean was on the hunt for more of that great homegrown Farmgirl CandyCorn! You are right, it does add a new image to our fall candy favorite. Thankfully, it comes in those pumpkin shapes too!
Winnie #3109
Red Tractor Girl
Farm Sister of the Year 2014-2015 |
| YellowRose |
Posted - Sep 26 2015 : 06:25:24 AM
Winnie, I may never think of candy corn the same again.
Mo'Dean got into my kitchen late yesterday afternoon. Around and around the kitchen table we went until I shooed her outside. Must have been a sight to see.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14
FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth.
|
| Red Tractor Girl |
Posted - Sep 26 2015 : 05:24:44 AM
Sara, what a interesting idea for your chickens! I bet they are enthusiastic about the corn now. Hehehe, Fall Candy Corn for Chickens!!
Winnie #3109
Red Tractor Girl
Farm Sister of the Year 2014-2015 |
| YellowRose |
Posted - Sep 25 2015 : 07:35:42 AM
We have cool mornings now and warm afternoons so the chickens are busy-busy.
I have a large bag of cracked corn that the chickens do not like. Had it since spring and it now has mealy worms which they do like. I think I will buy another bag of corn and seed it with some of the mealy worms. Between the two bags there should be enough mealy worms for winter feeding.
The chickens are still laying an egg each day, but they are laying later in the morning. Used to be after 5a.m. ~ now it's after nine.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14
FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth.
|
| YellowRose |
Posted - Sep 06 2015 : 4:22:20 PM
Nicole deviled eggs make good & easy egg sandwiches. When I make deviled eggs I make a couple extra so I can have an egg sandwich the next day.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth.
|
| texdane |
Posted - Sep 06 2015 : 3:44:42 PM
Lol, Sara. I have a chicken who always lets the whole world know when she lays an egg. The other two don't much care, like , "Oh, there's an egg". Peep always announces her gift to us. She was so proud the first time she laid an egg...she ran out of the box fussing and whooping and trying to get my other girls to go see. What a hoot they are!
Enjoy! As for egg dishes, ideas I have done and do frequently: omelets, quiches, fritattas, mashed boiled egg sandwiches (like my mom and grandma made), and deviled.
Farmgirl Hugs,
Nicole
Farmgirl Sister #1155
KNITTER, JAM-MAKER AND MOM EXTRAORDINAIRE
Chapter Leader, Connecticut Simpler Life Sisters
Farmgirl of the Month, January 2013
Suburban Farmgirl Blogger
http://sfgblog.maryjanesfarm.org/
www.facebook.com/suburbanfarmgirlblogger |
| YellowRose |
Posted - Sep 05 2015 : 04:53:36 AM
At 6a.m. while watering in the front yard I heard a chicken just letting the world know she had laid an egg. Must had been Mo'Dean because she is my early layer. By the time I finished watering a little before 7a.m. I had two eggs to gather. Claude will get her work done sometime after 9a.m.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth.
|
| YellowRose |
Posted - Aug 22 2015 : 06:41:07 AM
Winnie, the other day the 12 year old boy next door washed my car for back to school money. When he saw me coming with a bowl of eggs he said "Thanks Miss Sara, I'll have them for my breakfast." Don't know if he ate all 6 or not ~~~ maybe he shared with his parents.
Just got to comment on his manners. I just love it these days when young ones have manners. I grew up calling adults Mr., Mrs., or a single woman Miss no matter her age. I still hear it from older men ~ cowboys & farmers especially but rarely from the young.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth.
|
| Red Tractor Girl |
Posted - Aug 22 2015 : 06:08:35 AM
How great that your girls are giving you lots of eggs and keeping their coop a bit tidy!! I know your neighbors enjoy the fresh egg gifts as well!!
Winnie #3109
Red Tractor Girl
Farm Sister of the Year 2014-2015 |
| YellowRose |
Posted - Aug 20 2015 : 4:30:10 PM
I had the pleasure of cleaning the girls coop today. I said pleasure and I meant it. The covered screened area where they roost at night is only 2'X2' and a little over 3' high so raking it out wasn't much work.
The closed in area is the same measurements and since they free range during the day they're only in there to eat, or get into their nesting boxes to lay those beautiful brown eggs.
I hardboiled 6 eggs this morning and gave 6 to my neighbor. Tomorrow I will have another 3 eggs. The girls keep me busy thinking of ways to use what they give me.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth.
|
| YellowRose |
Posted - Aug 15 2015 : 03:36:24 AM
Morgan, Welcome to the Farm. I live in a small city and have a small backyard with a chain-linked fence. I have three chickens that run free during the day and roost in a store bought little red barn coop with a covered screened area. This summer they sleep on a perch in the screened area.
I enjoy taking care of and watching my girls, and as an extra bonus I get three beautiful brown eggs a day.
I got my chickens this spring when they were 3 days old from a farm store. That's when they are available locally. I don't know if chickens through catalogs or on-line are available year round or not.
I hope you do get your chickens and that you like them as much as I like mine.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth.
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