Crowing

NIGEL:
The cockerels are starting crowing!
We are very proud!!!
Some sound like sick dogs howling... but several have quite high quality crows!
This will help us as we separate the pullets from the cockerels in the near future.

Chook-Care Service

NIGEL:
Well we headed off to Wilmington NC to meet up with some British friends, enjoy the beach & let Susan to do a presentation for work. So we are lucky enough to have the Barbees (some of our wonderful neighbors) who were enthusiastic volunteers to supervise (feed, water, lock them up at nights & let them out in the mornings, & in general care for the chickens) the chook farm.

We showed them what we do & they were confident of success! So were we.

While away in the 100+' F heat we even received a report on their status while we were away...awesome! All was good. Anway, we suspect they did several hours of chook watching & admiring (maybe even with a glass of vino???) & as a result they gave #46 their own name.... & called here Lucy! My question is.... will this cause any issues with #46/Lucy & result in large Chicken Psychologist bills?

Settling In

NIGEL:
Well the chooks appear to be settling in & really enjoying their new abode.
They enjoy the below coop deck area & wandering around their run searching for food.
The internal exit works well now they are used to it.

The one weird thing they do is.... as they go to roost in the evening many of them crowd into one corner chirping/clucking crazily? We have no idea why!
Any ideas?

We hope that they begin using the 'well-designed roosts' with the poop pits below?

Looney!

NIGEL:
Susan is looney! Okay, no new info there!!
So I am off at my regular lads evening..... where we discuss & almost solve the world's problems, & I typically leave my phone in the car.
As I climb in my car to head home, & see that I have 2 messages.... from Susan!!?

The general gist of it... with direct quotes contained within are below....

The SCENE: While I was away, Susan was putting the chickens away for the night. Several of them decided that under the coop was the place to go.

PHONE CALL #1:
"I felt I had to call to share what has just happened to me! Many of the chickens either can't locate, or wont use the chicken ramp. Now the little chicken ramp contained within the coop may seem like a good idea...BUT the chickens DON'T KNOW HOW TO USE IT!! It is a BAD IDEA! BAD IDEA! So I had to lay down in the chicken poop & move each one to show them where the ramp was to get back into the coop. I am covered... LET ME REPEAT.... I am covered in chicken poop from my hair..... ALL THE WAY down to my toes!!!! I am completely smothered in chicken poop!!"

PHONE CALL #2:
"I wanted to let you know I have large quantities of chicken poop in my hair, on my face, on my clothes.... I am lying in it... trying to teach the chickens how to use the stairs! What I didn't tell you is.... that the whole time I was lying in the chicken poop Austin & Boomer just barked & barked. To make matters worse.... all of the neighbors were driving by & saw me covered in chicken poop! I am completely smothered in chicken poop! You are going to get it when you get home!"

Now I didn't make her get under there & roll in the poop!! Apparently this line of reasoning wasn't acceptable to Susan!?!?! I did have to chuckle though :)

FOOTNOTE:
All of the chickens happily & appropriately use the stairs to the chicken coop without any problems! Mmmmmmmm.....?

#46!!!!! a she!!!

NIGEL:
I believe #46 is a Buff Laced Polish hen!!!!! (2nd series of photos)
Check it. I am searching for leg bands/bandettes & saw this!!!!

http://www.cacklehatchery.com/polishpage.html#buff

Go #46-ette!!!

We'll have to get a Golden Laced one next!!!!

Almost lost one!!

NIGEL:

Well I was changing the chooks water & feed (perhaps for the last time?). Our plan is to get them out into the brooder run, close the door & then happily work away.
Well one very stubborn Australorp, wouldn't get out, no matter what I tried.... so I left him/her...well it must be a her in the brooder.

Anyway, at one point the wire shifted & the Australorp excitedly flew out of the very small opening & into the yard!!!!

Before I knew it, Boomer was onto the chook chasing it somewhat cautiously, but gaining confidence. I yelled, "No Boomer!" & he stopped chasing. What a well behaved boy he is.... dog shows next!?!

I waited as the Australorp ran back to the brooder & tried to fly in via the chicken wire without success. I luckily caught her & with great relief, placed her back in the brooder! Boomer has been very excited about the chickens ever since!!!!

Where are the Chickens?

BOOMER:
Today is my birthday and I was locked in the basement. I barked A LOT to let mommy and Nigey know that I wanted to help them. Yesterday and the day before they let me hang around the new fence and barn that they must be building just for me because I am such a special little boy and it's my birthday. Anyway, they moved all of my CHICKENS! And, they didn't even let me help or smell one. Really I would just like to taste one. I licked my lips when mommy carried one through the garage. Could I pull all of their stufing out like I do my toys?

AUSTIN:
I don't know what happened today, but there's only one chicken left in my yard, and she sure does run when I chase her! Today I barked and chased her all around her little yard - so much fun! I just keep barking and barking ... oh! there she goes again .....

Shifting of the Chooks to their New Home!

SUSAN:
After a busy day of finishing the coop, Nigel and I started shifting the chooks about 7:30 PM -- well, once we realized that we needed a place to hang the water and feed, and Nigel organized that temporarily.... we moved the chooks! We started with #46 who has still been living by himself in the garage, recovering from his pecking of his tail.

Here's the "moving" process:
First, we consulted the chicken bible and placed it within the coop for easy reference, if needed.
Second, I secure the top netting as Nigel catches the chook.
Then I run down to open up the coop and let Nigel inside.
We then journal about the chooks:
-it's number, breed, temperament, and other characteristics (color, deformities, injuries, etc.).
Next, Susan holds the chook while Nigel trims the wing feathers (this was not as horrid as I had envisioned, more like trimming fingernails).
Then, Nigel checks the pooper (i.e. vent) to ensure that it's not clogged or dry (unsure what we would do IF it were clogged or dry, but we check nonetheless). Then, we give it a few pats and encouraging words of advice, and place him/her gently on the floor of the new chook house!

On Saturday night we moved about 17 of the chooks. One was a bit jumpy and was mildly injured, (there was some bleeding) ... so, he went into the garage for the night to recover. He really screamed out as Nigel began to cut his wing.

Up Sunday morning and we moved the remaining chooks. Here are some observations about their character and other characteristics:
- well developed combs
- healthy
- flightly
- strong
- average (most are average)
- big
- pale comb
- bare back & wings (on the Wyandottes, who seem to have been pecked quite a bit)

In the process we moved a beautiful & very white Wyandotte who we have named "snowball" - she promises many eggs :)

And, we left one bare-backed & bloody Wyandotte (Skinnydip) in the brooder to recover.

TOT and Claw were among the very last to be moved into the chooks house. During the move, TOT demonstrated another reason (in addition to his deformity) as to why he should be culled: rowdy, trouble-maker!

Coop Finished (Well, Sort Of ...)

SUSAN:
Today Nigel's mate, Lance(-alot), came to work on the coop after a very unsuccessful early morning fishing attempt. We started at 10 AM. Nigel had already visited Lowes (his 2nd home!!) and we ALL worked until nearly 7 PM!

Lance and I finished the fencing around the coop, while Nigel walked aimlessly around holding a hammer and sometimes a drill. He made suggestions (he's a good manager???), gave some directions (which we ignored) and then cut something (not sure if whatever was cut was ever used??. After lunch, Lance earned the privilege of using the power tools, and "action" started to happen! He and I (sometimes) worked on the doors. Nigel, meanwhile, actually did something and built a ramp (indoor design of which he is VERY proud) for the chooks to use to access the run. He also added the roosts, which are made of small pine trees from our yard.

They hung the door into the fenced-in yard (for the brooder eventually) AND they built and hung the door into the coop. Just like that ... the coop was FINISHED (well, except for the interior walls, outside access to the fenced-in yard, flashing, rain-proofing window flaps, etc, etc.).

It truly is a beautiful coop, and very fancy on the outside with the sparkly tin, large picture windows, and of course ... the best mountain view from our lot!

Lance was awesome..... hopefully Nigel will learn some tips!?!?!?

Coop almost

NIGEL:
Well, the coop & run are almost finished 'enough' so that the chooks can move in.
I worked quite late last night on the coop & have a few small but difficult exterior finiishes to do. I am going to try & use much of the left over corrugated iron cuts to complete these. I also have to put chicken wire over the air flow windows.

I am going to attack the run's fence tomorrow. First, finish the lower fence segment. Then, fill in all of the trenches... not looking forward to that. I will drill & add the top wire & then the top segment of the fence. Our goal is Saturday.... (yep we are behind on our posts... but not our goals!!!).

Its both exciting & frastrating!
Also the corn we planted around the run is coming up!!!

Gone!

NIGEL:
Well my two main helpers have left me!!
Mum & Dad headed off today.
They were disappointed that we didn't complete the coop & run.... but we made huge progress. They were amazing!!!

They also helped care for the chooks... we'll miss them alot!!

Apparently they are going to miss our bar?!?! ;)

Progress

NIGEL:
Well we are slowly making progress. Dad & Mum lead the way digging ditches & working on the fence. I bounced back & forth from the Taj (coop) & the fence. Mum & dad want to get as much done before they leave!! That's tomorrow.

Today, we had a neighbor, Rodney...who we just met, drop off string beans for the chickens, another.... Jim, come with his hammer to help. He along with Susan helped tie the lower chicken wire to the lower anchor wire... yes very exciting!!! We were excited about the help we received.... as tying wire is not amazingly enjoyable!!!

Our activities are definitely keeping the neighborhood interested. Vehicles that normally race up our lane.... now putter along & casually check out our progress or lack thereof. Neighbors have asked what we are building & what we are keeping there! Already several are ready to buy our eggs!!!

Trench digging!!

NIGEL:
Well we've been doing a lot of trench digging the last few days. Dad & I dug the trenches around the coop (between 1'-3' deep) to keep any animals with chicken dinners on their minds, out of the coop. We also started the netting around the run trenches... all about 1' deep. Then today, after some glorious rain... we have been in a drought for up here (no rain for 5 weeks!!!).... Susan, Mum & Dad continued to dig & almost finished them. It didn't happen quietly.... believe me (I was working on attaching the corrugated iron in the trenches & onto the coop framing) .... Susan was the worst & said some nasty things to me & about me?!?!?!?

#46

NIGEL:
Today, we went to feed & water the chooks & my Dad noticed that #46 was bleeding a lot from the tail. Other chooks have been pecking at his tail as he is different.
We had to move him out, otherwise the other chooks would attack him eventually & cannibalize him!! After some manoeuvring, we were able to catch him... heck he was strong.... & move him to his own little box. He didn't seem to happy about leaving his mates!!!

Coop-a-coming

NIGEL:
Well its been a while. That's because we've been working hard on getting the Taj Mahal of chook coops up & finished!! There have been challenges along the way. We reinforced the floor & structure... our neighbor Jim made some suggestions... but mostly it has been hard work.

My right arm is about to drop off!! Hammering, drilling, holding objects at weird angles, digging, carrying, etc. is taking its toll. We would not be close to finishing if it wasn't for the enthusiastic & somewhat obsessive help from my parents, Russell & Cynthia. They continue toward the goal of helping finish the coop before they leave... I don't think it is going to happen! :(

Our grass is coming along, thanks to my mum's watering. We had a dog/coyote bury a possum in amongst our grass for a while, but I think s/he has eaten it all by now.

While we were away, Mum & dad finished the little storage shed. It said it would take at least 5 hours to complete.... well.... almost 5 days later, they did it!!! It had a ridiculous amount of screws, bolts & plastic washers..... in fact we had to go back to Lowes, as there were not enough to follow the instructions!!!! They were champions to stick with it & it looks great. All we need to do is finish the flashing & sealing of the base.

Blackbeard

SUSAN:
Blackbeard is one of our chicks that looks half & half. S/he has an Australorp head & feet while having a Wyandotte body of feathers. Rusty (nigel's Dad) & I think its a Wyandotte... Nigel thinks Blackbeard (he wanted to call him/her Blackhead!!)is an Australorp! You decide.........

Chicks and Chickens

SUSAN:

A few weekends back (yes, I am slacking with my posts),the chicks, Boomer, Austin and I hosted some of my best girl friends for the weekend. The girls had not reviewed the blog (can you believe it) and did not realize that we had 46 chickens to look after on their visit!

I was excited that they visited at week 3 because that's when the "sex talk" was scheduled to occur, and Beezer is 6 months pregnant ... who better to offer the sex talk to the chicks? She suggested music to set the mood for the chicks:

Wind beneath my Wings, Up Where we Belong, Fly Like an Eagle etc.

She also researched (on the internet because I couldn't find the chicken bible) how baby chicks are made & how eggs are produced. There are hens that NEVER are exposed to a rooster, and still produce eggs. That's feminism!

My "chicks" helped with the "farming" tasks, including all chicken duty. I think that we gave a new element of style to farming! What do you think?