Plans for spring

This spring and summer I will be trying something new. A friend and I ordered a batch of meat birds to raise/butcher together.  It will be both of our first time raising meat birds. We ordered 10 chicks, and as usual expect to loose one or two. She has a good brooder set up, and I have our old chicken tractor sitting unused to put the birds in when they get older.  We ordered "Red Rangers", aka "Freedom Rangers", and will be ready for butcher at about 9-11 weeks.  The arrive late March/early April, so mid summer our freezers will be full. It's so nice to have a friend help you get through new adventures together!

It got me to thinking though, I hate my old chicken tractor sitting unused the majority of them time. It seems like there got to be an animal I can use it to house. So Im going to be researching how feasible it is to use it for some other type of bird.

Also for spring, I'd like to build a few more raised beds. I built one last week, and will be keeping my eye out at the hardware store for discounted lumber.

Brrrr...

We've had a unusually long cold snap here - it's been below freezing every night for a week. I leaned plywood against the open air coop for some insulation, and finally got a heat lamp. After working a 9hr day, I went to the hardware store on the way home, and began setting it up in the dark. When I finially turned it on, I discovered a gruesome bloody  mess in the coop.

The girls (mostly Henrietta I think), picked on little whitie while they were going up to roost- she was covered in blood - her entire head and neck. I brought her inside, wrapped her in a towel, and put her int he shower stall. I went back outside to finish setting up the heat lamp. When I came back in, I washed her off. It looked like she'd been pecked pretty badly around the comb. I dressed her wounds with neosporin, made up homemade electrolytes, and syringed them to her (she was in shock). She perked up after the electrolytes.  I left her inside for the night. The next morning made her eat/drink some. She was acting much better overall, even making normal chicken noises. Later that afternoon, I gave her another bath, as she was still covered in blood, and I couldn't put her in w/the others so bloody.  Here are her injuries after the 2nd bath. 

After she dried, I put her out w/the others and monitored them carefully - I even stayed outside for roosting time. No one picked on her going up to roost.  There are usually some scuffles for "prime" roost spots, but never resulting it injuries like this. 

Winterized the bees

Today (sadly) was my last hive check of the season. It was nice and warm with some sun, so I took the chance to get in the hive and winterize them. Today I.... 1) again took inventory of their resources (3 boxes of honey), 2) got a feel for how many bees (way more than I expected, bottom 2.5 boxes full), 3) treated for mites and 4) tilted the hive forward, so any condensation they produce will run forward (away from the winter cluster).  I feel like they are looking really good heading into winter - they have everything they need to make it through. Though with bees, it's never a sure thing. 

Updates...

A few changes around here.  I added 3 new birds to the flock (2 White Leghorns, and a Cuckoo Maran).  Sadly, the Cuckoo Maran turned out to be a Roo, so he was destined for the soup pot. I had really wanted some of their dark "chocolate" colored eggs, but fate had other plans. The good news is, I found someone who wanted to breed Cuckoo Maran's, so he went to live on a farm in Olympia.  So I'm down to 7 chickens (8 being the limit of what I am allowed). *Sigh* I guess I wasn't mean to have 8. Also someone posted an add recently for a breed I like/want, so am considering....

We also installed an automatic door on the chicken coop. It is the best $200 I've ever spent. It runs on batteries, and has a light sensor, so it opens/closes on its own at dawn and dusk. 

I also tried my hand at making pickles.  The fridge dill pickles turned out wonderfully.  I also tried lactofermenting some, which didn't turn out so well - there wasn't enough liquid to cover the pickles, and they grew mold. I also tried hot canning some - I did 4 pint jars, one of which cracked while processing. The other three sealed right away (but I haven't tried them yet).

New coop pics

Finially, pics of the new coop. It's our first ever attempt to build something ourselves. We managed without killing each other. :)

Sides put together

Sides attached to each other

Door in, roof on, partially screened

Nest box from old kitchen drawer

New coop

We are in the process of building a new, open air coop. We are using this design: http://myoutdoorplans.com/animals/simple-chicken-coop-plans/ but without anything on the inside (except a perch).  They will just roost there at night, with access to their run during the day.  I plan on building a freestanding nest box in their large run. I also purchase an electronic door opener, that will open and close with sunrise/sunset.

I will post pics soon of the progress!

A tribute to Buffy & Zippy....

You have nourished myself, my friends, and family well. Thank You.  I hope you have had the best possible chickeny life- able to run, dust bath, chase bugs, and scratch around in the dirt, as chickens should.

Zippy was smart, and an escape artist. Buffy was a kind leader, she never picked on the others.

I am honoring your life and death the best way I know how.  I spent a few minutes holding each of you, thanking you for your life and nourishment before I did deed quickly, quietly, and humanely.  I will continue to honor you by using all of your parts -you will continue to nourish us through rich, flavorful broth that we will enjoy in the months to come.