Chicken Run

I've been stressing for weeks about how, what, and where to put a chicken run.  I don't know why I originally thought this would be no big deal.  Because, it was a big deal!  The good news is, I wasn't alone.  After joining a Chicken 101 group on Facebook I found out that I wasn't the only one who underestimated this part of chicken keeping.  

After driving everyone in the family completely bonkers with a new plan every minute, my daughter Amber took matters into her own hands and decided we were going to build us a chicken run.  And when I say we, I mean she and her husband Andrew did it.  I was only there for moral support, handing over the credit card, and playing with the grandkids.  The following is a picture journey of Rookie Coop and Chicken Run Building. 

First plan...fail...

Plan B.  Or more like XYZ!

We had some good helpers.

Another helper!

Loving the sandbox.  The one and only time he can play in it!

Ta Da!  Needs a little more TLC but I'm very happy!

Finally in their (hopefully) permanent location.

And this is what a true rookie backyard chicken run looks like.  Learning as we go is giving me a fun focus when a fun focus has been needed the most!

~Kelly

Moving Day...Almost

The Chickettes are getting big!  We are still not sure if we have girl chickies or boy chickies.  We do have a fun idea coming up, but, more about that later.

The question of when to move chicks to their outdoor coop seems to have differing answers. Today, because the chicks are getting so big, and so rambunctious, and so incredibly dusty, I decided it would be moving day.  We agreed that they are mostly feathered, and that we could move the brooder heater into the coop.  Even though we don't have a run yet, the coop is ready and the chicks are still technically small and have plenty of room inside. Seemed perfect. We moved the coop to the patio and it looks so pretty!

The coop wouldn't be complete with the curtains that I made to go over the nest boxes! It is recommended to put curtain over the nest boxes.  It gives the birds privacy and prevents interference from other nosey hens while laying. 

Aren't they cute! I had so much fun making these.  I call them my Hippie Chickie curtains!

Unfortunately, I could not get them to figure out the ramp and that's where they are supposed to sleep.  I would moved them upstairs and before I got back down for another, the one I just moved up came hopping down the ramp. (They got the going down part down!)  As it started to get colder outside, we started worrying about them.  I know, they are backyard chickens and came to me from a barn.  What can I say? We moved them back into their safe sun porch brooder.  I can now sleep. We will try again another day.

~Kelly

Outdoor Adventures!

The weather was so nice this weekend that we took the Chickettes on a field trip to their big chickie coop. It is recommended that this be done in order to introduce them to all the outdoor organisms that their little bodies need to build immunity against.  They were a little unsure at first.  Especially when the girl with the big camera tried to climb in with them.  Literally!

Stay back and nobody will get hurt! 

Small but fierce!

Okay, maybe we can trust you.

Eventually they started chicking around.  

"Chicking"

 

I think that our first outdoor adventure was a success.  Dogs left the chicks alone, kind of.  Spring flowers were blooming.  Chickette life is good. 

Bella.  She may want to play with the Chickettes.
She may be a little afraid of them.

Sadie.  She may want to play fetch with them.
As in...go fetch the chick!

~Kelly

Water!

I mentioned before that when we decided we wanted some chicks, we went to TSC and said, "Set us up!".  We were definitely set up with what we needed to get by.  But, some things were not the best way to do it.  Like the water for instance.   Those little bell shaped water bowls work wonderful, for about a week.  Then the chicks grow.  

For the past two days I have been cleaning litter out of the water or cleaning up spilled water 

NON-STOP! All. Day. Long!  So, I got an idea from my chicken group and tried it out.  

Success!

Wrong!  Right after this happened, the littlest one fell through and got his leg stuck.  Back to the drawing board.  I had another idea!

Danger, Danger, Danger!  This plan was also a fail...

Okay Chickettes.  You win.  This time. 

New plan.  I ordered a nipple waterer from Amazon.  We just need to get through to Monday...

The coop!!

          Today  was a slow day and we didn't take any pics. So, we thought this would be the perfect time to tell you about our coop ideas! In our backyard we have two garden boxes that we don't use anymore. (you will see them at the end in the picture) We are going to close in both boxes and that will give them a nice chicken run! We love our Chickettes and we cant wait to see them when they get older and are able to play and stay in the coop! 

  -Faith

The Brooder

When we originally brought chicks home I did not have a clear plan regarding a brooder.  I knew they needed heat so I bought a heat lamp and crossed fingers that when I got home I would get inspired.  Inspiration struck! We have multiple coolers in the garage just sitting there, not even being used. It's been winter, but, that's beside the point.  So, I took the top off of a cooler, rigged up the light, and the Chickette's cooler brooder was in business.  The chicks are thriving.  But, the following are a few reasons why a cooler, while effective, isn't highly recommended:

1. Your husband will get very upset when you take the top off of his favorite cooler and allow chicks to poop in it.  Oops.

2.  Heat lights are known to create fires and, although it seems secure, that thought will always be there in the back of your mind.

3.  Baby chicks grow FAST!  It won't be long before they will be planning their escape.  I'm pretty sure Bertie will be the leader.

After much research (that should have been done beforehand), I have a new plan.  We are waiting on a heater to be delivered at the end of the week and then we will share our upgraded digs.  Until then, our chicks are happy and healthy living in a cooler.  

Kelly

Another photoshoot with the Chickettes!!

So today we thought it would be a good idea to have another photoshoot with the Chickettes! These spunky full of life chicks are so much fun to watch grow up. The chick on the top is named Tiny Tim and the chick on the bottom is named Bertie. As you can tell Bertie is the star of the show and he wanted to be in every picture. I had to keep telling him that his siblings need to be apart of this shoot too!