So the chicks are settling in. Of course, they arrived during a snowstorm. And the temperature has been dropping below zero every night. It was a hard trip and we lost 4 Black Stars, 4 Phoenix, a bantam Gwen had ordered, and 4 big yellow chicks that were added for extra warmth (two of the six survived).
Everyone that is left is looking good.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Happy Chick Day!
We got a batch of chicks on Monday March 2. We are adding to our small flock: 25 Black Star females. Gwen also got some Phoenix.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Winter Update
The winter has been snowy and cold. The chickens are still in their old coop. We currently have one rooster and twelve hens (three Americana and nine Pearl White Leghorns). The rooster (the kids call him "Bill") is a Pearl White Leghorn with a big single comb - we have had a couple of cold nights, and he has gotten some frostbite.
We were getting four eggs per day (all white - no eggs from the Americanas). I put a light in the coop on a timer. I am giving them a couple hours of light in the morning and several hours in the afternoon/evening. Within a few days, production rose 50% to six eggs per day (including 1-2 blue eggs from the Americanas).
The chickens don't seem to mind the cold very much. If it is cold, they just fluff out their feathers and sleep with their heads under their wings (except for the rooster, who insists on keeping watch on everything). The snow is a different story - they do not like to walk on the snow. If one of them gets startled out of the coop, she flies as far as she can (about 15 feet), lands in the snow, and stands their looking confused. Eventually she takes off back toward the coop door where she lands in a cloud of dust.
We were getting four eggs per day (all white - no eggs from the Americanas). I put a light in the coop on a timer. I am giving them a couple hours of light in the morning and several hours in the afternoon/evening. Within a few days, production rose 50% to six eggs per day (including 1-2 blue eggs from the Americanas).
The chickens don't seem to mind the cold very much. If it is cold, they just fluff out their feathers and sleep with their heads under their wings (except for the rooster, who insists on keeping watch on everything). The snow is a different story - they do not like to walk on the snow. If one of them gets startled out of the coop, she flies as far as she can (about 15 feet), lands in the snow, and stands their looking confused. Eventually she takes off back toward the coop door where she lands in a cloud of dust.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Production is Falling (with the leaves)
The days have gotten short enough that the hens are laying far fewer eggs. The Araucana's stopped laying entirely about two weeks ago. The Pearl White Leghorns are laying at about half-speed. I plan to get production back up again by putting a light on a timer in the coop to extend the day for them. I just need to get electrical issues in the barn worked out (which actually is dependent on some plumbing work in the house...it is a long story).
The @#$&%&#*! dogs were outside for a long time today (to keep them from bothering/eating the painter that is working in our dining room). They got bored and decided that instead of digging holes they would hunt chickens. They caught and killed one of the Pearl White Leghorn hens. Actually, she was not dead when I got them away from her, but she had died by the time I got the dogs in their crates in the house and got back out to put her out of her misery. I am so sick of the dogs.
I think we are now down to 11 hens and one rooster (Bill). This is down from a total of 75 last Fall. That is some serious attrition.
The @#$&%&#*! dogs were outside for a long time today (to keep them from bothering/eating the painter that is working in our dining room). They got bored and decided that instead of digging holes they would hunt chickens. They caught and killed one of the Pearl White Leghorn hens. Actually, she was not dead when I got them away from her, but she had died by the time I got the dogs in their crates in the house and got back out to put her out of her misery. I am so sick of the dogs.
I think we are now down to 11 hens and one rooster (Bill). This is down from a total of 75 last Fall. That is some serious attrition.
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