May 15, 2012
by Pam
0 comments
November 13, 2011
by Pam
0 comments
October 15, 2011
by Pam
1 Comment
So someone mentioned that there’s a lack of activity on this blog. Yeah. It’s true.
We’ve lost several of the barred rocks and one of the reds. Everyone else is doing fine. They’re pullets now…no more chicklets! Everyone is just about fully feathered except for their heads…about half of them still have fuzzy heads. Betty is back with the other chickens and is more than holding her own. Dan the rooster is a pretty bird. One of the barred rocks, the one that’s more gray than black, may also be a rooster but I’m going to keep thinking of her as a pullet until my denial will no longer hold. Her comb is already getting red and she stares down the big chickens on a regular basis. When this happens Thelma and Louise sort of wander off looking sheepish, like maybe they shouldn’t be hassling the little girls. Of course, they continue to hassle…but I don’t think they’re being mean. I think they’re just trying to make it clear that they are the boss.
Today I pulled weeds all day long. I dumped two cartloads in the run because they really like to eat grass and leaves and seeds…of course Thelma and Louise were scared of the weed pile but as soon as the little girls saw it there was a mass of young chickens all running for the pile. Their little gullets are quite full now, thank you very much. Later this afternoon when I checked on them, all the little girls were behind the doghouse that serves as their coop and on one side was Thelma and on the other Louise. They wouldn’t let them out! I don’t know what that was all about but I busted up their game and now everyone seems happy again.
In other news, tomorrow is Team Research Chicken day and I think all the Florida Hospital co-op members are coming (Robin’s been sick and her daughter just had minor surgery so she probably won’t come again). The girls love company so it will be a good day.
My last entry mentioned buying more chickens in the Fall. Of course, I meant Spring. I think it might be a good field trip to get some co-op members together and make a trip to Tractor Supply, or maybe Hendrix Feed. I love picking chickens out of the pens. Hendrix one time had Buff Orpingtons and Black Astrolorps. I’d really like more of those…they lay dark brown eggs and are nice birds. And in the meantime, I am definitely going to extend the run area.
That’s all for now. Tomorrow we’ll be painting the chickens’ names on the coop and I PROMISE, I’ll have some more pictures for you!
October 5, 2011
by Pam
1 Comment
Yep…we’ve lost one of the Barred Rock chickens. I am going to have to do something with the bottom of the run where they’re getting out. Poor Steve spend a good chunk of his day herding poultry.
I think we’re going to have a Team Research Chicken visitation next Sunday. I’ll have to ask them to clean up a little.
October 4, 2011
by Pam
0 comments
Since the mass chicken escape earlier this week, I have been unable to get a good count, but it looks like we’re short one of the Barred Rock chickens. I’ve counted multiple times and I keep coming up with 19 black chickens. Maybe this weekend I’ll actually do a count where I separate the ones I’ve counted so I will know for sure. They are not keen on the idea of standing still while I count.
Our bathtub chicken is obviously smaller than the others, and she’s not flying. Tonight I put her in my lap while I watched my Tuesday shows…she was very active and curious about what’s going on but she’s just so small. I have decided that this little girl is a gift to me, and I’m going to spoil the heck out of her as long as I can, which means I have to think of a name (I’m leaning toward Betty MacDonald, author of “The Egg and I”). When she starts flying, I’ll put her back outside but until then I’m going to make sure she’s got treats and gets held and cossetted every day. Apparently Steve is on board with this idea since he just walked out of the bedroom holding her and whispering to her; he’s lucky I’m not the jealous type.
I think I have a good plan to extend the run area so we can add a few more chickens in the fall. I’m surprised how many people are interested in co-op chickens!
October 2, 2011
by Pam
4 Comments
and I don’t have pictures, sorry. It’s been a busy weekend! The weather has been absolutely glorious and makes me remember why I love October in Florida.
The Team Research Chickens had a very special set of visitors this weekend…Robin (see THIS PAGE) brought her family out to the country for some peace and quiet before their trek to Zombietoberfest. Carter, Sebastian and Reese wore out the chickens! It was a really fun visit. My favorite part was the kids with chickens on their shoulders. It was like some off-kilter pirate action out there.
We noticed yesterday that one of the girls just doesn’t look as peppy as the others and this morning she really looked weak. She wasn’t holding her wings right and she looked like she was falling asleep (or worse) on her feet. So I’ve got her in the bathtub with the heat lamp on. Within an hour she had perked up. She’s eating, drinking, pooping and trying to fly out of the tub. I think she’ll be okay but I’m going to keep her inside for another day or two. She may be fine but I’m a wreck. It is not always happy when I have a chicken in the bathtub but I feel pretty good about it this time.
Lisa’s hubby and his buddies spent the day building the Taj Mahal of chicken coops for her babies today. I can’t wait to get over there and see it. I am feeling a strong inclination to expand my chicken run but I think the coop is probably about the right size.
I promise…new video this week, honest.
September 27, 2011
by Pam
0 comments
This evening I put all 25 chicks in their play yard so they could stretch out and enjoy a little sunshine. On Sunday they had plenty of room. Today, though, they looked crowded. So tomorrow evening they will move into the run with Thelma and Louise. I’m in the process of partitioning off a section for them so everyone can get acquainted without getting beaten up. They are growing so fast I just can’t keep them in the brooders! Once I have them settled in, there will be some fun video.
September 24, 2011
by Pam
2 Comments
Thelma and Louise had a wander through the yard earlier this evening. Thelma looks really rough…she is not pretty in molt but I’d guess she’s about halfway through it. Louise looks pretty good but has lost most of her tail. They’re funny girls…they like to stick together. If you ignore the dog barking, you can hear the chicks on the back porch during part of this video. Enjoy!
September 24, 2011
by Pam
4 Comments
Today I took 5 chicks to Lisa’s house. We let them get settled in and then decided to take them outside to play. They have never been in the grass before so this is a major milestone for them!
The first chick out of the box wasn’t too sure she really wanted to be a part of the wide, wide world.
You can tell these little chicks know who their new Mom is!
I managed to capture some footage of the very rare Shoe Chickens.
September 24, 2011
by Pam
3 Comments
I just love this picture. Such a pretty hen, such a sweet boxer. Many thanks to Pam Steiner for sharing it with me, and to Angela Gabbert for allowing me to use it here. The hen is Maggie and the boxer is Piper. Isn’t this the picture of a peaceful afternoon?
The little girls are really getting strong. This morning while Steve was helping me clean out the brooders, one flew on to the side of the box. So it’s just a matter of time now until they’re all flying. Their response to everything today is to run around jumping up and down and flapping their wings. Some of them get good vertical distance but land right where they started. Some can fly across the box but without enough height to escape. By tomorrow I expect the back porch will be full of wild chicklets, and that will be fun (but messy).
I am parting with the first of the girls today. Lisa is taking 5 chicks, the one we call Little Lisa because it loves her so much and four of the barred rocks. I will miss them, but not for long, and quite honestly the other girls will be glad for the additional space.
The Flip camera is charging up and I hope to take everyone outside to play today, maybe with a little yogurt. It should make for some fun video, so check back if it’s not posted while you’re reading this.
Have a wonderful weekend!
