Saturday, December 22, 2012

The new Chicken Project

Hey everyone,

So the new Chicken project was started today!

But let me tell a story that will lead us into all of this.

First.... About three weeks ago I got a nasty-gram from one of the people down the road about my free range Chickens. She was pissed that the Chickens had been tearing up her flower beds and crapping on her back deck. So I tried to enclose the top of the Chicken run. But the girls had gotten use to running around the yard all day and would not stay in the run! So I had to close them up in the coop. Now that is only a 4 X 8 foot space and that was not enough room for 12 birds to live all day in. And I lost one of the "Golden Comets" and have been seeing a lot of unhappy hens!
And then about 10 days ago a guy down the road came to see me about his Chickens. He wanted to get rid of the 6 birds he had and wanted to know if I wanted them.  And without even seeing them, I said yes!
He offered to take me to his place and help me transport them to my coop. And here they are!!!


This is "Rufus". A Cornish Cross Meat bird!  He is very aggressive and he is about 15 pounds! At about 6 months old, he is way to big to be processed and put in the freezer! He would be like trying to eat an old boot! And all he does is eat and sit!

And here is one of his girl friends. She is about 12 pounds!

And another one. As you can see, she has worn the feathers off her back end by sitting all day! They are to big and heavy to get into the Coop and live under the coop. What I will do with them is still not decided. They do not lay Eggs and they are eating me out of feed at a rate that is killing my budget! I got 4 of them like this! What the he-- am I going to do with them?

And then there is "Cuddles"! This is the sweetest bird I have ever see! She sits in my lap or on my shoulder each time I go into the Run. She lays brown Eggs of a good size. I'm not sure what breed she is, But she is a  keeper!

And this is what I think is another "Golden Comet"! Also lays brown Eggs. And likes to eat out of my hand.


So with 17 birds now and a small coop I had to do something to give them more room inside and a better Run to get them outside.!
And here it is! A new 10 X 12 FT. building. Two windows, a 48 inch door and metal roof. There is a peek vent running across the top of the roof and a vent in each end of the building. I got it as a rent to own for $95.00 a month and can set it up the way I want for the flock! Pretty cool!

It's so much better then the one I put together. I need to install a door with ramp, Roosts and nesting boxes. But with 120 square feet to play with, I can provide them with a 4 star place to live. I may even put a sign up and give it a name!! I also want to insulate the walls and add a inside cover for the walls. That will take some time, But I will have fun deciding where everything will go!
I have posted in the past about wanting to get a work shop put up out back of the house and I still want to do that. It has just been put on hold for a few months. I hope to get a Lofted barn type building in a month or so. The new coop had a higher need factor for right now.

And I now have the room to add more birds come this spring or summer!
So stay tuned for the build and the changes I plan to make!

Hows that for a Chicken Project?
As of today's collection of Eggs.........783 total! I bet I hit 800 before Christmas!!!

Tom

P/S.
I also wanted to tell you all that I finally got my 5 projects for the "2012 Pay-It-Forward Challenge" mailed today! So if you are one of my lucky 5, The USPS should be delivering your craft project soon!
Tom  

15 comments:

  1. Wow, now THAT'S a chicken condo!! When are you having the hot tub installed?

    As for the Cornish Cross birds, I hate to say it, but if they are that heavy....they are just going to continue to eat and crap and cost you money. Did the other gentleman not want to butcher them? I'm afraid by the way their bums look that they may not make it long & end up just costing more $$.

    Looking forward to the hen house updates :)

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    1. Carolyn,
      I had not though of the "Hot tub"! Maybe if they were ducks!
      As far as the BIG BIRDS...He did not know what they were and he just kept feeding them! I think I will just end up putting them down. I do not want to even think about Chicken stock! I do not have a pot that they will fit in!

      I will be working on the inside of the Condo and the new run. and then will be getting everyone moved and settled in. It will take some time and I will take pictures as it goes a long!
      Tom

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  2. I am with Carolyn on the Cornish X birds. They aren't bred to be "keepers". Consider using them as stewing chickens.

    That is an amazing chicken building! They should be thrilled. I like your new chickens - wish I had one that would sit on my shoulder! I have one that follows me like a dog, but that's as close as she gets.

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    1. Susan,
      The big birds are a pain! And they maybe just added to the compost pile.
      But "Cuddles" is the best of the bunch! She meets me at the gate to the run each time I go in there and she makes me feel like it's not the food she is interested in. When she is on my shoulder, she will sometimes place a foot on bare skin and her feet are so cold!

      It will be fun setting up the coop the way I want it and some time to get it done. But I think the Girls will be happy with the results!
      Tom

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  3. OMG I am a bad blogger. I owe you a pay-it-forward item. I forgot I admit. You were the only one who signed up with me. I am sorry. Send me your address and I will mail it to you but probably after Jan 1st. Life is my only excuse and the whirl wind pace it moves with a 3 sport 13 yr old at home.

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    Replies
    1. Lisa,
      I know what you mean! I worked on my projects knowing that the dead-line was fast coming up. And with the Holidays here, It was going to take more time to get then thru the mail. So don't worry and I will get it when you send it!
      Tom

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    2. Lisa,
      OOPS, Here is the address
      Tom Stewart
      347 Church RD
      Ahoskie, N.C. 27910

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  4. What a great coop that will be. They will be the talk on the chicken hotline and all the others in the area will be insisting on luxury quarters also LOL! Looks great, can't wait to see what you do with it...sorry it's been so long since I've popped in

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    1. Katidids,
      The weather has been nasty! Rain and cold 60 mph winds. And the holidays have kept me out of the new coop.
      But I have a lot of ideas on how I want to set it up. Will keep a pictorial record of the progress and post the new digs as it goes along!
      Glad to see you back and pop in when ever you can!
      Tom

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  5. Hey Tom. Love the new coop. My girls would love it.
    I recieved your package today, 12/24/12. I LOVE it. How did you know that snowmen are my favorites? Thank you so much. Now, do I owe you a package back? I'm so air headed lately I can't remember. You have a Great Holiday, and thank you again.
    Terry

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    Replies
    1. Terry,
      I'm so glad you like the snowman! Doesn't everybody love them?
      No you do not owe me anything!
      It was fun to work on the projects and I was happy to get them in the mail!
      Also, it was good that you got it before Christmas! ONE DAY BEFORE! Boy that was close!
      Hope you had a great Christmas!
      Tom

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  6. Tom, we got your P.I.F. gift on Christmas Eve & Rhiannon already picked a spot for it (and has taken off/put back on the snowmen no fewer than four hundred fifty three times, btw)! She has also decided that the key fobs are Christmas tree ornaments. The actually look pretty nice as decorations!

    Thanks so much!!

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    1. Carolyn,
      I'm so glad that you and Rhiannon like the sign. When we were going to all the craft shows, it was very popular and sold like hotcakes!
      You could take a sharpie and even write all of your names on the snow cones!
      Four hundred and fifty three times? LOL!! I'm really happy she likes it!!
      The key fobs are called "Monkey Fists" and I hand tied them for the shows to. Never though to use them as tree ornaments.
      I should have gotten it finished a lot sooner, But at least I got it to you before the dead line.
      Will keep in touch threw the blog and comments in the New Year!
      Tom

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  7. The birds you think will be to tough to eat would make wonderful broth! Just stick them in a crock pot with lots of water and a little salt and anything else you want in your broth and cook them for 24 hours or so the first time (oh yeah add a little apple cidar vinegar just a splash to help pull the good stuff from the bones). Try the meat before you cook it longer to see if it's something you would want to eat, dump off the broth and freeze or can it...then repete another time or two or three, adding a splash or two of vinegar each time and breaking up the bones once they get soft enough to. After the first round I usually leave mine in the crock pot for more than 24 hours...so the broth gets nice and dark and flavorful. It's really good for you (much better for you than the store bought) and wonderful to use in soups and other dishes! :-))

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    1. Deb,
      I have only one of the birds left walking around now. I found one of the hens dead one morning (Do not know what happened!). And a second one died a few days later?
      The Rooster ended up with a broken leg and was taking his pain out on the rest of the flock. I found him one morning sitting on a hen, pecking her about the head and neck. He had to go!!! So I put him down and he is in the compost pile now. Maybe he will do some good there!?
      Tom

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