Happy New Year!
To say that 2012 did not flow as I hoped it would, is an understatement!
Plans were made and dreaming of new projects filled my head this time last year.
And most of them did not happen....
But here is the report anyway.
1. I wanted to make this the year of the Chicken and in April I got my first 6 day old chicks. 2 RI R's and 4 Brown Leg Horne's. I set up a brooder up stairs and raised them up until the fluff was replaced with feathers.
While they were doing the baby chick thing, I built a Chicken coop out of recycled wood and got it ready for them when I moved them in.
Then in July I was on Crag's list and saw an add for 5 month old "Golden Comets" at $10.00 each. So I got 6 of them. making the flock an even 12.
And they all turned out to be Hens and I got my first egg on July 16. and today I collected the last of the 2012 Cackle Berries for a total of........849!! WOW!!. Never even though I would get close to that number.
The girls were allowed to free range and they were laying eggs everywhere! And that did not set well with the families around me. I even got a nasty gram from one lady telling me that the Chickens were getting into her flower beds and crapping on her deck.
So I knocked together an addition to the coop and tried to fence them in. But they still got out and Chicken Tussling is not my favorite sport. And try as I would to mach the Chicken run ex scape proof, they still got out. I finally put a big tarp over the whole thing and that seems to be doing the job.
And then about a month before Christmas, a man from down the road offered me 6 more birds. I took them happy to increase the flock to 18! But 4 of them turned out to be Cornish X and were 5 - 6 months old. Too old to put in the freezer and all they do is eat.
Well I have lost 2 of the "Comets" and 2 of the Eaters, So the flock is at 14 now and the coop no longer big enough, So I got a portable Building delivered just before Christmas and am working on get it set up as the new coop.
The weather has not been very good sense it's arrival and I have not wanted to brave the cold and rain to do much with yet. But I have 3 days off work this coming week end and will try to get motivated to get things started!
So 2012 was all about Chickens. And this post is getting longer then I intended.
So the next post will be 2013 and more Chicken stories!
See you next Year!
Tom
To say that 2012 did not flow as I hoped it would, is an understatement!
Plans were made and dreaming of new projects filled my head this time last year.
And most of them did not happen....
But here is the report anyway.
1. I wanted to make this the year of the Chicken and in April I got my first 6 day old chicks. 2 RI R's and 4 Brown Leg Horne's. I set up a brooder up stairs and raised them up until the fluff was replaced with feathers.
While they were doing the baby chick thing, I built a Chicken coop out of recycled wood and got it ready for them when I moved them in.
Then in July I was on Crag's list and saw an add for 5 month old "Golden Comets" at $10.00 each. So I got 6 of them. making the flock an even 12.
And they all turned out to be Hens and I got my first egg on July 16. and today I collected the last of the 2012 Cackle Berries for a total of........849!! WOW!!. Never even though I would get close to that number.
The girls were allowed to free range and they were laying eggs everywhere! And that did not set well with the families around me. I even got a nasty gram from one lady telling me that the Chickens were getting into her flower beds and crapping on her deck.
So I knocked together an addition to the coop and tried to fence them in. But they still got out and Chicken Tussling is not my favorite sport. And try as I would to mach the Chicken run ex scape proof, they still got out. I finally put a big tarp over the whole thing and that seems to be doing the job.
And then about a month before Christmas, a man from down the road offered me 6 more birds. I took them happy to increase the flock to 18! But 4 of them turned out to be Cornish X and were 5 - 6 months old. Too old to put in the freezer and all they do is eat.
Well I have lost 2 of the "Comets" and 2 of the Eaters, So the flock is at 14 now and the coop no longer big enough, So I got a portable Building delivered just before Christmas and am working on get it set up as the new coop.
 |
| And here it is |
So 2012 was all about Chickens. And this post is getting longer then I intended.
So the next post will be 2013 and more Chicken stories!
See you next Year!
Tom
Happy New Year Tom!
ReplyDeleteStay warm and dry from that cold rain, stories on chickens are a good thing, keep them coming :-)
Sandy,
DeleteAnd HAPPY NEW YEAR to YOU TOO!
Staying warm and dry is the main project for the next few months!
Another Chicken story... 3 of the Cornish X's have gone on to the BIG CHICKEN COOP in the sky. The rooster got so big that he broke his leg and I had to put him down. The other two just went on there own.
Tom
Happy New Year ..... that is some chicken coop. If you have problems with chickens flying over top of fences clip one wing, that will make them lop sided and they will be limited on flying capabilities, if you clip both wings they can still fly. Good luck, with your chickens.
ReplyDeleteTomstone,
DeleteHey, isn't she a bute? I hope to be getting a work shop of the same design by next month, Only bigger...10' X 20' Now there is a project I'm looking forward to!
I tried clipping the wings on one side, but someone forgot to tell the Chickens this worked! The still got out! I have a big tarp over the top of every thing now and they seem to be happy to stay closer to home!
Tom
Happy 2013, Tom!!!
ReplyDeleteBee Girl,
DeleteTo you too!
I hope that 2013 is better then 2012! Altho, I did get a new job and my first Chickens in 2012! I still can not belive the number of Eggs I got! 849!!! HOLLY CRAP BATMAN!!
Tom
That's one thing you can count on - chickens are a never-ending project! How's Daisy? Here's hoping that 2013 is a much, much better year for you - and that all or most of your projects come true!
ReplyDeleteSusan,
DeleteAnd funny to boot!
Daisy is doing better. She still favors that leg and will only use it once every few steps. But she still gets around OK and can now get up on the bed.
I'm looking forward to the Projects for this year and the new WORK SHOP is the first in a long line!
Tom
Happy New Year Tom! What did happen though, you got a new and better job.
ReplyDeleteSpider,
DeleteYour right about that! And working with INMATES is a lot differant then I though it would be! The job I get the most is in the "SPECIAL HOUSING UNIT" and they do not come out of the cell for any reason on my shift. And I have to feed breakfast to all of them! Talk about FUN!!!
Tom
Happy New Year Tom!
ReplyDelete