The Odd Couple Operate the Chicken Tractor

1. This is Oscar, he and his partner Felix occupy our chicken tractor in the vegetable garden. Thus far, they have proven to be the best residents we have had over many years.

The humble garden residence was built almost 10 years ago to fit into my husband's raised garden beds, and be easily moved up and down the rows, and still be comfortable enough for 1 or 2 chickens.It is still in operation with simple modifications.( Not beautiful, just practical)

The chicken tractor started out further toward the back of the garden. You can see our duck pen ( back right ) still in need of repair from the damage the ice storm caused by many large tree limbs falling on the roof.

A close-up of Felix Mlle Fleur. He was shading himself from the weak rays of the sun.

Felix and Oscar's home has to be re-enforced with boards and metal roofing because we found the raccoons are very adept at reaching through the wire and literally pulling off and eating the the flesh of any living birds within their grasp. We have found the skeletal remains of birds in their pens plucked of all flesh over-night and the only remedy is to give them a place to sleep that is not within the reach of predators.The roof of the chicken tractor is held down by old farm containers planted with sedums. Chicken tractors are very practical and also help you easily weed garden beds. This odd couple can have a vegetable patch weed-free within days and then we move the chicken tractor over a few feet for Oscar & Felix to begin again the process of eating and scratching up weeds and grass.

Slug Patrol!

Our Pekin ducks get a little muddy while on slug patrol

The very cool and rainy weather is just perfect for slugs and they are thriving on my lilies,hostas, and even in the trees.Good thing we have a slug patrol. The ducks, too, are thriving in the rain, mud, and abundance of slugs.

The ducks waddle on down to the pond for a swim and hopefully will be able to rid their bills of some of the slug slime. Even thinking about eating slugs grosses me out, but I am sure glad the slug patrol finds slugs very tasty, they should feast royally this spring !

My Chicks Come In The Mail !

My new chicks came in the mail. I am still amazed such tiny, fragile creatures can be sent safely through the mail.

 

Here you can see the box they arrived in sitting in front of the temporary brooding  pen set up in my sun room.

This is a receipt showing what chicks I ordered.I paid a little extra to receive all pullets ( females) so I would not be raising any more roosters for awhile. I still have a few roosters around I am quite fond of, and need no more. I want a lovely and varied chicken flock this coming year, and I think I picked some interesting chickens. I am especially excited about the white Orpingtons and the Delawares.

Look at all the cuteness packed into the tiny box ! I am already anticipating the delicious eggs they will lay for me and my family, but the breeds I have chosen will not begin to lay eggs until they are between 5 and 6 months of age.

I dip each chick's beak into water right after removing them from the packing box. There are glass beads in the waterer taking up space  so the little chicks do not drown in the water, which is very easy for new chicks to do.Also, the beads attract the chicks and they peck there allowing them to learn quickly the water they need is here.

I put the chicks into a big metal tub with a piece of fencing over it to keep my cat out. I have a heat lamp over the brooder. I mixed chick grit ( you can purchase this from the feed store) with chick starter feed for the first few feedings and put it in a shallow dish in the brooder.The chicks spend a lot of time happily scratching and pecking at their feed After 3 days I moved the chicks into a big metal water livestock tub in an outside shed I use just for the purpose of raising up poultry.The weather has just begun warming up and I do not think a heat lamp will be needed for long. I will probably replace the heat lamp bulbs with 6o watt light bulbs. I have two lamps over the chick brooder.

I love raising these little cuties, I love gathering newly laid eggs in the morning, I love hearing my chickens clucking and crowing, and I especially love to just watch them. They are very entertaining,and if you watch them often enough you can see they each have a unique personality, and you just might get attached to them, you just might!

Langshan hen

This is my 7 year old Langshan which was one of my first chickens, 6 years ago she won grand champion at the Washington State Fair and still looks just as nice .

New Chicks !

My chicks arrived in the mail yesterday, I invited them to tea.*

Martha Stewart & Jan Brett Keep Chickens

Martha Stewart and Jan Brett ( children's book author & illustrator) keep and show chickens. They also show a cute Easter craft and of course, there is egg cookery! Keeping chickens offers all the best things ~ pretty and entertaining birds, plenty of eggs for cooking & baking, and just plain fun.

Chicks come home

Three weeks ago I brought my Belgian d'uccle chicks home from my grandma's house and so far they are all doing fine . This is Oreo my Black Mottled d'uccle cockerel.

This is my group of d'uccles in their pen.

This is Magnum my Golden Neck d'uccle and Sea Mist my sister's Self Blue d'uccle.

This is my group of chicks sitting under the heat light.