Chicks Have Been Ordered

I think Mark might be just as excited about this whole new adventure as I am.  Well, maybe not as excited.  I'm over the moon and back about it!

Mark found a really good website, My Pet Chicken, to order the chicks from.  And oh my goodness do they have tons of information.  I'll be doing a little midnight reading tonight.

We ordered  SIX chickens from My Pet Chicken.  I can't wait until they get here to take shots of them so Mark helped me download some pictures from the website to share.  I can hardly wait to see them.

 

 I have a notebook full of notes.  A new book to read coming soon.  And the chicks should be delivered to the Post Office on or around April 7th.  They will be a day old, alive in a box with holes in it, waiting at the PO for me to pick up. 

 Australorp chicks

 

Australorp hen

 

These hens are great layers, mellow, shy, and can adapt to any environment.  They lay medium brown eggs...summer 6 per week and winter 4-5 eggs a week.

 Barred Plymouth Rock chicks

 

 Barred Plymouth Rock hen

 

These birds are very social and great foragers.  They lay medium brown eggs...summer 5 a week and winter 3-4 a week.  Very low maintenance.  Nicknamed the Zebra Chicken.

 

 Buff Brahma chicks

 

 Buff Brahma hen

 

This will be the playmate of the yahoos.  Brahmas are known to be good choice for kids because they have a calm nature and sturdy construction.  they are quiet, docile, calm, and easily tamed.  I like the fancy feathers on their feet.  They lay brown eggs...3-4 per week.
 

 Silver Cuckoo Marans chicks

 

Silver Cuckoo Marans hen

 

She is a tailless hen with white legs.  Se will lay deep chocolate brown eggs to a copper collared egg...summer 3-4 a week and 2-3 a week in the winter.

 

 Welsumer chicks

 

Wilsumer hen

 

These hens are very friendly and thrifty in their eating habits.  They would rather free range thus making the healthier birds.  They are easily handled and smart birds also.  They lay dark brown eggs like the Marans.

 

 Silver Laced Wayandotte chick

 

Silver laced Wyandotte hen

 

Docile and friendly birds, the Wyandotte will be excellent for the kids.  I think the feathers look like silvered almonds.  They lay large medium brown eggs...summer 4-5 a week and 3 a week in the winter.

With A Little Help From Friends

 Construction Phase One...adding the legs.  First we are unable to locate the directions for installation.  So we are winging this part.  All that we had to do for the coop so far is put the legs and add the three screen panels under the coop for part of the run...which I am calling the shade porch.  So far so good.  In 20 degree weather I think we did marvelously!  And there wasn't even any hissing and spitting.  We did however take a few breaks to warm up in the process.  Mark decided that he could never have a job where he had to work in the cold.  He has a greater appreciation for them now.

I had already enlisted Bryce's help for early Saturday morning to help move the coop from the driveway to the 'chicken spot'.  Then with the nasty weather report that is now being issued or our area and we decided that we better get things in high gear.  Mr. John and Ms. Renee came to our rescue!  Well, actually Mr. John and Mark carried the 200 pound coop to the backyard.  By this time the temperature has dropped more, the wind is starting to blow, and the sun is setting. It's cold and that thing was heavy.  Guess I owe Mr. John big time!  Think I might have to buy him some liquid refreshment.

 

Stay tuned Phase Two will begin shortly!

Almost In Business

In the beginning....there was as a space cleared....

 Dan, owner of Green Chicken Coop, was right on time with his delivery.  Very nice man.  first thing he mentioned was how great our weather was.  He came from somewhere close to Saginaw, Michigan.  He drove through one snow squall on his was. He and his wife and two dogs....it's a family affair.

 

He had two deliveries close here in OH, so they decided to deliver them personally.  Which is really nice because he takes real care in getting the coops to his customers from the factory to us with no damage. He probably saves a little money also. But a road trip with the fam is always a good thing.

 Everything covered away from the elements and dirt from the road.  A nice touch!

 The pallets (which I get to keep) will be used to grow some of the chickens favorite treats.  They are screwed to the bed of the truck and then the coop and other materials were screwed to the  pallets. so there was no way that my order was going to slide off.

 

I get a little nervous when Dan says that he is just going to push the 200 pound coop off the truck.  But I guess the man knows what he is doing.

 Now I am really concerned...200 pounds!  How in the world are Mark and I going to be able to add the legs and then carry it to the backyard?  I hope some of our neighbors and my ever so strong sons will be willing to give us a hand this weekend.

 

This is my new friend and chicken coop and run building guru, Dan. owner of The Green Chicken Coop..  After unloading the order we sat in the driveway and chit chatted about chickens.  He has three coops...20 chickens.  One coop for the younger ones.  Second coop for the egg layers.  And the last coop for the bad chickens (they peck their eggs).  It is the rehab coop.  He has one 6 year old chicken that still lays.  We picked his brain and learned some new things we have never read about.

Check them out on FaceBook.

 

So now the adventure really begins Saturday morning with Bryce's help we will put the legs on the coop part and assemble the run and put it all in place.  And you know there will be lots of pictures!

We Are Almost A Farm

Hold on to your hats!  Get ready for a fun ride!  The chicken coop and run are being delivered next week by the owner of the company!  I can hardly contain myself!

So we should start at the beginning of this craziness....I guess you could say that it all started with brown eggs.  I love brown eggs!  I love how they look...not so much into the taste because I am not a real big egg eater.  I like a good crispy friend egg sandwich on a toasted white bread with mustard and lots of black pepper.  I love deviled eggs and egg salad.  But that is about as far as it goes.

I write a blog for an Amish CSA.  We get our vegetables, baked goods, soaps, jellies, fruits, and brown eggs from them...Cedarmore Farm in Hillsboro, OH.  I got to the farm about once a month and learn all I can about organic farming and the lifestyle of the Swartzentruber Amish.  Andy and Lizzie are very patient and kind to me.  The think I am some kind of crazy English.  But after about three years of visits Andy called me half Amish one day.  It really made my heart happy!  If you want to find out more about my adventures at the farm click here and it will take you to the most recent post.  I would encourage you to read the story in the beginning days of the blog as to how we got hooked up with heady other.  It is a good story!

Okay, back to the chickens.  Originally I tried to talk Mark into letting me get two little goats.  I didn't see that happening anytime some so I started talking about chickens.  I researched and ordered books from Amazon and read the words off the pages. I've talked to other "chicken farmers" in the neighborhood.  The Andy's have given me lots of information.  I even have a Pinterest board just for my chickens.  I know exactly what kinds of chickens I want to get. (Can't wait to write about that...it is going to be good).  I think I am ready!

I asked Mark (who will know be known as Chickie Pa) if he could help me come up with a clever name for the "farm"...we do have a dog, and a rabbit and will soon be adopting another rabbit...and we seem to grow little yahoos too!  After thinking about it for days, one day it came up...

Notta Lotta Farm.  I love it because it is just perfect!  Because we don't have lots of land but really like being outside, vegetable gardening, and flower gardening, feeding all the birds in the neighborhood, taking in stray animals....some of the things that happen on a farm.

Chickie Ma, that will be me, comes from Mark's side of the family.  He actually had a Chickie Ma growing up.  Mark's aunt lived  "up on the hill" and she was the original Chickie Ma.  Sweet Aunt Grace would love to know that we are going to have chickens and that her name will be carried on.  Mark 's mom and dad got me my egg gathering basket for Christmas.  My neighbor, Mr. Bill, gave me the best farm boots in the world.  My friends are gathering up chicken related things and surprising me with them.  I am so ready for this.

I got word today that the coop and run are just getting the finishing touches and will be delivered next week by the head of the company...Dan at Green Chicken Coop.  YEA!!!

Next step...ordering the chickens..and that will most definitely be another blog.

Seeing The Light At The End Of The Tunnel

I've dreamed of chickens.  I've researched and read about chickens.  I've talked about chickens.  I've watched countless chicken videos.  And finally...

I'M GETTIN' CHICKENS!!!

 

 

I have a stack of books on the nightstand.  I have a notebook full of notes.  I've talked to my neighbors.  I've talked to my dad and father-in-law. I've talked to my Amish friends. (And some of them think I am crazy)  I have a Pinterest board For My Chickens.   I've saved money in my little chicken envelope and finally...

I'M GETTIN' CHICKENS!!

 

This is a pic of the chicken coop and run. It has been ordered and should be here in about three weeks.  Our coop configuration will be on the right side of the run.  It just fits the spot better that way.  I have so many plans for these chickens. They will love me.  They will like to play with the yahoos.   They will learn to do tricks.  They will lay beautiful eggs and they will supply me with endless photo opts.  (That's why I needed yet another blog...so I wouldn't hear how no ones what to see my chickens on the family blog.)

 

Hey did you hear....
 

I'M GETTIN' CHICKENS!!!