This past spring I ordered chicks from Murray McMurry Hatchery. Another farm project I had been thinking about doing for years. Finally I said. “Stop thinking about it and just do it!” In late January I Pre- ordered 26 day old baby chicks to arrive April 7th. Aprils is very busy with starting seeds, stem cutting, transplanting in the cold frame, then the season snowballs. By the time snow melts, I could work 24/7 and just barely keep up.
Therefore I knew building a coop in the spring, would be a challenge. So I started building a coop, one wall at a time that I could put together in the spring with some ease. I used material I had here from other projects. I am not sure I would do it this way again but it was a good winter project. Its not the pretties coop but it works.
When the chicks came in April I was so excited for the little peepers. I had a brooder set up in the house so I could make sure they were safe and warm. I had much support from friends, who would visit and hold the cuties.
The chickens grew fast and the coop was an on going project over the summer as I had to build a platform to make it movable add onto it to provide more floor space. But it was always a happy break from the usual chores.
The 19 ladies and one rooster have been a great addition to the farm. Keeping me company in the field, eating bugs, scratching to keep weeds down and fertilizing as they move along. Their constant chatter is wonderful. They make me laugh and smile with their funny waddle and goofy antics.
Thea my cat has finally learned to live alongside them. As she thought they were playmates to chase for a while. She was great with them as chicks though I did have a screen over the brooder.
But she seemed to understand they weren’t toys or food. They were part of the family. This winter they will live in the new greenhouse prepping the soil for spring planting by digging and fertilizing. While it snowy and storming out and staying a bit safer from predators.
Currently, a friend (who’s a much better builder then I) is building a much nicer coop inside the large greenhouse. It will be movable and more appropriate for my flock size, which is much larger then I had initially planned on. Providing me with more eggs then I can eat. So I sell eggs off the farm, so they pay for their organic grain.
This coming spring I am hoping one or two if the girls will go broody and hatch some more chicks to grow our flock.
Moral of the story is don’t sit on your dreams… Just Do It ..you’ll figure out a way to make it work.
Chilling with Brando the token rooster when he was a teenager, this never happens now though. He’s a bit of a brute but keeps the Ladies safe.
There will be more posts on chickens so stay tuned if your a chicken geek. I will introduce you to the whole flock including there personalities.
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