Chickens riding out the storm

In the last 24 hours we had 1-2 feet of snow. We are fortunate that we created a dry area under the chicken coop. It is the only place they will be able to go for the next few days. Stay tuned; Ed

CHICKENS IN DECEMBER

Welcome back; it's now December and we occassionally leave a warming light on in the coop as we think this keeps the egg production rolling. We average 2-3 eggs per day with our four layers. Once the temperatures dropped to single digits, the hoop house froze out and we have been bringing swiss chard plants over to the coop. The ladies dig right in. Who knows, maybe we will get green eggs! We recently had an invasion of Starlings and they were eating all the chicken feed so we installed netting above the coop and that seems to have done the trick. Cheerios; Ed

First egg continued 6-28-10

Just to let you all know, the egg was for real. Cheerios; Ed

Completed hoophouse 6-28-10

Well, we have finished the new hoophouse until fall when we will lower the sides, hopefully before the first frost. All the tomatoes are hanging by string from the hoops. We used Lexan on the ends to keep out the rabbits and voles.

First egg 6-25-10

We had our first egg yesterday morning and it made a fine breakfast the next morning. I hear that we will have plenty more.

New chicken pics

They love to jump up on the sticks.

All the other chickens are bigger than the Leghorn now. Foghorn started out much bigger than the other 3.

The black and white ones are extremely friendly.

Chickens finally ventured out doors! 3-20-10

The chickens have finally ventured outdoors and are busy chopping down all the live grass. Venus, our dog has recently discovered the chickens and is hell bent on getting into their pen. Stay tuned. Ed

They're growing up...

Chiquita, Sky, Loca
Chiquita and Foggy (short for Foghorn Leghorn)

More coop pictures

Finished chicken coop 2-19-10

Hi folks; We not only finished the chicken coop but we now have 4 resident chicks. They will be "cooped up" for about a month with a brooder box inside the coop to keep them warm. The coop is solar heated during the day and actually climbs to 80 degrees when the sun really shines in. An infared bulb keeps the brooder box in the low 90's for the time being. I can't wait for a month from now when spring weather allows us to open their doors and let them try out the two runs adjacent to the coop. Stay tuned. Ed

New chicks...

4 baby chicks joined the Comstock family yesterday. Any ideas on names?

New chicken coop

A good friend is moving to France and needs a "caring" home for her three hens and one rooster. Do we know anything about chickens? Only from books and warnings from several friends. This coop is rising in the corral next to our tortoise corral. It will have two chicken wire runs as well as three doors. I designed it both for winter warmth and summer coolings. Most walls open up to good cross ventilation and summer shade. I'm hoping for year around organic eggs and yet one more activity to keep Linda and myself busy as the kids are leaving the nest. We are using leftover greenhouse glazing for doors, as well as light and warmth. Stay tuned; Ed