Author: Anna & Mark

Hidden eggs

January 23, 2012 Posts No Comments
Eggs in nest

Chicken shelterI complained that our
heirloom breeds had stopped laying in December, but now I’m not so
sure.  Mark had put a
shelter out in the
woods when we added
our sussex to the main flock since the younger birds were getting
picked on and weren’t always going in the coop at night.  Last
week, we took a peek inside the now-unused shelter and found…eight
eggs!!



The eggs all passed the float
test (and didn’t
have any cracks from being frozen solid), so I suspect they’re a week
or less old.  They all look like australorp eggs too, which would hint
at that breed being better at winter laying than the cuckoo marans.



We’ll keep an eye on
this supplemental nest box for now, but I’m pondering whether the
shelter wouldn’t work as a broody hen nesting area for the
spring.  It clearly passed the test as a nest box.


Our chicken waterer is a perfect fit for brood
coops since it keeps the bedding dry and never drowns chicks.

Friendly chickens part

January 20, 2012 Posts No Comments

AustralorpsThis is what it looks like
when I go out to the chicken pasture:  The Black
Australorps and Cuckoo Marans
come running but keep their distance just in case I decide to eat them
instead of feed them.  Meanwhile, the Light
Sussex cluster
around my legs and start pecking at my boots just in case that speck of
mud is actually food.



I’ve written previously
about how some
chicken breeds seem to be much friendlier than others.  At the time, I
couldn’t quite decide which behavior was preferable, but I think I’ve
made up my mind — I like the shy birds.  Friendly chickens get
underfoot, don’t learn when you chase them out of the garden, and spend
their energy focusing on you rather than hunting for wild food.



Of course, if I lived on
a postage stamp suburban lot, I’d probably change my tune and choose
the friendly birds.  But for now, I’m 75% certain our Sussex
chickens are going into the stew pot when culling time comes around
next year…if not before.


Our chicken waterer gives the flock something to
peck at…rather than each other.

Fencing tips from Gene Logsdon

January 18, 2012 Posts 2 Comments

Chickens and fencesI’ve been dipping into All
Flesh is Grass by
Gene Logsdon, and his fencing chapter was right up my alley.



For a farm less than
five acres in size, he recommends building your fences entirely from
cattle or hog panels since they’re very long-lasting, easy to install,
and work well on uneven terrain.  In retrospect, I wish we’d spent
the extra money to install panels since they would have allowed us to
put any animals we want in our pastures, not just chickens.



The other tip that hit
home was about fencing rolling pastures.  Can you see the chicken
running down the hill along the fenceline in this photo? 
Fencelines inevitably become pathways, so if you don’t want to cause
erosion, make sure fences follow contour lines and don’t run straight
up and down the hill.  (Oops.)  If you have to install small
sections of steep fenceline, it’s best to think of these as
erosion-prone areas and nip the problem in the bud, perhaps with some
brush or a thick layer of mulch.


Our chicken waterer keeps mess in the coop to a
minimum by providing clean water that never spills.