Baby chicken steps.

Good morning readers. We have now had our chickens for a few days. And besides the first night of them peeping for a few hours, before we went to bed, it has been easy, semi uneventful and fun. The only “negative” thing so far is they have pooped on me a few times. I think that has to do with I let them climb on me a lot when they are free.

 

We have made some improvements to our set up and we have doubled the total amount we have spent. From around $15 to $30. I will have a detailed running total soon. Still doing some technical studies on the best way to present that to you. I went to Kaneohe Farms Supplies to get a few things we will need in the future as well as can use now. Asagi Hatchery has most of these items, they just didn’t have them in stock, and I kind of wanted to get them sooner than later.

Feeder with out mason jar

I picked up a galvanized feeder. It accepts a mason jar on the top to hold feed. This will be more than enough for at least a day for two full size chickens. I passed on the plastic version of this. I think that is just the part of me that believes that metal is more durable, with no evidence in the chicken business to prove me right. I still might end up getting the plastic one, mostly just because it comes in purple, Geneva’s current favorite color and at under $4 it is a cheap birthday gift. I am holding off on putting the mason jar on, and just filling it will small amounts, but I have a feeling for sanitation reasons, it will have a jar soon.

 

Waterer

The next purchase was a waterer. Plastic was the only option, so I picked it up. It also accepts a mason jar, but the guy at the feed store says the mason jar once screwed in all the way covers the wholes and doesn’t let the water come out properly. So for an extra $3 I got the water container that is made for it. Needed, I don’t know, but at $3 I figured it didn’t matter if he was right or not.

Cedar shavings. Was a little concerned it did not have a picture of a chicken on the packaging.

The last purchase was a bag of wood shavings. I chose cedar shavings because it was the same price as the regular wood shavings and as a bonus has a nice fragrance that hopefully will mask the not so nice fragrance of the chicken poop. The plan is to line the box with newspaper then to cover the newspaper with shavings. This morning while in the garage saying hi to Princess and Fairy I saw a big Rubbermaid tote that is not very full. I think I am going to use it for the remainder of their non coop time. It for one is rubber and easy to clean. Two, it is bigger than the box they are in.

 

Princess and Fairy’s first time outdoors

Last big news, if you can call it that, is we spent some time out doors with the chickens. They loved it and I think we loved it too. They just walked all around my plants and pecked at things. Leave, bugs, seeds. I don’t know what ever chickens peck at. The big news with that is the height of our fence and the locations of the neighbors windows, I don’t think there is any chance of them seeing the chickens when they are walking around the back yard. That is a good thing. The ideas for the coop are solidifying, well at least in my head. No, I mean it, I actually have the whole plans in my head, with details and notes. They will materialize onto paper, computer or both soon. You will see them when I do.

 

Watching chickens is hard work

I hope you all have a good weekend. And may the force be with you.