Layers in the winter pen June 2009
Date/Time: Sat 20 Jun 2009 05:48:47 PM CEST
The newest batch of rotted straw. This is a whole pickup bed full
and it will take them less than 2 weeks to reduce it to nothing.
They now have indoor and outdoor "plumbing", an outside waterer too.
and it will take them less than 2 weeks to reduce it to nothing.
They now have indoor and outdoor "plumbing", an outside waterer too.
Older layers August 2009
Date/Time: Sat 08 Aug 2009 12:23:31 PM CEST
The older layers in front of the second pen for the little hens.
Portable layer run in the West cow turnout August 2009
Date/Time: Sat 08 Aug 2009 12:10:06 PM CEST
The little pen for the new layers took too much room from the big hens.
To provide the big hens more room, new greenery and bugs, and be easily
movable, we got 160' of electric netting. It's moved every 3-4 days.
By leaning the built-in posts towards each other, and keeping the sides
close together, it provide aerial protection. It is not electrified, as that
can harm the hens if they get caught in it. They are only out in it in the daytime.
To provide the big hens more room, new greenery and bugs, and be easily
movable, we got 160' of electric netting. It's moved every 3-4 days.
By leaning the built-in posts towards each other, and keeping the sides
close together, it provide aerial protection. It is not electrified, as that
can harm the hens if they get caught in it. They are only out in it in the daytime.
Entrance to the portable layer run August 2009
Date/Time: Sat 08 Aug 2009 12:10:48 PM CEST
We bartered eggs and steak for the gate. This gate is opposite the
original gate. These turnouts aren't used by the cows from May to October.
original gate. These turnouts aren't used by the cows from May to October.
New layers pen August 2009
Date/Time: Sat 08 Aug 2009 12:10:45 PM CEST
The first new layers pen was at the end of the big hens' pen, out
of sight on the left side of this picture. But it turns out 2 of the 4
"hens" were roosters. (Hard to sex chicks)
So they were removed to the broilers pen, and 2 new hens selected.
But to introduce the new hens, everyone had to be in a place that
belonged to none of them. So we used the electric net from the
Salatin pen to make a new temporary pen.
of sight on the left side of this picture. But it turns out 2 of the 4
"hens" were roosters. (Hard to sex chicks)
So they were removed to the broilers pen, and 2 new hens selected.
But to introduce the new hens, everyone had to be in a place that
belonged to none of them. So we used the electric net from the
Salatin pen to make a new temporary pen.
Polish rooster August 2009
Date/Time: Sat 08 Aug 2009 12:25:09 PM CEST
He sure is an odd looking little guy. David says he looks like a road runner.
Polish rooster August 2009
Date/Time: Sat 08 Aug 2009 12:25:12 PM CEST
He has slate blue legs, a very upright carriage, is slightly built,
and has a very odd crow. But he's mighty proud of his 4 hens.
and has a very odd crow. But he's mighty proud of his 4 hens.
Polish with his original 2 hens August 2009
Date/Time: Sat 08 Aug 2009 12:20:09 PM CEST
He prefers his original 2 hens, but has been trying to incorporate
the 2 new ones into the flock.
the 2 new ones into the flock.
Wooster and his hens Oct. 2009
Date/Time: Tue 20 Oct 2009 03:49:12 PM CEST
The hens have just gotten another load of garden cleanings and are happy campers.
Wooster and his hens Oct. 2009
Date/Time: Tue 20 Oct 2009 03:56:01 PM CEST
Everyone very busy scratching at all the goodies.
Sarah, my new best friend Oct. 2009
Date/Time: Tue 20 Oct 2009 03:50:09 PM CEST
This Buff Orpington was pulled from the broiler flock to replace
a rooster that was supposed to be a hen. She decided that I
was her best friend and started following me everywhere.
If I go in the pen, I'm supposed to pick her up and give her
a ride. She gets her ride again each night as the rest of the
birds are put to bed. She's the last to go in, once the job
is done.
a rooster that was supposed to be a hen. She decided that I
was her best friend and started following me everywhere.
If I go in the pen, I'm supposed to pick her up and give her
a ride. She gets her ride again each night as the rest of the
birds are put to bed. She's the last to go in, once the job
is done.
Wooster Oct. 2009
Date/Time: Tue 20 Oct 2009 03:51:48 PM CEST
This was taken just before Wooster moved to a new home.
David could not stand the crowing and bribed some friends
with 3 lbs. of haddock to take him.
They took him to a show the next weekend and he won
Best of Variety.
David could not stand the crowing and bribed some friends
with 3 lbs. of haddock to take him.
They took him to a show the next weekend and he won
Best of Variety.
My Girl Oct. 2009
Date/Time: Tue 20 Oct 2009 03:54:31 PM CEST
My Girl had lost so many feathers over the summer, she looked
like a little round ball of fluff.
like a little round ball of fluff.
Hens in maple leaves - My Girl in the middle Oct. 2009
Date/Time: Thu 29 Oct 2009 01:06:10 PM CET
We brought in 20+ huge bags of leaves, then added mulched leaves from our yard, old hay, and garden clearings. The hens were just delighted.
Hens in maple leaves - Ernie outside, far right Oct. 2009
Date/Time: Thu 29 Oct 2009 01:07:40 PM CET
This shows all the mulching in the hens' winter yard. Ernie was supervising the work, from the outside as usual.
Hens in maple leaves - Ernie outside, far lower right Oct. 2009
Date/Time: Thu 29 Oct 2009 01:08:36 PM CET
Now the work's done, Ernie finds herself on the wrong side of the
fence. It appears all the goodies are inside. She will just go down
to the gate and ask to be let in.
fence. It appears all the goodies are inside. She will just go down
to the gate and ask to be let in.
Christmas - chickens' dinner Dec. 2009
Date/Time: Mon 19 Jan 2004 06:15:20 AM CET
Christmas dinner for the hens: acorn squash rinds and seeds, apples
in their alfalfa mash and pumpkins. Sarah is on the far left.
Look what they've done to the leaves in 2 months.
in their alfalfa mash and pumpkins. Sarah is on the far left.
Look what they've done to the leaves in 2 months.
Pam, Sarah, David, Ernie March 2010
Date/Time: Fri 09 Apr 2004 08:12:50 AM CEST
This was the photo used to advertise the NOFA (Northeast Organic Farming Association) Backyard Chicken workshops.
The circus tent needs replaced and the hens have completely broken down the mulch from last October.
The circus tent needs replaced and the hens have completely broken down the mulch from last October.
Red hens April 2010
Date/Time: Fri 10 Apr 2009 02:59:56 PM CEST
These are both 1 year and 2 year old hens. They've come through the winter in fine shape.
Portable layer run off the east side of the pen Sept. 2010
Date/Time: Sat 10 Jan 2004 02:20:07 PM CET
The pigs were in this turnout all summer and have been moved to the other cow stall and turnout to turn the manure to compost. The hens now get to work over this easterly turnout.
Winter Pen's new circus tent Sept. 2010
Date/Time: Sat 10 Jan 2004 02:19:52 PM CET
The original ropes for the prototype were cheap nylon. After 3 years
of use, they were disintegrating rapidly. They were replaced with UV protected rope.
We used this rope last year on the mobile pen's tent and it looked brand new after a second year's use this year. Unfortunately, the
neon yellow didn't fade at all.
of use, they were disintegrating rapidly. They were replaced with UV protected rope.
We used this rope last year on the mobile pen's tent and it looked brand new after a second year's use this year. Unfortunately, the
neon yellow didn't fade at all.
Birdie Bird's set-up in the living room February 2011
Date/Time: Mon 07 Feb 2011 08:32:15 AM CET
This Jersey Giant hen got a sore on her leg that needed soaking
and treatment. As I could not get to the barn with my broken leg twice a day, she came into the house.
This is her set-up with the metal feeder, a hanging water dish/oyster shell feeder, hanging "toys" like a butternut squash section, or kale bunches, etc. You can see the orange of the butternut through the cardboard. Her grit was on the floor of the cage.
The cardboard kept most of the bedding in the cage. She really was pretty clean. I'd clean the cage out once a week, until she went broody.
The blanket covered the cage and settled her at night.
and treatment. As I could not get to the barn with my broken leg twice a day, she came into the house.
This is her set-up with the metal feeder, a hanging water dish/oyster shell feeder, hanging "toys" like a butternut squash section, or kale bunches, etc. You can see the orange of the butternut through the cardboard. Her grit was on the floor of the cage.
The cardboard kept most of the bedding in the cage. She really was pretty clean. I'd clean the cage out once a week, until she went broody.
The blanket covered the cage and settled her at night.
Birdie Bird February 2011
Date/Time: Mon 07 Feb 2011 08:39:11 AM CET
Birdie Bird seemed to rather like being in the house. She treated us like her "flock" more or less. This meant when she spied something out the window that alarmed her, so would give out REALLY loud alarm calls for up to 15 mins.
We were also informed when eggs arrived. She laid one a day, each being a couple hours later in the day. Then she'd skip a day and
we'd get one early in the morning.
She was really good about the leg soaking. I could do it from my wheelchair. But once the leg healed, after 3 weeks or so, she'd been in the house where it was very warm for too long. If she'd been sent to the barn, she probably would have gotten sick.
So we were resigned to having her as a guest at least until April.
We were also informed when eggs arrived. She laid one a day, each being a couple hours later in the day. Then she'd skip a day and
we'd get one early in the morning.
She was really good about the leg soaking. I could do it from my wheelchair. But once the leg healed, after 3 weeks or so, she'd been in the house where it was very warm for too long. If she'd been sent to the barn, she probably would have gotten sick.
So we were resigned to having her as a guest at least until April.
Broody Birdie Bird February 2011
Date/Time: Sun 20 Feb 2011 12:20:52 PM CET
Sometime in March she went broody, sitting in the corner with her feathers fluffed up, very defensive. She ate very little, except popcorn. The bird was a popcorn addict.
Once a day she would drop an extremely stinky bolus and someone would rush over, scoop it up and rush it outside. So her cage never needed cleaning for the rest of her visit.
We were also spared the loud alarm calls, as she became very quiet, just a sort of grumbling clucking.
Once a day she would drop an extremely stinky bolus and someone would rush over, scoop it up and rush it outside. So her cage never needed cleaning for the rest of her visit.
We were also spared the loud alarm calls, as she became very quiet, just a sort of grumbling clucking.