Just a quick post about a great chicken resource. I found this website when I started researching how to raise chickens. It is www.backyardchickens.com. This is a fun website with lots of great information about chickens. The most interesting aspect of www.backyardchickens.com is the people.
People who raise chickens are very passionate about their chickens, and there are a lot of people who raise chickens. Now that I have my own chickens, I understand why. It has only been three weeks, but it has been a very rewarding experience. I enjoy just watching my chickens; they are very interesting creatures.
Most people that I have told about my chickens think I am joking around, and they laugh when they first see one of my chicken videos, which are kind of silly. However, the videos are meant to be fun. After the initial response, everyone thinks it's pretty cool, and they ask me on a regular basis "How are your chickens doing?".
Welcome to the Urban Chicken Experiment. This is my personal blog about raising backyard chickens in an urban area for fun and food.
Friday, April 26, 2013
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Coop Enhancements
Well, I have had my chickens for just over two weeks, and they are doing well. They are growing and seem bigger every day.
This weekend I made a couple of enhancements to the chicken coop. The first change was to the watering system for the chickens. I was using a two gallon galvanized double wall waterer. This waterer did the job, but my hens kept scratching dirt and grass into their water. I was having to clean it out twice a day to keep their water clean. I tried to elevate the container, but within a short time it was always full of grass and dirt. So, I installed a gravity feed system that uses nipples to deliver the water, and the girls seem to like it.
The second modification was to their feeder. I installed their feeder under the hen house to make sure the feed stays dry in the event of rain, and it has worked quite well. However, to refill the feeder required going into the coop. To avoid stepping into poop, I wanted a way to refilled the feeder without going into the coop. Using some PVC pipe, I was able to come up with a way to refill their feeder much more conveniently.
Check out the video which shows these enhancement.
This weekend I made a couple of enhancements to the chicken coop. The first change was to the watering system for the chickens. I was using a two gallon galvanized double wall waterer. This waterer did the job, but my hens kept scratching dirt and grass into their water. I was having to clean it out twice a day to keep their water clean. I tried to elevate the container, but within a short time it was always full of grass and dirt. So, I installed a gravity feed system that uses nipples to deliver the water, and the girls seem to like it.
The second modification was to their feeder. I installed their feeder under the hen house to make sure the feed stays dry in the event of rain, and it has worked quite well. However, to refill the feeder required going into the coop. To avoid stepping into poop, I wanted a way to refilled the feeder without going into the coop. Using some PVC pipe, I was able to come up with a way to refill their feeder much more conveniently.
Check out the video which shows these enhancement.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Tour de Coop
It is now one week into the Urban Chicken Experiment, and the chickens are doing well. They have hearty appetites, and they definitely seem to be growing. So, I thought I would give a tour of my chicken coop, and what better way to tour a chicken coop than through a video. This way you get to see the coop without having to smell the poop (actually, they don't smell to bad).
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Are They Getting Bigger Yet?
It's day six
and the pullets are doing well. They have almost completely picked through the
first batch of grass clippings that I put in their coop. It's hard to tell
because I see them every day, but they look like they have grown since we got
them.
We had some rain overnight and the temperatures will be cooler over the next few days, so I am taking some preventive measures. I have added extra garlic to their water to boost their general health, and I will add some apple cider vinegar to their water for the next few days after the rain, which is supposed to help with parasites.
I am starting to see some of their individual personalities. For example, the Leghorn is somewhat dominant. She will chase the other birds away from the spot in which she wants to be. The Americana is a little sneaky. While watching them scratch around yesterday evening, the Leghorn uncovered an earthworm, and before she could get it, the Americana ran in and grabbed it. The two Barred Rocks tend to stay together as if they know they are different breeds.
All of them seem to be very comfortable in the coop. They also seemed to recognize me and are getting more comfortable with me, as they do not run from me.
They are very curious birds as well. If I put a new or different container in the coop, all of them will immediately begin investigating it. I am not sure if their eye sight or sense of smell, but if I bring food into the coop, they are all over it before I can get out.
We had some rain overnight and the temperatures will be cooler over the next few days, so I am taking some preventive measures. I have added extra garlic to their water to boost their general health, and I will add some apple cider vinegar to their water for the next few days after the rain, which is supposed to help with parasites.
I am starting to see some of their individual personalities. For example, the Leghorn is somewhat dominant. She will chase the other birds away from the spot in which she wants to be. The Americana is a little sneaky. While watching them scratch around yesterday evening, the Leghorn uncovered an earthworm, and before she could get it, the Americana ran in and grabbed it. The two Barred Rocks tend to stay together as if they know they are different breeds.
All of them seem to be very comfortable in the coop. They also seemed to recognize me and are getting more comfortable with me, as they do not run from me.
They are very curious birds as well. If I put a new or different container in the coop, all of them will immediately begin investigating it. I am not sure if their eye sight or sense of smell, but if I bring food into the coop, they are all over it before I can get out.
The following
are some pictures from last weekend:
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Urban Chicken Experiment - Day 1 - Meet the Chickens
Saturday, April 6, 2013
We got our chickens yesterday evening, and we got them settled in their new home. Although last night they weren't quite sure where to go to roost. Our hen house is three feet above the ground and their run with a ramp up to the house. They climbed about half way up the ramp and stopped to roost there. So, I had to encourage them the rest of the way in to the hen house.
I opened the hen house door this morning, and they were a little unsure of what to do. Again I had to encourage them a little to find their way out. So, I went to the opposite side of the hen house and reached through the nesting boxes to point the way out. They stopped at the door, but one was out of the door at the top of the ramp. So, I watched and waited, and after a few minutes, the Americana jumped down, and shortly thereafter the others joined her.
Overall, they seem to be doing quite well. They have good appetites and eat constantly. I think that is a good sign.
The following is a short introduction video, which I hope you enjoy:
This evening when I went to close the hen house, the girls had found their way up the ramp and were settled on the roosting bars. They seem to be quick learners.
We got our chickens yesterday evening, and we got them settled in their new home. Although last night they weren't quite sure where to go to roost. Our hen house is three feet above the ground and their run with a ramp up to the house. They climbed about half way up the ramp and stopped to roost there. So, I had to encourage them the rest of the way in to the hen house.
I opened the hen house door this morning, and they were a little unsure of what to do. Again I had to encourage them a little to find their way out. So, I went to the opposite side of the hen house and reached through the nesting boxes to point the way out. They stopped at the door, but one was out of the door at the top of the ramp. So, I watched and waited, and after a few minutes, the Americana jumped down, and shortly thereafter the others joined her.
Overall, they seem to be doing quite well. They have good appetites and eat constantly. I think that is a good sign.
The following is a short introduction video, which I hope you enjoy:
This evening when I went to close the hen house, the girls had found their way up the ramp and were settled on the roosting bars. They seem to be quick learners.
The Chickens Come Home to Roost
Friday, April 5, 2013
I left work early and picked my boys up from school. From there we drove straight to Blue Star Ranch (with a quick stop at the feed store to get some tasty crumbles for our new chickens).
We arrived at Blue Star Ranch shortly after 4:30, and we met with Mary Ann and her very large German Shepard, Rudy. An interesting side note about Rudy is that he run over by a train. Yes, a real, full-size train. Apparently, his leash got tangled in the wheels and pulled him under. Obviously, he survived, but less an ear.
Mary Ann was very nice. She showed us around her large coop, where we saw many breeds of chickens ranging in age from four days old on up. Mary Ann explained how to select a good chicken. For example, chickens should have clear eyes, heavy for there size, clean feet and bottoms. Also, when you hold a chicken on its back, it should be feisty.
Many of her chickens in the age range for which we were looking were already sold. However, there were several still available. We decided that we wanted two Barred Rocks, one Leghorn and one Americana.
Mary Ann used a net to wrangle in several chickens for for our inspection. She examined them based on the criteria for good chickens, and she passed on a few chickens that were not quite up to par at that time. She really wants her customers to get healthy chickens.
Unfornately, we were not able to get good pictures of the chickens and the light was very contrasty and it was getting dark when we got them home, but many pictures and videos will follow soon.
I left work early and picked my boys up from school. From there we drove straight to Blue Star Ranch (with a quick stop at the feed store to get some tasty crumbles for our new chickens).
We arrived at Blue Star Ranch shortly after 4:30, and we met with Mary Ann and her very large German Shepard, Rudy. An interesting side note about Rudy is that he run over by a train. Yes, a real, full-size train. Apparently, his leash got tangled in the wheels and pulled him under. Obviously, he survived, but less an ear.
Mary Ann was very nice. She showed us around her large coop, where we saw many breeds of chickens ranging in age from four days old on up. Mary Ann explained how to select a good chicken. For example, chickens should have clear eyes, heavy for there size, clean feet and bottoms. Also, when you hold a chicken on its back, it should be feisty.
Many of her chickens in the age range for which we were looking were already sold. However, there were several still available. We decided that we wanted two Barred Rocks, one Leghorn and one Americana.
Mary Ann used a net to wrangle in several chickens for for our inspection. She examined them based on the criteria for good chickens, and she passed on a few chickens that were not quite up to par at that time. She really wants her customers to get healthy chickens.
Unfornately, we were not able to get good pictures of the chickens and the light was very contrasty and it was getting dark when we got them home, but many pictures and videos will follow soon.
Saturday, April 6, 2013
One More Trip to Home Depot
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Most home building projects start with a trip to Home Depot (or your home improvement store of choice), and as with most home building projects, there are many trips to Home Depot. I think there is a three trip minimum. This project is no different. Even with a fairly comprehensive list of materials, I am up to five visits to the hardware store. There always seems to be one more little thing that is needed. However, I want my chicken coop to be built correctly.
Most home building projects start with a trip to Home Depot (or your home improvement store of choice), and as with most home building projects, there are many trips to Home Depot. I think there is a three trip minimum. This project is no different. Even with a fairly comprehensive list of materials, I am up to five visits to the hardware store. There always seems to be one more little thing that is needed. However, I want my chicken coop to be built correctly.
Last night, at around 10:00 p.m., we had substantially completed building the coop, but as I drifted off to sleep I thought of several additional (little) things that could be done to make it better or more complete. So, at 8:00 this morning I stopped at Home Depot on my way to work to pick up those little detail items.
The following are a couple of images of the mostly completed coop. It was a long night, but the coop had to be completed as we were going to get chickens the next day.
Notice, we moved it from the patio, where we started construction to its permanent location.
Building the Coop
Friday, March 29, 2013
Coop construction began with a trip to Home Depot, where we gather an assortment of 2x4's, plywood, and screws. After bringing everything home and unloading, we began measuring and cutting.
Slowly the outer frame of the coop began to take shape.
I am not a carpenter, so the roof framing was a bit of a challenge. However, we managed to come up a design that worked for our purposes. Next was the roof decking.
Once the walls of the hen house started to go up, the coop really began to take shape.
Notice we built this coop on our back patio. This is not the coop's final location. Any one board or piece of plywood doesn't weight that much, but when you attach several piece of wood together,they begin to get quite heavy.
Monday, April 1, 2013
Hatching the Idea
“So… Can I get some chickens?” I asked. “No!” was her
response. That’s how it all started about a week ago. It was an email exchange between my wife and me. I had forwarded a blog post from the
artofmanliness.com
about raising backyard chickens. I was
joking at first, but also I was a little serious. As the idea had some time to incubate, I quickly grew more serious about wanting to get some chickens.
A few days later, after doing a little research about chickens and building chickens coops, I bought some building materials and began constructing a chicken coop from a design idea in my head. I had no plans or drawings. All I had was an image in my mind based on designs I had seen online. With the help of my three sons, we have made great progress, and the coop should be finished later this week. By the weekend, we will have four young pullets in the coop, and in a couple of months we should have some fresh eggs from our backyard chickens.
All of this is really an experiment, as I have never raised
chickens. So, I thought it would be fun
to keep a blog about the experience.
A few days later, after doing a little research about chickens and building chickens coops, I bought some building materials and began constructing a chicken coop from a design idea in my head. I had no plans or drawings. All I had was an image in my mind based on designs I had seen online. With the help of my three sons, we have made great progress, and the coop should be finished later this week. By the weekend, we will have four young pullets in the coop, and in a couple of months we should have some fresh eggs from our backyard chickens.
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