Lessons learned after 4 months of chicken farming

Posted on December 7, 2016 by Julia at Home on 129 Acres

Sarah in Illinois has had her chickens for about 4 months. Today she’s sharing what she’s learned so far with raising laying chickens.

I was very nervous when I decided to take this on. You may remember from my earlier posts that I had done a lot of research and read several books and asked lots of questions to fellow “chicken people.”

One piece of advice from my cousin was that I was overthinking it. From what I have experienced so far, she was exactly right.

I really can’t imagine raising chickens being any easier.

Now I need to make sure to point out that I have been lucky and have had no medical issues with any of my chickens, no injuries and no pests like flies or lice. All of those problems could still happen and I will rethink that raising chickens is “easy.”

Everyone who raises chickens has different circumstances so all I could do was try my best and make notes on what to change. So here is what I have learned in my first 4 months.

Coop

The coop seems to be working very well. It had plenty of ventilation this summer and I closed off all but a very little area for ventilation this winter. The temperatures are just starting to drop here, so I am hoping they will stay warm enough.

I have had no issues with any critters trying to get in the coop. We have had several raccoons, foxes and opossum on our property this year, but we have been lucky to find them before they got to the coop.

The only thing that I plan to change in the coop is maybe making them a new door, but that is purely for my own satisfaction, not a necessity.

Pen/Enclosure

I have gone back and forth on what type, if any, enclosure is best for the chickens.

I foolishly thought that they may stay in the fenced area that I already had set up for when Treu was here. That clearly did not work. They have been fully free-range so far. I really liked them being able to have a varied diet, hunt down bugs and just over all be healthier and happier.

But then Blitz came along. Blitz is not happy with them being free-range. I can’t tell you how many times I have run across the yard to grab a chicken out of his mouth.

Lately he has been grabbing them by the tail and dragging them as far away as he can. We are working on discipline, but I think we are fighting a losing battle.

Steve and I are pretty sure we are not far from him grabbing one just right and killing it. So we are going to continue to work with him coexisting with the chickens, but we have also bought a large roll of chicken wire to enclose the chickens and protect them from puppy bites.

Heat/Light

The chickens had been laying eggs very well up to about 2 weeks ago. We still had warm temperatures and enough daylight that I was getting 3-4 eggs a day consistently.

However, as expected, their production has decreased a lot now that we’re getting closer to winter. I am getting 2 eggs one day and nothing the next.

Some people add heat lamps to their coops for them to continue to lay all winter. I will not be adding a heat lamp. I am too nervous and have heard too many horror stories of coops and barns burning down from heat lamp accidents. But I have thought about adding a lightbulb on a timer to simulate longer hours of daylight. It would produce a minimal amount of heat but mostly just give them the feeling of longer days.

Food

Since the chickens have been free range, I have not been worried at all about their food. I always have pellets handy for them, but they eat very little chicken feed when they are free to roam the yard and fields.

I did make them a feeder out of PVC pipe. I found several samples on Pinterest, but the idea is very basic.

I used a piece of 3-inch diameter PVC pipe, a “y” and two caps. I cut about 3 inches of the straight piece of pipe, this was used to connect the bottom cap to the “y.” In the picture below you can see how I stacked a cap, 3-inch section of PVC pipe, “y,” the remaining PVC pipe and a cap on top to keep out dust, dirt and chicken poop.

I fill the feeder approximately every 10 days. I expect to fill it more often as winter sets in and the chickens have less grass and bugs to eat.

Water

Right now their water may freeze over slightly overnight, but it has not been cold enough to freeze to where they can’t get water. I obviously will have to decide what kind of heated water container I am going to use and probably pretty soon.

More chickens

Yes, I plan to add chickens to my flock in the spring. I have known from the beginning that I may add to my flock.

Steve doesn’t like brown eggs. I know that is shocking. I can’t tell you how many conversations I have had where people can’t believe that and swear that brown eggs are richer, taste better and are healthier. But hey, we all have likes and dislikes and his is that he doesn’t like brown eggs. So I just see that as an opportunity to add more chickens!

When we built the coop we planned for it to be big enough to house 10-12 chickens. Now that I know what raising chickens is like, I can comfortably add more and not feel overwhelmed. My plan is to add 2-3 white egg layers (possibly Leghorns) that are 3 to 4 months old.

I am not ready to attempt to keep baby chicks alive, so that is why I want them to be a couple of months old.

Clearly this was the more photogenic of the chickens. She was always in front of the camera!

Another reason to add chickens is that 4 chickens produce enough eggs that I can occasionally take some to my parents or Steve’s mom, but I don’t have enough where I think “what am I going to do with all of these eggs?” So I feel I can add a couple and easily have eggs to provide to our parents and my brother and his girlfriend.

So how do I feel after my first 4 months of being a chicken farmer?

I have nothing but positive things to say about my experience so far. If you are thinking about raising chickens for fresh eggs, do it.

Do your research, ask questions, then go for it! If you have questions for me, ask away. I will answer to the best of my knowledge with my short experience.

Yay, Sarah! I’m glad that your chickens are working out so well for you–despite the challenges with Blitz. I am so looking forward to the day when we have our own farm fresh eggs. I have to say that I’m on team brown… or blue (I love the idea of Ameraucanas) when it comes to eggs. However, I don’t really notice a difference in taste based on shell colour. I notice a difference in taste between farm fresh and store bought. I love the flavourful deep orange yolks!

Hallowe’en look back

Posted on October 31, 2016 by Julia at Home on 129 Acres

This is our fifth Hallowe’en at the farm. Over the years, we’ve learned not to expect trick or treaters to trek up our long driveway–but Matt bought some candy just in case.

This year, the extent of my fall decorating (I can’t even call it Hallowe’en) is a bowl of gourds on the dining room table in one of my Dad’s hand-turned wood bowls.

Here’s a look back at Hallowe’en through the years.

Our first Hallowe’en, we carved a pumpkin based on Christopher Lee’s performance as Dracula–one of Matt’s favourite movies. The pumpkin even sat on the front stoop for a little while before we realized we were the only ones that were going to enjoy it and we brought it in to the fireplace hearth.

Our second Hallowe’en at the farm was our first Hallowe’en with Baxter. He showed off his tricks to earn a few treats. I’m writing more about trick training over at ThatMutt.com today.

An eclipse coincided with our third Hallowe’en, creating a spooky blood moon.

Last year, our fourth Hallowe’en, I created a creepy haunted forest complete with real animal skulls on the mantel. I still love this display.

How are you celebrating Hallowe’en at your house? Do you decorate for Hallowe’en? Are you going trick or treating?

Four new legs in Illinois

Posted on October 26, 2016 by Julia at Home on 129 Acres

A new family member has joined Sarah and her family in Illinois. And he’s just about the cutest–I said just about, Baxter, don’t worry.

In my last post I left you hanging with the announcement that we had someone new joining our family. I am proud to introduce Blitz!

Last year I introduced my sweet Treu, but what I have not really wanted to write about was that in January of this year he got really sick.

He fought pneumonia for a while and then he quit eating and then quit drinking anything. It was at that point that the vet felt we were fighting something much more severe, most likely cancer.

Treu was 2 months short of his 13th birthday and I could not justify putting him through any invasive diagnostics or treatments. So I made the heartbreaking decision to put him to sleep. It was by far the hardest decision that I have ever had to make.

I went through all spring and summer working in the yard and garden without my sidekick.

I needed some time to grieve for him, but it was really hard not to have a dog at my side. (I should note that we still have Steve’s Lab, Brody. We have not been completely without a dog. But Brody is very clearly Steve’s dog and I have been missing having “my” dog.)

Late this summer a friend who knows my love of German Shepherd dogs told me that he knew of a litter to be born late in August. It took me a little time to decide if I was ready or not, and finally I decided that this little monster needed to join our family.

It has been 13 years since I have had a puppy. I had forgotten a few things, but they came rushing back:

1. Puppies sleep a lot. They have times of intense energy and play and then they crash…HARD.

2. Puppies don’t sleep of long periods of time. They want to play tug at 2am. And again at 4am.

3. No matter how many toys you buy for them, no matter what size, color, shape, no matter if they make noises or do not, puppies will chew on things that they are not supposed to.

4. You will have to clean up a lot of bathroom messes. It never fails, the moment you bring a puppy inside from going to the bathroom; he will pee right in the middle of the floor.

But, the puppy breath, the cuddles, the fun from teaching him a new trick, offsets all of the bad stuff. He won’t be a puppy forever so I am going to focus on all of the fun that we plan to have.

And all of the chickens that we have to chase.

Awww. I loooove that photo at #4. It’s totally an “I’m sorry” look. You both look so happy. It’s so nice to meet you, Blitz!

Growing sunflower seeds

Posted on October 14, 2016 by Julia at Home on 129 Acres

It’s been neat to watch the sunflowers go through their various stages of growth.

More than a month ago you saw the cheery blossoms.

A couple of weeks ago, the seeds started to come in. The spiky flowers in the centre of the blossom dropped off to reveal the tightly packed seeds.

It was about this time that the local wildlife seemed to discover the sunflowers.

I had hoped to get another photo this week, but the flowers have been nearly picked clean. Most of the seeds have been consumed.

The biggest culprits are the blue jays. Any time I walk past the garden, at least six jays erupt from the sunflower patch. We’ve also spotted chipmunks and squirrels.

So it appears that we may be buying bird seed again this year.

Happy fall from Illinois

Posted on October 12, 2016 by Julia at Home on 129 Acres

Lots is happening in Illinois this fall. Sarah is here today with a whole bunch of updates–and some very exciting news.

Happy fall! I thought this week I would give you a review of what has been going on around here and a little sneak peek of what we are preparing for.

Harvest is in full swing here. Steve has been working long hours every day in the combine. It seems like every field on my drive to and from work is either already harvested or has farmers in it working hard.

The view from our house is opening up since we have fields on all four sides. But I have to admit; with or without crops our view isn’t too bad.

The chickens are doing great. They have become very comfortable here.

Maybe just a little too comfortable.

I can pretty much count on getting two eggs a day from them.

From everything I have read, four chickens should average about three eggs a day. So I think they still have some room from improvement. We have been catching grasshoppers from the fields for them and they have learned who brings them the treats. They follow us around the yard all of the time.

One project that we are currently working on is building a garage inside of our pole barn. I have decided to do one large recap of that when we finish, but here is a hint of what we have been working on including pouring a concrete slab for the floor.

And finally, if you follow me on Instagram you already know the most exciting news: we are adding four legs to our family. I will give him a formal introduction once he joins us, but here is my first picture with him on the day I picked him from the litter.

Our house is about to get a whole lot busier.

What does fall look like at your house? What crops grow in your area? Any suggestions on introducing the new puppy to the chickens?

Aaah! That is very exciting, Sarah. New chickens and new puppy all in one year. You’re more ambitious than me. As cute as that fluff ball is, I think I’m most jealous of your fresh eggs and your new garage.

Dragonfly

Posted on September 19, 2016 by Julia at Home on 129 Acres

I’ve come to associate dragonflies with the farm.

I loved examining this specimen that I found yesterday.

I just wish I’d been able to see him flying around the farm.

Do you associate any animal, bird or insect with your home?

Making Monarchs and memories

Posted on September 12, 2016 by Julia at Home on 129 Acres

Our days here at the farm start early. In the darkness on Wednesday morning, Matt noticed that the chrysalis for both of our Monarch caterpillars had turned black. In actual fact, they had turned clear. However, they look black because the black wings of the butterfly inside are showing through.

We figured that later that day, we’d be proud parents.

I took Baxter for our morning walk and Matt left for work.

About 45 minutes later I was back in the kitchen making my breakfast. I turned around, and there was a butterfly in the bowl on the island.

Holy moly, EdWING actually had wings!

I went a little bananas. I took lots of birth photos. I messaged Matt. I tweeted and instagrammed the official birth announcement.

I was officially late for work.

Eventually though, I had to leave. That mean EdWING had to go outside. I’ve been referencing Karen’s “how to raise a Monarch butterfly” series a lot as we progressed with our caterpillars. A quick check of her site said that Ed would hang around and rest for about 2-3 hours and then he’d be ready to fly. Well, that would be when Matt and I were very much still at work. I couldn’t rely on Baxter to send his new brother out into the world, so Ed had to finish his resting outside on his own.

I found the most sheltered area I could and hid Ed under some leaves so that he hopefully didn’t turn into breakfast for a hungry bird.

Last I saw of him he was gently opening and closing his wings. So, so beautiful.

Kevin no-longer-a-CATERPillar hatched a little while later. Matt came home to a restless butterfly in a bowl.

He took him outside, and Kevin flew away.

Two Monarch butterflies. Out into the world. So, so amazing. We’ve made lots of memories since moving to the farm, and this is definitely another special one.

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Monarch caterpillar update

Posted on August 29, 2016 by Julia at Home on 129 Acres

Our Monarch caterpillars are no more.

But do not despair.

Because we are a big step closer to having Monarch butterflies.

We have two chrysalis.

Over the past week, EdWING Encarnacion and Kevin CATERPillar grew a lot. They decimated their daily milkweed rations.

Towards the end of the week they started to wander, looking for a spot to hang their chrysalis.

Eventually, Ed settled in. But something went wrong. He fell off the screen that covered the bowl. We found him curled in his J lying on a leaf.

We could see the webbing that he’d used to anchor himself to the screen hanging off his tail end, so we wrapped that over a stick and taped it in place careful not to touch him with the tape. It seemed to work, because a few hours later he had transformed into a chrysalis, and Kevin had climbed up onto the stick too.

By the next day, we had two chrysalis hanging from the stick. The black speck at the top of Ed’s chrysalis is actually his outer caterpillar skin. The chrysalis is inside the caterpillar, and he sheds his outer skin as he transforms.

It has been so, so cool to go through this process with our caterpillars. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

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Raising Monarch caterpillars

Posted on August 22, 2016 by Julia at Home on 129 Acres

We added two new members to our family last week.

Meet Kevin CATERPillar and EdWING Encarnacion.

(I advocated for Troy TuloWINGSki, but it was deemed too hard to pronounce. For anyone who needs an explanation of their names, refer to the Toronto Blue Jays roster).

These are little Monarch caterpillars that I found walking our fields. They started very small–just a few millimetres long. With fresh milkweed every day, they’ve been packing on the weight and the length.

Since I found them as caterpillars, I have no idea how old they are. According to Karen at the Art of Doing Stuff who did a series on raising monarch butterflies, Kev and Ed will spend 10-14 days at the caterpillar stage.

So far, I’m loving seeing how much they grow every day. I’m really excited about seeing the chrysalis stage.

I’m also excited to see their namesakes live this week. Matt and I are heading to the Jays game on Thursday. Kevin CATERPillar and EdWING Encarnacion will be staying home.

Have you ever raised a Monarch butterfly? Who else is a Jays fan? What Jay/Monarch names can you come up with?

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Chicken update from Illinois

Posted on August 17, 2016 by Julia at Home on 129 Acres

Sarah in Illinois has made it through her second week of raising chickens. She’s back today to report on what she’s learned and how things are going. See her first post introducing her flock.

So far things with the chickens couldn’t be any easier. Each morning I open the coop, make sure they have water and some food. Each night they return to their coop about 7:30, and I close it back up. That’s it. They are not laying eggs yet. They should be old enough in the next couple weeks so I look for eggs every day just in case.

I will give you a quick tour. We made a coop inside one of our barns.

I have access with both a full door and a lid to lift off of the nesting boxes.

The chickens have a roost with plenty of ventilation. I do plan, however, to add another roost up a little higher.

They have access outside to the pen that was for Treu. I knew from the beginning that they would easily be able to fly over the fence, since there is no top to it. I was just hoping that with all the room and shelter under the trees that they would just prefer to stay inside.

Have you ever seen chickens laugh at you? I am pretty sure I have.

Here they are very clearly not inside the pen!

And the funny thing is, once they get out they don’t always remember how to get back in.

I mentioned in my last post that Toothless may be an issue. And she has been. I don’t think she has any intentions of hurting the chickens. She just thinks of them as her own personal toys. She loves to run right up into them when they are huddled together and just watch them go flapping and squawking away.

Here she is sneaking up on them, you can see one of the chickens has hopped the fence to get away from her.

It was funny the first time, but it is not something I want to encourage and I can tell the chickens are nervous when she comes around.

One night I went to close the coop, and I only counted 3 chickens. I quickly ran outside to see where the fourth one could be. Toothless had her cornered in the bean field.

I knew at that point I had to do something quickly.

I now have a squirt bottle of plain water that I keep out at the pen. Any time I see Toothless lurking around I give her a quick squirt of water and she goes running. Obviously I can’t sit out there all day and keep watch so I am hoping she gets the hint quickly.

Otherwise, I am just enjoying them. I go out to their pen every day after work and watch them peck the ground. I have given them tomatoes and cucumbers from the garden and I love to watch them chase each other and play keep-away.

So far they haven’t found our garden. They can’t see it from the pen. I am hoping it stays that way. I don’t want them to have their own private buffet. But as I mentioned above, have you ever seen a chicken laugh at you?

Anyone else new to raising chickens? Have any advice on getting Toothless to behave? Any predictions on when I will get my first egg?

It sounds like your girls are doing well, Sarah. With our chickens and ducks when I was growing up, my Dad put a mesh roof on our run. Treu’s run looks pretty big, but a covering of some kind would help keep the chickens in and Toothless out. We also put straw in the nesting boxes, even when we had shavings in the coop itself. I’m not sure if that makes a difference for encouraging them to lay or not.