New Coop, First Summer Report

This spring a friend generously gave us his shed he had transformed into a coop.  We were wanting a shed style coop after we had another, we think, weasel attack on our laying pullets which killed one.  Weasels are very hard to keep out since they can squeeze through very small spaces.  The pre-fab sheds are nice because they are solid and easy to secure for the night.

Jonathan made a few alterations such as adding egg doors so the kids could collect the eggs, and a ramp for access to the chicken yard.  Locks and latches we choose were important because some predators can work and open simple devices.

The kids enjoyed the temporary play house.

New pullets seem happy, and it has kept out a lingering raccoon.

We are very thankful Andy's kindness for even transporting the shed to our house. (This is also the friend that drove his tractor across town to turn over our yard for starting our garden 4 years back.)  Thank you Andy!

That garden has been doing ok considering the super dry spring we had. (Planted: tomatoes, white and sweet potatoes, snap peas, beans, leeks, garlic, collards, carrots, beets, lettuce, dill, cucs, radishes, sunflowers, melons and second annual returning pumpkin (came back from last year's pumpkins left)

White and red potatoes are THRIVING this year.  Beets and collards doing pretty good too.  Snap peas as always are doing just so so (New England springs are not the best for snap peas).   Our peas usually don't make it back to the house since the kids eat them first.  I think they like snap peas so much just because they have permission to pick them their self.  Little lady is eating a strawberry.

See what I mean, only one pea made it safely back to the house.  Oh and I forgot about our rhubarb, conveniently ready during strawberry season (rhubarb, strawberry cobbler is one of Jonathan's favorite).

Pigs are growing nicely.  They have nice length in the loins showing the Landrace breed influence (these are Landrace/Hampshire cross breed).  Hams and shoulders are not as rounded as our last Hampshire/Yorkshire crosses but still plenty meat there.

I am continually pleased by the quality stock we get from our piglet farmer (he grows pigs, cows and chickens for meat also and sells to local restaurants, all free range for those curious).

Thats it for now.  As always, construction is in progress on the house.  Dad and Mom T. were here last weekend and helped with some projects.  I hope to share some completed updates with you soon.

Our Big February Snow 2013

Picture dump of the 24ish inches of snow that were dumped on us.  Enjoy-

Last night was quite nasty, snow blowing from the north east-

Prepared for the power outage that usually happens, but were spared this time-

I never really liked this tree anyway-

Must. Get. To. Chicken coop.

Hard to tell how many inches since most of it is drifted-

Neighbor's SOUTH facing side of house (winds were mainly from the north east)

 Pool chain link fence, solid snow-

Street is plowed

 Hens not interested in leaving their coop today-

Had to dig out the inside alittle-

Success-

My reward-

He likes the snow, has his daddy's upstate NY hardiness.  Been out multiple times today.  Baby girl not so fond of cold.

Favorite picture-

Good stuff-

 Snow fort daddy dug out-

Love her chunky cheeks, the guy is pretty cute too-

Yes, we are that family.  Maybe we will invest in a snowblower one day. (we just bought a bay window remind you :)  and a generator is much higher on the buy list)

 Now for some pretty pictures-

I used to not like the well cover, but it is growing on me.

In conclusion, we need a mud room... and blinds on our windows :)

New Year, Old Bay Window and Frosty Chicken Combs

I was hoping to begin this new year with a fresh, new, non drafty bay window.... 

but our contractor was not able to make that happen.... continuing to push back the work date.  It was initially scheduled for before Christmas then rescheduled before the year's end, as of Wednesday he was going to try and start by this week's end.  I guess there was some progress Wednesday.... they shoveled snow away from the work area.

With positive thinking we went ahead and removed our Christmas tree, I guess for this reason it was good they delayed the work (since we would have had to move it fully decorated during the holidays).  What a mess trees make, I completely understand why people get fake trees (more reasons than this).

A warm up in weather is forecasted for next week so thats also another positive for it getting postponed since there will be a hole in the side of our house during the process.

Speaking of the cold weather, chickens and snow don't mix-

Some breeds do better than others, our RI Red mix (Penny, who recently survived a hawk attack), seems to not mind cold too much.  You have to watch their combs and wattles though as they can get frost bit.  The comb is the red thingy on their head and the wattles are the danglies below their beaks (formal chicken talk yall).

To prevent frost bite we slavered their combs and wattles with vaseline, oh the uses of vaseline.  The hens were not too fond of the treatment, doesn't Rooster look happy.  She has a much smaller comb than Penny as you can see.

Not sure if that was post worthy, but I just like taking pictures of the chickens.

I apologize for another non exciting post (no house updates)... we are slowly getting back in gear to work on stuff.  Someone did add a lawn ornament this week, does that count as an update?

Zero Hens-A-Laying

Sorry no house updates, priorities have been diverted to Christmas activities these days.
Speaking of Christmas (related music) I wish I had 6 geese-a-laying.... with all the cooking going on lately I could use some EGGS!! (I am silently yelling at my chickens outside).  I had to buy a dozen from the store yesterday, the first time since spring.  It felt weird.  Like buying something that you think you should get free.... like a can of air, or a gallon of water, or a bag of ice.  Am I asking too much here?  Apparently ALL 3 OF THEM are molting (that was another silent yell).  See all the feathers-

Molting is when they shed their feathers to grow new one (like in Make Way for Ducklings) and typically stop laying eggs during the process.  More info on molting here if interested.  It occurs yearly and can be triggered by the lack of sunlight and/or change of seasons (I think).  Since they are not even a year old this was not supposed to happen until next year.  Ginger, the Rhode Island Red mix, in the middle (who WAS my favorite)-

was NOT molting until this past week.  She had been giving us an egg a day all fall and winter.  I thought the two Ameraucanas (Penny and Rooster), who have been molting for a few months now, had persuaded her to join them.... peer pressure.

Since hormones are involved I truly thought they could have induced it (women know what I am talking about).

But after reading I learned that I might have induced it.  Over a week ago I insulated the upper portion of their coop by filling in some holes with straw and rolled up feed bags (leaving ventilation only at the top).

Since the two Ameraucanas had been staying mostly in the coop (I assumed from being cold due loosing their feathers) Ginger was staying with them.  I then blocked out most of the sunlight into to coop most likely inducing her molt.  Oops, sorry ladies.... now I know.  I am considering adding some milk whey to their food since I read adding more protein can help in re-growing their feathers.

Lack of food can also induce molting and they have had some food thieves during the night.

We have to put their food in a metal trash can each night otherwise the mice and rats gobble it all up.

On a more lovely note, there is still some fresh herbs growing in our garden.  Surviving a couple snows and frosts.  Parsley-

Cilantro that re-seeded itself from my spring plants.

Oregano already spreading even after we re-located it late summer.

Gardening is not just a one season thing!
As I am typing its thundering and lightening outside, strange New England weather this winter.....