My Chicken Journal **Updated 04/08/12**

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***Update Hatchery, Breeds, and Coop ***


After weeks of researching and digging around on this site I think I have found a Hatchery that I like, now we just need to go it and make sure it is as good as the owners of the hatchery say it is lol. I am sure it is because there are too many good reviews for it to be as bad as a couple of people on here have said it is. http://www.poultryhollow.org/p1.htm


Since I have a hatchery with a list of breeds they sale I can choose what breeds I want. I mainly want good layers but I want a few "ornamental breeds" also, so again after weeks of research and reading books about the different breeds and what the different breeds are used for (eggs, meat, or show) I finally have 16 different breeds picked out listed below. I am getting 2 of each for the layers and 1 of each for the "Ornamental" for a total of 25 chickens. We will be going to get the chicks around the end of March (this year). We dont have a date set yet but as soon as we do I will let you know.

(Layers)
Rhode Island Red
Black Australorp
Buff Orpington
Barred Rock
Speckled Sussex
Welsummer
Production Red
Ameraucana (Easter)
Light Brahma
Golden Laced Wyandotte
Silver Laced Wyandotte
Lakenvelder

(Ornamental)
White Sultan
Mottled Houdan
Spitzhauben
Polish

And you cant have chickens unless you have a coop. So now that we have our chicken breeds and the number of chickens we want time to pick a coop big enough to hold all of those chickens. We have looked at many building plans and read books on how to build coops and thought about building one our selves, but we realized we don't have a carpenter or even a good builder in the family so we have now decided to buy a pre-built building from the mennonite place in town. We are going to buy a building that was built for a storage shed and convert it into a coop the size of the building will be an 8x10 foot big enough to hold all 25 chickens and more room to add a few more later if we want. We are also going to buy a 10x10 outside dog kennel for the run and put a cover on top for protection from hawks. the square footage of the coop is 80sq ft and the run is 100 sq ft so all together during the day they will have a total of 180 sq ft. We are not going to let them out of there run because we have too many hawks and stray dogs around here.

***Update Progress***


We are starting to clean off an area for the coop and run we still have to pick-up tree branches and mow and decide exactly where we are going to put the coop but other than that we are ready for the coop and chickens....We should have the chickens with in the next few weeks.

***Update Progress***
So today we got alot done in the "Chicken Lot"...we raked up leftover leaves form the fall and hauled them off into the woods so there not in our yard...We picked up tree branches that were in our yard and the "Chicken Lot" ...we mowed our yard and the "Chicken Lot"....Now we are ready for the coop!!!! I think we are going to get it next week then we still have to get all the supplies like food, feeder and waters, heat lamp for the younger chicks...then we have to modify the building because the building we are getting is made for a storage shed...we need to get electricity in it and we have to add a window and a door for the chickens so they can get out in their run. In all today was a very productive day we got alot done and now we are pretty much ready to get the coop and chicks

***Update Progress***
So we went to town and finally got the building for the coop ordered, we are having two extra windows on each side (left and right when you are facing the front of the building) and we are getting a little 12'' x 12'' door for the chickens cut out, and also a ridge vent for better air circulation in the summers, then we will build our own roost for them and nest boxes. The building will be delivered in about 2 weeks. also we went to TSC yesterday "BIG MISTAKE LOL" they are getting a new shipment of chicks monday, we are going to get some as soon as they open that way we have will be able to choose witch ones we want and are not left with the "leftovers"
In short we are getting the coop in 2 weeks and the chicks on monday

Ill comment, but i need to read it first LOL

sounds like you have had a productive time, cant wait to see pics of your coop (that sounds great) and chicks!

Yes we have been pretty busy the last week trying to get a place for the coop cleaned off and trying to figure out if we want to get a few chicks form TSC because the hatchery will not have little bity babies they will only have 3 weeks old and up in the breeds I want for the time I am wanting them. anI would like to have at least a few 3-4 day old chick as this will be my fist time owning chickens and I would like to try to raise them from itty bity babies :3

sounds good, ya we always raise them as chicks, its a good idea

would you want to buy some 5 week olds from us? they are nice but i know you want bitty babies

I would love to but you are all the way in Alaska and I am in Tennessee and I think in might be to stressful on the birds thanks for the offer though