About 6 years ago I had this whole retirement plan put together that I wanted to execute so I could leave my job in technology and focus on my dream of finding a small farm to replicate what I had as a child with my grandparents. It had to be a place (1) near my grandchildren (done), (2) facilities for my horses to move from a boarding stable to where we would retire together (done), (3) space for a few chickens so I could possibly sell some eggs (done), (4) room to plant a vegetable garden and have fresh asparagus (done), and (5) most of all to be able to sit back and enjoy the simple life (not so much).....
I had been around chickens at the boarding stable where my horses were and got hooked on fresh eggs. I started with 13 chicks - 4 Buff Orpingtons, 4 Americaunas, 5 Black Stars. One of the Black Stars died right away and one of the Americaunas turned out to be a rooster (not a good ending there, but more on that later). I put them all in my bathtub initially while we lived through an April cold snap, but they were soon moved into my utility room in a brooder with a heat lamp. Once the temperature stabilized and they had their secondary feathers, I moved them to the chicken nursery in my renovated coop.
I am very proud of my coop. It was an existing coop 8x8x7. It was in bad shape so I gutted it and cleaned it out, built out where 4 nests would go under their roosting bed. I used plastic dish pans as their nesting boxes. So easy to keep clean! I use shavings as my bedding. I've added more roosting places both inside and out, heat lamp for when it really gets cold and a fan for when it really gets hot; all on timers. I installed an automatic chicken door a couple of years ago since I work nights. That is so handy! The floor was initially dirt, but I found several concrete pavers lying around that I laid down on the floor to keep mice and potential predators out. That was covered with Quikrete and then leftover horse stall mats. The people sized front door was changed to a Dutch door to allow ventilation by adding a screen and a cover for warmth in the winter. A couple of pop doors were added to be opened and closed depending on the weather or new chicks (one goes out to the new and improved chicken nursery). The entire chicken yard (20 feet by 40 feet) was covered with 2” chicken wire to keep predators out. A new roof for the coop and new yard covering went on the summer after the bomb cyclone. (Along with other repairs to other buildings. Whoever heard of a bomb cyclone in a snowstorm? In fact, whoever heard of a bomb cyclone?)
Did I mention the farm I bought was a fixer/upper? Well, much for retirement. Since I was always at Home Depot for something that needed repair, upgrade, etc. and all those things that keep the farm running, I went to work part-time.
Since I started the initial flock, I've had quite a rotation of chickens. Several drop offs from work associates that couldn't keep their hens. That chicken nursery became very handy to introduce the new girls to the old girls. I lost several of my hens last year when the bomb cyclone blew the chicken yard gate open and my year-old German Shepard puppy found that chickens were fun to chase and play with. I was not amused when I got home from work and found the massacre in my back yard. Since then, the dog has turned out to be quite the protector of the flock when red tailed hawks and owls appear, so he did manage to redeem himself. The flock has become part of his pack, along with my cats, horse, mini-pony and mini-mule that was rescued and are now part of Tarryabit Farm.
I had 11 chickens at the start of July; the Buff and one of the Americaunas of the original flock, 2 Americaunas, and a couple of hybrids (sex links). The drop offs are a Sapphire Gem, Barred Rock rooster, 2 chicks (Ayam Cynamis because they had white feathers). I enjoy my hens, and don't normally do roosters, but I’m going to take a chance, especially now that the world has gone a little crazy these days. That rooster I got in the initial flock turned out to be a bad one, and I knew he was one to watch very carefully. I always brought a broom whenever I was around him except one time. He got me good. I ended up with 12 stitches in my leg after he cornered me and got me with his spurs. He may have won the battle, but I won the war. Since then, I have had a few more roosters appear, but I found a place near me that breeds chickens and takes roosters. Problem solved humanely. By the way, one of the Ayam Cenamis have lost their white feathers and one has turned out to be a rooster!
I learned about Backyard Chickens a few years ago and what a great resource! I always check to see if there is information that would help me and my flock. I have learned so much since my start at “chicken farming” and I always find something very useful. I joined back then but had not gotten around to introducing myself. So, I am getting around to it now. Hello everyone from Tarryabit Farm located in the Front Range region of the Rocky Mountains!
I had been around chickens at the boarding stable where my horses were and got hooked on fresh eggs. I started with 13 chicks - 4 Buff Orpingtons, 4 Americaunas, 5 Black Stars. One of the Black Stars died right away and one of the Americaunas turned out to be a rooster (not a good ending there, but more on that later). I put them all in my bathtub initially while we lived through an April cold snap, but they were soon moved into my utility room in a brooder with a heat lamp. Once the temperature stabilized and they had their secondary feathers, I moved them to the chicken nursery in my renovated coop.
I am very proud of my coop. It was an existing coop 8x8x7. It was in bad shape so I gutted it and cleaned it out, built out where 4 nests would go under their roosting bed. I used plastic dish pans as their nesting boxes. So easy to keep clean! I use shavings as my bedding. I've added more roosting places both inside and out, heat lamp for when it really gets cold and a fan for when it really gets hot; all on timers. I installed an automatic chicken door a couple of years ago since I work nights. That is so handy! The floor was initially dirt, but I found several concrete pavers lying around that I laid down on the floor to keep mice and potential predators out. That was covered with Quikrete and then leftover horse stall mats. The people sized front door was changed to a Dutch door to allow ventilation by adding a screen and a cover for warmth in the winter. A couple of pop doors were added to be opened and closed depending on the weather or new chicks (one goes out to the new and improved chicken nursery). The entire chicken yard (20 feet by 40 feet) was covered with 2” chicken wire to keep predators out. A new roof for the coop and new yard covering went on the summer after the bomb cyclone. (Along with other repairs to other buildings. Whoever heard of a bomb cyclone in a snowstorm? In fact, whoever heard of a bomb cyclone?)
Did I mention the farm I bought was a fixer/upper? Well, much for retirement. Since I was always at Home Depot for something that needed repair, upgrade, etc. and all those things that keep the farm running, I went to work part-time.
Since I started the initial flock, I've had quite a rotation of chickens. Several drop offs from work associates that couldn't keep their hens. That chicken nursery became very handy to introduce the new girls to the old girls. I lost several of my hens last year when the bomb cyclone blew the chicken yard gate open and my year-old German Shepard puppy found that chickens were fun to chase and play with. I was not amused when I got home from work and found the massacre in my back yard. Since then, the dog has turned out to be quite the protector of the flock when red tailed hawks and owls appear, so he did manage to redeem himself. The flock has become part of his pack, along with my cats, horse, mini-pony and mini-mule that was rescued and are now part of Tarryabit Farm.
I had 11 chickens at the start of July; the Buff and one of the Americaunas of the original flock, 2 Americaunas, and a couple of hybrids (sex links). The drop offs are a Sapphire Gem, Barred Rock rooster, 2 chicks (Ayam Cynamis because they had white feathers). I enjoy my hens, and don't normally do roosters, but I’m going to take a chance, especially now that the world has gone a little crazy these days. That rooster I got in the initial flock turned out to be a bad one, and I knew he was one to watch very carefully. I always brought a broom whenever I was around him except one time. He got me good. I ended up with 12 stitches in my leg after he cornered me and got me with his spurs. He may have won the battle, but I won the war. Since then, I have had a few more roosters appear, but I found a place near me that breeds chickens and takes roosters. Problem solved humanely. By the way, one of the Ayam Cenamis have lost their white feathers and one has turned out to be a rooster!
I learned about Backyard Chickens a few years ago and what a great resource! I always check to see if there is information that would help me and my flock. I have learned so much since my start at “chicken farming” and I always find something very useful. I joined back then but had not gotten around to introducing myself. So, I am getting around to it now. Hello everyone from Tarryabit Farm located in the Front Range region of the Rocky Mountains!
Hi and welcome! It’s so nice to have you here!
