Kristen’s Chickens and Farming Ventures

[rjohns39]

Good morning Kris

 

[Kris5902]

Good morning Kris

Good Morning Bob
I’m out on the early boat here for a shopping, feed, paperwork, DH bloodwork day... and you’re still up long before me The chickens are all basically opened up (except the barn dwellers, who have a light turned on) and it’s a grey and rainy day, so I don’t think they will mind too much. This is because it was still way too dark for me to be comfortable opening the barn fully, and because The 3 cows I am feeding are going to have to forage until late afternoon when we get back. Yes, they will walk into the barn, the big step up or no, and as I’m using haybales to support the lid to a meat tractor over Barney and girls this seemedlike a potential for disaster. Also because the “fence” between them and our trailer/barn area is mostly a suggestion.

 

[Kris5902]

If any of the Black Cooper Maran egg's hatch, I'll more then likely be selling them. My interest was in her Naked Neck one's. I ordered and paid for 2 dozen, but she only had 18 of those collected, so the 6 of the BCM's were thrown in to complete my 2 dozen order. The BCM have feather's on their leg's, so I can't really use them in my NN flock. These BCM egg's are pretty dark in color by the picture that she posted for me, so they shouldn't be hard to sell if any of those hatch.

Ooooh, but just think how cute they could be? Iridescent black with red flowing saddle feathers, and a little copper bow tie and feather booties!

 

[Kris5902]

This one I made on the large side 6'wx11Lx5.5'h and I can just lift my tow arm up and get it the "Tractor" . Its just a lawn tractor and not a "real" one. I made it for Del-Dot (regional joke) real name was Delores. anyhow here's a picture of it right after I moved it out of the Garage. Still hadn't put the hardware cloth on yet. Last Pic is Del-dot her first night in the tractor. And yes she was afraid of the dark so she got to have a night light

I love that you have a garden tractor to pull it. Beats the tow strap and manual labor any day, “real” tractor or not! I think a real tractor would be too loud and disturbing to the chickens anyway. I am not a fan of them, mostly. Uncomfortable, loud, hard to drive, and they feel too tippy, (at least the two we have that currently run... most of the time) and FIL keeps breaking the bucket on the “new” John Deere and welding it we were initially looking into some side by sides, like 4wd utility golf cart things similar to an ATV. They were significantly more expensive, so we just bought another Jeep instead, that way we have 2 4wd street legal vehicles.

 

[BlueBaby]

Ooooh, but just think how cute they could be? Iridescent black with red flowing saddle feathers, and a little copper bow tie and feather booties!

I still have to get my second coop done as it is, for doing the BBS NN's as my second flock. To do the BCM's it would take doing a 3rd coop, as I don't want to mix them with my NN's. The Barnie girl's lay the dark egg's too, but they have the clean leg's.

 

[Kris5902]

I’m not going to repeat DH’s comments when I suggested what Mr Maran would look like with a naked neck and little bow tie! It was less than complimentary to say the least. His spurs are really starting to come in as well... not all my boys seem to be getting sharp spurs, but he certainly is. Chickie Hawk and the Barnvelder boys are still fairly rounded and not as long. Mr Marans are the longest and look wicked sharp, Sammy’s beinglong as well, but far less pointy looking. As a little aside.

 

[BlueBaby]

I’m not going to repeat DH’s comments when I suggested what Mr Maran would look like with a naked neck and little bow tie! It was less than complimentary to say the least. His spurs are really starting to come in as well... not all my boys seem to be getting sharp spurs, but he certainly is. Chickie Hawk and the Barnvelder boys are still fairly rounded and not as long. Mr Marans are the longest and look wicked sharp, Sammy’s beinglong as well, but far less pointy looking. As a little aside.

You'll have to keep an eye out on Mr. Maran's hen's then to make sure those spur's don' hurt them. Roger's spur's have rounded end's naturally, and I'm glad for that.

 

[rjohns39]

Good morning Kris

 

[BlueBaby]

The shipped hatching egg's arrived this morning instead of tomorrow. I have unpacked them, and they are now resting. They arrived in good shape. I will candle for the air cell's tonight after dark.

 

[Kris5902]

The shipped hatching egg's arrived this morning instead of tomorrow. I have unpacked them, and they are now resting. They arrived in good shape. I will candle for the air cell's tonight after dark.

Exciting!!!
I have a dozen eggs set aside for hatching, so far... four CX and the rest Chickie Hawk’s girls... I’m not super happy with the cleanliness, but until I get the nest boxes clean, dry, and back in the tractors There’s still tons of spring prep to get done, and once the incubator is up and running the countdown to cleaning and prepping the brooder in the barn is really on... 21 days to get everyone OUT of the barn for real! I have two orders for pullet chicks for this spring, so I need to get moving on things here, and that means finishing up at the other job ASAP. Hopefully it’s basically all finished up by this Sunday.