The never ending kitchen remodel...

[lauralou]

City Girl,

Yeah, the coop turned out pretty well. Put that ugly pile of scrap lumber to good use. I'm so glad I decided to make the bottom part a second coop. They stay down there a lot during the day.

I got the chickens from the farm I told you about that has the Barnevelders. Only the guy had no Barnevelders available until spring so I bought what he had. Because I wanted chickens RIGHT NOW! (I know exactly how you feel)

Also, I had been reading about biosecurity, and quarantining new chickens, and all the problems that can occur if you get started chickens...but I still wanted eggs this spring. So I figured, if I'm ever going to buy a grown chicken, now is the time. Before I have any other chickens.

So, anyway, I bought 6 chickens: 2 Dominique pullets, 1 Dominique cockerel, and 3 mixed breed pullets, from an accident where a barred rock roo got to a Dominique hen. The 2 girls in the picture are BR/Dom crosses. They are the sweetest little things!

The temp is nice here, but it is wet and mucky. So, I've been checking out seeds, too. I went through my seed box, catalogued what I had and how old it was, so now I know what I need, and can concentrate on fun stuff I want to try. I've never heard of red cucumbers. That's something fun to try for sure. Let me know how they turn out.

Your chicken list sounds good. All of those breeds have been on my list at one time or another! And probably will be again before I actually place my order. lol I don't need the email address for the Ameraucanas. I'm pretty sure that I don't want to get that many of any 1 breed. They're hard to tell apart! (Insert blushing smilie here) Plus, there are so many cool breeds to choose from, I'm toying with the idea of getting one each of ten different breeds for my spring layer order. I could narrow my favorite breeds down to ten pretty easily.

Ha! I can just picture your cat in the sink!

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

I took the random sink parts back today. They ordered replacements with no argument. The sales lady heard part of the remodel story and declared that I had the worst remodeling luck ever. True, true! Hopefully they will be in within the next couple of days.

Lauralou- I think your idea of one of everything is a great one! I'm planning on maybe two of everything to allow for potential loss. I really want a giant chicken coop now. I'm thinking that the little one will be too small for my new addiction.

I'm glad you were able to go ahead and get the started hens (pullets?). How soon until you get eggs? I love the patterning on your girls' feathers. Is your DH sucked in to life with chickens now?

Gotta go. The cat's sitting on my foot and it (and the cat) have both gone to sleep!
CG

 

[All about the EGG]

Thats odd...my sink has no name strainers in it and does not leak. My sink is a cast iron Kohler as well.
For the most part, sinks that are floor models get used a lot i e pulled, turned, twisted. The seals can get worn or go bad. You might ask why, they are designed to take abuse. But abused with water in them. The seals dry out.

Enjoy you new kitchen, you deserve it!

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

Thanks, EGG!
I don't really know about any of this as I don't really do plumbing. All I know is what the installers said. And it did leak. Of course, it could be that the installers did it wrong, but who knows? They said they had problems everytime they put in drain assemblies with a Kohler.

Do you love your cast iron sink? I love how it feels and sounds. Somehow it's just right. Is there anything I should know before I actually use it? I was going to get a mat or rack to put in it to protect the bottom.

I should have realized the floor model was a bad idea. But I assumed that since the showroom was tiny and the sales people pretty quick to hop up and help that it would be okay. Clearly not!

Oh, well... new ones are on their way. I still have painting to do and hinges to replace, but then phase one of the kitchen will be done! It's going to be lovely!

CG

 

[All about the EGG]

I like the Kohler sink. We have an off white one. Go with the mat protectors. It will scratch if something heavy is dropped, but so will steel! I like them because they are heavy, and dont bounce around. Very sturdy! (Tim Allen/Home Improvement grunt!) Real plumbing is cast iron!

All will be well in the end...and you will have more great times in your kitchen and will forget all of this. They do make for great stories though!

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

Thanks, EGG!

I'll get the mats pronto. While cast iron sinks have been around forever, I figured it would scratch or perhaps stain.
(I had a line on an old famhouse sink with the sideboards and the high back. Unfortunately the back was 2" too high to fit under my window sills. The lady was going to sell it to me for $40 too instead of the $200 it should be sold for!

)

Thanks again!
CG

 

[All about the EGG]

That would have been a great sink. I like those, and they are very popular. If you can still buy it, get it, hold onto it or sell it on Ebay. Have fun!

 

[lauralou]

City Girl,

Here's hoping that your stuff comes in quickly, works perfectly, and the never ending remodel comes to a happy end!

I know what you mean about the addiction. I think I need a new coop for my new layers, another coop for my Dark Cornish breeders, and a tractor for the male meat birds. And to think, I actually thought that the coop we built would be enough! How silly of me. But yes, luckily for me, DH is totally into the chickens. He loves them, and can't wait for the first egg.

And speaking of the first egg, I hope it comes soon. The girls' faces are getting much redder, and their wattles have grown a lot. My favorite, Precious, does the squat for us all the time. It's so cute. I've also noticed that they are eating some of the oyster shell that I put out. I think that must be a good sign. Since I'm not supplementing light in the coop, I've starting getting off my lazy butt and letting them out as soon as the sun comes up. Sounds simple, but I've increased their light by a half hour a day that way.

Now, as for your coop issues, didn't I read a post where someone (maybe you) suggested buying a bunch of $99 playhouses and painting them all different colors? I thought it was a darling idea. Of course, it would probably be cheaper to go ahead and build one giant coop. I have no doubt that you will need it.

How many chicks are you going to get this spring? Don't forget to get extra Ameraucanas, as they'll most likely be straight run. Oh, but I almost forgot, did you see the thread about dowsing for the sex of chicks? You could try that. What a hoot! It just might work.

If you like the pattern of my girls' feathers, you might want to consider getting a Barred Rock. Lots of people really like them for their personalities. My girls are mixed breeds, but they are clearly friendlier than the Dominiques, and they sure are pretty, with their little fat butts and fuzzy panties... Seems like I have read that Silver Laced Wyandottes can be more skittish, but that probably depends on the strain. Just a thought. Like you didn't have enough problems with choosing breeds.