Urban "Homesteader"

We've been taking the chicks out little by little to acclimate them to the outside. Today before work my wife and I took them outside two by two, no fence around them just allowed them to do as they pleased. Though they have their independence and roam around scratching they never really went far from us. When we sat down they weaseled their way on our laps and a few laid on their sides feathers sprawled out.
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Abigail fluffing up in the sun.
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How many chicks can fit on one lap
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Jo Jo has turning into boss chicken. She'll put the cockerels in their place when they fight. She also demands human attention.
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My two favorite gals hanging out with me. Big John watches on, day by day he gets less skittish.
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Everyday this past week we've been taking the chicks outside to get them ready to permanently live in their coop. They definitely let us know that they want to go outside in the morning from all the noises they make from the brooder.

Yesterday after I got home from work (10pm) I went to get my nightly snuggles and all of them except for Jo Jo looked at me like why the heck are you waking us up for this? It's cool to see them get on a normal schedule, it's also amazing to see a lot of growth in 8 hours.

We've been weighing them every week to track their progress. Saturday, Grenda our largest pullet weighed 16.6 oz and Big John was at 17.5 oz. The rest are all around 10-13 oz. We had to put crayola marker dots on a few their heads to ensure we knew who's who. We also took profile pictures of the cockerel's combs which helps a lot to tell the difference when the mark fades away.

When we started taking them out they didn't venture far from us and now they only come running over when something new surprises them or if we sit on the ground. Sneezing scares them everytime and they'll run a little ways and drop to the ground, its comical to watch them. I started feeling guilty taking them outside like I was abandoning them, but after today I just hate going to work and not spending time with them.

We found a lot of grasshopper around our garden so Jessica and I went hunting. I remember as a child I could catch them no problem, but now boy it was a challenge. We filled a jar with 20-25 of various sizes and put them in the brooder. This is a ton of fun and thought it would be fun to just take a few to the garden so they could hunt on their own. Jo jo and Grenda are good hunters, the other two cockerels not so much. Occasionally a grasshopper or bug would crawl up the fence so we picked up Jo jo and she would peak them off the fence, she's such a good chicken. We always give them grit afterwards to ensure proper digestion and I've also found them getting little bits of gravel and pebbles while outside.

The coop is close to being finished with trim, paper, shingles windows, and door remaining. I decided to make a half door instead of a full door to ensure better air flow during the summer. Even during the hottest part of the day (100+) the coop is nice and cool without the windows. I'm really pleased on how its turned out and I'm still debating how I want the run to look. Building it by myself has slowed down the process a lot especially when working on the upper parts of the coop like the roof. With no experience in design, framing and roofing it actually looks pretty good.
 
The coop prior to me putting on three roof sheating. 20200801_194909.jpg
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Out door time. They love to sun bath
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Jo jo love her humans and jumps up on the chair to get attention. Resized_20200804_144749.jpeg
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I got tired of cleaning up poop while inside so I put a mask to good use.
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Got a lot more done today on the coop. Trim and paper on the roof. Tomorrow drip edge and shingles, build door and create windows, and chicken door. Followed by adding a roost/poop board and put bedding inside. Run is still up in the air.
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Got distracted when one of the cockerels who I've been calling Cluck Berry decided he wanted to cuddle when I was crouching. 20200807_111751.jpg
Big John wanted attention too. He's quite and observes you from a distance before he approaches.
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Wow it's been a little over two weeks since I've posted anything, it's been really busy. Today the chicks are now two months old and they are growing like crazy! They all have normal feathers now and everyday I enjoy seeing them turn into the Buff Orpingtons they should be. The last two weeks we've been letting the chicks stay outside and bring them inside to sleep in the brooder, until last night. Every night at 8:15pm the chicks would gave at the back door and peak at the glass informing us we needed to bring the in. I finished the coop enough to allow them to sleep inside it. I got some minor things and major that they'll be able to stay inside the coop while I do those needs.

We've finally name all our pullets; Grenda, Jo Jo, Abigail, Leia, Ivy and Lottie and given two of the cockerels names Big John and Cluck Berry. We're trying to refrain from naming the cockerels only to make it easier on myself come butcher day. Each of them has their own personalities, Cluck Berry, and Jo Jo love their cuddles from the humans. Cluck Berry will even make noise until he get picked up or until you sit down so he can jump into your lap to receive pets. Abigail is a little spitfire but also loves her attention. I love seeing her run around catching bugs and at times acting all independent of the flock. Lottie is stand offish though she comes up to us at times. One evening she scared me because she kept on moving your crop around, when I felt it it was super hard. I did some research and thought it might be impacted. When I check the rest of the chicks I found that all of them had full crops. I figured right before bed they would fill it up.

The coop has been a learning experience as well as very rewarding. It's awesome to see the fruits of my labor. So far the only thing I can say that I'd change it laying a concrete floor and foundation instead of using treated lumber and road base. Overall it's a solid structure and it looks nice as well.

The peace the chickens have given me is worth far more than what I've put into them. I'm super excited for the first day I get eggs and the day we start giving away eggs because we have an abundance. Theres a few of the cockerels that I won't feel bad about butchering. I know they have a peaking order but some are a little too peaky, especially at my hands or arm. A few I had to give a stern talking to regarding their behavior, which seemed to go on defense ears. What should I except?

I've been considering my pullet count so we can justify having two roosters. Been thinking about getting a different breed. It's been really nice having the chicks work thr compost pile and eat grasshoppers and weeds around the yard. I guess the grasshoppers are bad this year, but it seems to be under control here. It cracks me up to watch one run across the yard to catch come butterfly or moth.

Well on to the pictures!!!
 
The coop shingled 20200809_174720.jpg
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The coop finished enough for them to stay in.
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First time in the coop. Resized_20200823_200627.jpeg

Lunch time in the coop, they got it down quickly. Resized_20200824_131933.jpeg

Cluck Berry giving my wife love eyes.
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Jo Jo after she pushed Cluck Berry out of her lap.
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This is what we see at 8pm. I guess it's time for them to come it. Not anymore!!!
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Dust bathing and chicken cuddles in the yard.
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They like to help, so they're working a pile of grass for me.
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Great story to follow along with.. I started out this year with 6 chicks (5 of them ending up cockerels)... Then added 4 mature hens after some of the boys were disbursed... Just picked up 11 more chicks, and when it stops raining here will start building some hoop coops.
 
Great story to follow along with.. I started out this year with 6 chicks (5 of them ending up cockerels)... Then added 4 mature hens after some of the boys were disbursed... Just picked up 11 more chicks, and when it stops raining here will start building some hoop coops.

It's a slippery slope owning chickens. Very quickly you could own more than your originally planned. I got my chicks from Murray McMurray sexed so that I knew exactly what I was getting. I thought about the straight run, but I learned that quite often that S.R. tend to be more cockerels.

Where are you keeping the chickens now until you build one?
 

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