A couple years ago I was laid off from a job of 28 years. Shortly after that a 5 acre place, right across the road from my Daughter & family, came up for sale. Out in the country where I wish I'd been all my life. My Daughter & son-in-law let me know right away as places out here don't last long. So I bought it. We talked a lot about becoming more self sufficient between the 2 places. Big gardens, pigs, chickens, goats, turkeys and who knows what else? I have 5 acres they have 30.
My Daughter now has 2 Tamworths (heritage pasture pigs), and we're just waiting for them to be old enough to breed - another month or so. My 1st project was to be the chickens (layers first). When (IF) my house in town ever sells I'd planned on building a nice, new, big chicken house. Then I'd get chickens. My breed of choice was Wyandottes, simply because I like their look. This would be my first experiece with chickens. So I joined this board and started reading.
A few days ago I went with my daughter to the feed store (30 miles) to pick up some pig feed and another water barrel. So we walk in the feed store --- Oh look - baby chicks! Aren't they cute. So my Grandson (3) and I are looking at chicks. Awwww. Feed store guy comes over (curses on him). Says he'll let me have the chicks for $1 each and he'll throw in a bag of starter if I take them ALL. He has a shipment of day-olds coming in from Ideal on Friday and needs to clear the tubs of these ancient 2 week old chicks.
My son-in-law's huge ice chest is now in my office, with a light attached and full of chicks. (he'll want it back by 4th of July).
6 Brown Leghorns
5 California Whites
3 Silver Laced Wyandottes
3 Golden Laced Wyandottes
3 Columbian Wyandottes
Nothing like starting out small, huh?
So - new plan. What was and was going to stay the garden shed will now become the chicken house. It's about 8' - 10' wide (once all the shelving is removed) and 20'+ long. It has windows and a skylight. It needs LOTS of work (and a new roof) but I can't afford to build new night now. Who knows, this may work out better.
I'll try to get some pictures this weekend and post them Monday when I'm back here babysitting. (I don't have internet access except at my daughter's until I sell the other house).
Edited to add....
My Daughter & son-in-law were invited out to dinner, so I'm back here babysitting this evening. So, I snapped a few quick pics.
I was leaving the top open on the ice chest during the day when it's hot, but came home this afternoon and one of the California Whites was on top of the waterer - that's not gonna work! So I put a screen over the top
But a picture through the screen wasn't bright of me.
I'm just learning to identify breeds, but feed store guy told me what's what. (I must get his name)
White ones are California Whites, tall brown one is Brown Leghorn, one on far right is Silver Laced Wyandotte.
Cocky looking California White. She has one black spot just above her tail. Silly looking girl. You can just see a couple of the Silver Laced Wyandottes in the background.
Finally, a Granddaughter
My Daughter now has 2 Tamworths (heritage pasture pigs), and we're just waiting for them to be old enough to breed - another month or so. My 1st project was to be the chickens (layers first). When (IF) my house in town ever sells I'd planned on building a nice, new, big chicken house. Then I'd get chickens. My breed of choice was Wyandottes, simply because I like their look. This would be my first experiece with chickens. So I joined this board and started reading.
A few days ago I went with my daughter to the feed store (30 miles) to pick up some pig feed and another water barrel. So we walk in the feed store --- Oh look - baby chicks! Aren't they cute. So my Grandson (3) and I are looking at chicks. Awwww. Feed store guy comes over (curses on him). Says he'll let me have the chicks for $1 each and he'll throw in a bag of starter if I take them ALL. He has a shipment of day-olds coming in from Ideal on Friday and needs to clear the tubs of these ancient 2 week old chicks.
My son-in-law's huge ice chest is now in my office, with a light attached and full of chicks. (he'll want it back by 4th of July).
6 Brown Leghorns
5 California Whites
3 Silver Laced Wyandottes
3 Golden Laced Wyandottes
3 Columbian Wyandottes
Nothing like starting out small, huh?
So - new plan. What was and was going to stay the garden shed will now become the chicken house. It's about 8' - 10' wide (once all the shelving is removed) and 20'+ long. It has windows and a skylight. It needs LOTS of work (and a new roof) but I can't afford to build new night now. Who knows, this may work out better.
I'll try to get some pictures this weekend and post them Monday when I'm back here babysitting. (I don't have internet access except at my daughter's until I sell the other house).
Edited to add....
My Daughter & son-in-law were invited out to dinner, so I'm back here babysitting this evening. So, I snapped a few quick pics.
I was leaving the top open on the ice chest during the day when it's hot, but came home this afternoon and one of the California Whites was on top of the waterer - that's not gonna work! So I put a screen over the top
But a picture through the screen wasn't bright of me.
I'm just learning to identify breeds, but feed store guy told me what's what. (I must get his name)
White ones are California Whites, tall brown one is Brown Leghorn, one on far right is Silver Laced Wyandotte.
Cocky looking California White. She has one black spot just above her tail. Silly looking girl. You can just see a couple of the Silver Laced Wyandottes in the background.
Finally, a Granddaughter
Last edited:
