What's with the snow?!?

Close to a foot in my front yard, and more coming this evening!!!

Our 2nd batch of eggs was a 100% BUST!  Not one hatched.  We have upgraded to a new incubator, and are trying again this week with some Silver-laced Wyandot eggs, as well as about a dozen from our own flock.  This 3rd batch will double as a science fair project for our 8yo, so I'm hoping we have better luck!

The sale on the house we had under contract has fallen through, but we have a backup home that we're working on getting under contract.  It's on an acre, and would still be a big upgrade over our current 1/5 acre.  *fingers crossed*

Big changes ahead - update`

So much has been going on, there's been no time to blog!

For starters, our 1st hatch was a bit of a bust.  We ended up having 3 hatch, and 2 of the 3 died :-(.  We did get one healthy buff orp. pullet.  She's doing well, and is about 5 weeks old now.

Last week, we introduced 2 Jersey Giants, 1 Cuckoo Maran, and our "Heinz 57" Rooster into the main flock.  So far, no one has killed anyone else, which we will call a "success."  The big chickens keep picking on the Cuckoo, and the 4 little ones hide in the corner all day.

We have our 2nd batch of hatching eggs in the incubator. Today is day 14, and about 1/2 of them are looking pretty good at this point (there are 25 eggs in this batch).  We'll see what hatches next week.

But the big news is: WE'RE UPGRADING!  We have a new house under-contract, and it's on an acre and a half.  A big upgrade over our 1/5 acre lot that we're currently on.  We're very excited to start this new "upgraded" farming adventure.  Unfortunately, we're moving the 1st week of June, and that means no garden this year :-/, but we'll have the summer to plan out the garden area for next year.

Sorry for the lack uf updates.  I hope everyone is having a great spring, so far!

Not much to report

I haven't written a post in a while.  Lots has been going on in my personal life, not so much in the backyard.

Currently, the backyard is covered by 7" of snow :-/.  This weekend, it's supposed to be in the 60's, so I'm hoping we can get some backyard projects done: Primarily, building the new chicken run, and putting a vinyl door on the chicken coop, so the chickens can come and go as they please.

Those darn eggs haven't hatched, yet!  They're scheduled to hatch tomorrow, and at this point, if only ONE hatches I'll be thrilled.  Incubating eggs is A LOT of work!

Boston...the chicken killa.... is still here.  The guy from TN bailed, so Boston's supposed to be going to a hound rescue this weekend.  It's been a lot of work keeping the 3 chickens we have left safe in the backyard until Boston gets relocated.

The veggies I planted indoors have sprouted...well, some of them have. The cauliflower and broccoli are growing nicely, no sign of the peppers or tomatoes yet.

I guess that's all for now.  I'll take videos & pics of those chicks hatching tomorrow *fingers crossed*!

Saw this on http://www.facebook.com/pages/One-Badger-Farms-llc-Natural-Chicks-and-Pullets/132013146967751  and HAD to share!

Quick update:
We got a few new chickens this week.  "Della" a Delaware hen that I found for free on Craigslist needed some rescuing.  She was being picked on by the other birds in her backyard flock, and went blind in one eye. :-(  She seems to be adjusting nicely with the other 2 hens, that were spared when Boston (a.k.a. "Chicken Killa) feasted on chicken last weekend.

So right now, we have 3 hens (1 Delaware, 1 Sexlink, and 1 Bantam Cochin).  Our Broody bird decided to give up on sitting on her nest, so I grabbed the eggs and stuck them in the incubator, but I'm pretty sure they're a lost cause.  Hopefully the other 36+ eggs hatch on 2/28 or 3/1.

Yesterday, we got 3 new chicks.  They are all about 2 weeks old.  2 Black Jersey Giants (my FAV!!) and 1 Cuckoo Maren.  I'll post pics, soon.

Also, seeds have been started inside for our yet to be started garden.  Waiting on tomatoes, peppers, broccoli and cauliflower to sprout.

Have a Happy Valentine's day, everyone :-)

The chicken killer strikes again :'-(

Unfortunately, I didn't knock hard enough on wood when I wrote that we seemed to have fixed the problem of the dog getting into the coop :-/.

Well actually, we did manage to keep the dogs out of the coop; Boston, the bloodhound, and Abby, our basset hound, combined forces and poked a hole through the chicken-wire. Then they waited for the chickens to come though the hole, and killed 4 of our 6 chickens, including our new rooster.

We have decided to make the difficult decision to re-home the bloodhound to a new family.  Sometimes, you have to put your own feeling aside and do what's best for your animals.

Boston is a great dog, he's loyal, and funny, and great with kids....but he's BAD with chickens, he needs more room, he needs to be on a REAL farm....one without chickens!

Luckily, we seemed to have found the perfect fit for our "Boss".  A man from Tennessee recently lost his bloodhound of 14 years, and is looking for a new dog in his life.  He's here in CO on business, and wants to adopt Boston, and bring him to his 1 acre property, and home to his disabled son. Since he already knows about the breed of dog, we're confident this will work out well, and that Boston will be much happier  and get more attention from his new family.

We'll miss his playfulness, and funny personality, but in the end, he'll be better off in his new home. As a result, our backyard plants and animals will be better cared for, and be safer.

RIP "Fireball"

RIP: Sexlink, "Tabitha", and Americana

Wellcome Chickins! (spelled like the sign :-))

On Friday, we brought 3 of our chickens to our daughter's 2nd grade class, to show them off, and teach the kids a little about chickens and backyard farming.

The kids LOVED the chickens!  They all wanted a chance to hold them, and pet them, and asked lots of great questions about them.

Below are some pics:

The first "batch"

2/6/13:
Impatiently waiting the obligatory 12 hours before I can put these under my broody chicken's butt! 3 Easter Egger eggs, 2 Maran eggs, 1 Cream Legbar, and 1 Cream Legbar cross.  I also included one egg from our own flock, which is a Speckled sexlink/bantam Cochin cross.  *fingers crossed*

Tomorrow morning, I'll put them under our Bantam Cochin and we'll see what hatches in 22 days!

2/7/13:
Woke up bright and early to get those eggs under the momma chicken!  Here are the 12 not so easy steps to placing eggs under a broody hen, please note, you might find a better method via google...try my method at your own risk ;-)

Step 1: Put garden gloves on, because touching chickens makes me squimish.
Step 2: Recruit 8yr old daughter to carry eggs outside.
Step 3: Go into coop and remove broody hen from the nesting box in the kennel (she's been separated from the other chickens for about 5 days as this point)
Step 4: Pray she doesn't peck you when you grab her out. (My prayers were answered! Hallelujah!)
Step 5: Set the broody chicken down in the coop (this may have been my first mistake... :-/)
Step 6: Scream "oh crap! Rooster! Leave her alone!"
Step 7: Panic and chase the rooster away from your broody chicken while simultaneously yelling at daughter to "Hurry and put the eggs in the damn nest."
Step 8: Climb through very little opening to catch the broody chicken, which is still being attacked/raped by the rooster.
Step 9: Catch the hen.
Step 10: Place the hen back in the kennel and slam the door in her face when she tries to escape.
Step 11: Take a deep breath, walk into garage, remove gloves.
Step 12: Go back out in an hour and make sure everything has settled down, and that the hen is incubating the eggs!  SUCCESS!!!

Momma Chicken :-)

The rapist

After all that, I sure am hoping that we get at least a chick or two by 2/28/13!