Chicken Tractor

My mom and dad came down for Easter and my dad brought with him his design for a chicken tractor. You may be wondering, "What in the world is a CHICKEN TRACTOR??"  It's essentially an open bottomed cage for chickens.  You put them on grass, and they scratch, peck, eat bugs, grass, and fertilize your yard.  Every day or so, you move the tractor, to a fresh spot and repeat.  

Most of the plans dad and I looked at were made out of wood, and dad wanted something that was bit more lightweight and manageable for a little lady like myself.  So, dad, being the mechanical engineer that he is, designed a tractor out of PVC.  Originally, it was to be 6x20 hoop-house style.  Our plans quickly changed...

It set up very quickly, but we soon realized after putting the first 20 foot section of wire on, we needed bracing.  

So, we all put our heads together, and decided to make it into a 6'x10' chicken tractor framed like a house.  It turned out great.  The key to great designs is having the ability to be flexible and roll with the punches.  

I then went out and bought 25 Cornish Rock broiler chicks.  They are the little yellow ones above.

Gandolf had to inspect his new charges...

I also bought 8 Cuckoo Marans at the same time (the little black ones).  

Gandolf really loves his job.  He is so sweet with them.  They cuddled up in and around his arms and tummy to stay warm.  He was sure not to move.  The CR broilers quickly grew, and now, at 3 weeks old, were ready for their transition to the chicken tractor.  Pyper and Raegan helped me last night.

We sat out there for about an hour watching the chicks peck, scratch, eat, and poo.  Fun times on the farm.  Especially when Pyper asked when we're going to eat them.  Gotta love a girl who knows where her food comes from!

Who's Your Daddy???

The baby chicks are now about 5 weeks old.  Remember when they were itty like this? http://www.farmwithoutaname.blogspot.com/2012/07/and-2nd-one-hatches.html  Fannie and Barry are growing like weeds, and their ever-protective momma, Ida Mae, has taught them to free range.  Fannie is a girl, and I'm pretty sure Barry is a roo.  I am quite attached to them, and contemplate daily what I'll do with 2 roos.  Only time will tell.

 They eat some corn from the garden...

 Crockpot looks over their work, making sure his flock gets enough of the good stuff.

Notice how orange and brown Fannie and Barry are?  It's because Ida is not their biological mother.  Mable, our RIR hen is, and I suspect, Hawk, is their father.  My friend Sheri took Hawk home to watch over her flock.  That's one of the many things I love about chickens.  Their ability to not give a hoot about biology, but to adopt babies, pellets and even adults into their flock as though they were blood.  Ida has taken care of these little ones as though she laid them herself.  It's truly an example to live by and to practice.  Not looking at the exterior package to determine worth.  I love that.  See, chickens can teach you quite a bit about unconditional, color blind love.  

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

In this unusually cold weather, I look back to a few weeks ago (EASTER!) when the sun was out & warm, the wind was cool, and the Dixie Chicks had a grand time being herded by Naki.



They grazed in the pastures with the horses...




Ate bugs and refused to play with Naki




Happy to feel the warmth of the sun on their feathers refusing to pose for pictures.





Chicken Tonic

Ida Mae eyes the Chicken Tonic in the bowl...

The last week or so, I have noticed a marked decrease in egg production. The girls deserve a break, but I also wanted to ensure they were feeling their finest. In the evenings, I typically find 3-4 eggs in a nesting box. Lately, this is what I find.

My collection for the day. Thinking the girls may be getting ready to molt, and noticing their combs looking a little limp and pale, I decided to whip up a healthy treat for them. A Chicken Tonic.

I blended Vitamin C, Echinacea, carrots, celery tops, asparagus, garlic and water into a fine puree. They gobbled it up. In the top picture, Ida Mae was the only one that explored the tonic in the great outdoors. The rest ignored it all day. Until I put it in their coop that night. It was gone in no time flat.

I love Stewpot's coloring. He is so shiny. He seems to be weathering fine, but the ladies look a bit worse for wear.

Also, I try to supplement their calcium with baked egg shells. I know, it sounds gross, perhaps a bit cannibalistic, but, as you can see--they love egg shells.

So, if your chickens need an immunity boost, whip up a Chicken Tonic pronto!

Egg-Ceptional Size

Tonight when I went to collect the eggs, I found this big ole honker! The egg on the right is an average sized egg from our girls.
I have tiny hands, but still...that thing is HUGE! I feel sorry for the lady that laid it. I'll know which chicky popped this one out tomorrow. She'll be walking funny, I'm sure. :)

In the egg crate-- can you spot it?

What about now? We are still averaging 6 eggs a day. Tonight I got 7. This is just 2 days worth. I love all the different colors. Some have little speckles, some are oblong, some very round, some pointy. I read an article that Cornell University did a study to sex eggs. If it's a pointy egg, it's a boy. If it's rounded, it's a girl. I can't wait to test this theory out. I have lots of girl eggs.

Can you spot the boy eggs?

I'll have to ask my sister in law, Kerry, her opinion. She went to Cornell's Vet school...She's a smart egg. I'm sure she'd be a round one. :)

Judging a Book By Its Cover...

I was surprised to find this egg yesterday. It's the first one I've found that looks like this. I've read about eggs that have soft, puckered shells, except this egg is hard. I'm guessing that it was probably laid soft and as it dried, it hardened.
Look at those funky ridges...

Can you spot the wonky egg?

It's unusually large, and oval shaped. Shannon refuses to eat it thinking it's contaminated or something. I personally find its uniqueness comforting. We all can't be perfect, right? And besides, my mom told me to never judge a book by its cover.