This afternoon, I had to run an errand in the hospital. While I was out and about, I stopped in at a book sale. The hospital occasionally has book sales as a benefit for the children's hospital. The books are always reasonably priced but, usually, there isn't much there that I want or need. But today, I was surprised.
I'm hoping/planning to order our chicks tomorrow. We've upsized our order a bit and are now planning to get 7 hens and a rooster. We've selected a spot for the chicken coop and V has agreed to help us build it- so J16 and I won't be on our own. I explained my design ideas and V thinks it will be quite doable. We will have a raised 8x4 foot coop with a fenced run. I'm not sure of the dimensions of the run yet- we'll have to work around the raised bed for the strawberries. We will need to keep them in a run since we have waaaay too many predators around here to let them free range. We have dogs from across the road, coyotes, foxes, hawks and the occasional eagle. We will also have to contend with the hungry raccoons and skunks.
I am really looking forward to this, as are the children. We've wanted chickens since we moved here and now, I get my wish. We had chickens when I was a child- both a laying flock and we raised meat birds as well so I have absolutely no illusions that it will be labor free. I have promised V that I won't make him clean out the coop since this isn't his idea. And, LOL, we don't even have the chicks yet and we've already got people asking if they can have eggs!
As far as the chicks go. I've got an idea for a cage I'll have to build to keep them in the house while they're little and while we build the coop. We will definitely have to have a latching lid on it and be dog and cat proof. I'll keep you posted about progress.
What an amazing book find. How wonderful that the proceeds go to help the hospital. I am so excited that you are getting chicks. I want to so get ours too, but we have yet to build a coop. Looking forward to reading about the progress!
ReplyDeletemeemsnyc- we don't have a coop built yet, either. But, the chicks will have to be in the house for a number of weeks until they're old enough to be outside and I'm guessing that, without a deadline looming- like having ever growing chicks in the house- that the coop wouldn't take priority. So, ordering them is my insurance that it will get done! At this hatchery, I think you can also select the hatch date/week that you want and have them shipped then. They hatch different breeds at different times- some more often than others. Also, I noticed that many of the hatchings have already sold out so I wanted to get in while I could. I'm hoping for a mid April hatching. That would mean that we have until about mid June to complete the coop.
ReplyDeleteJudy
This is going to be so much fun! New chicks and a kitchen being put in!! lol I love it!! Can't wait for the Coop to be built and the in-house coop and...the kitchen coming! Bet the kids are antsie about their arrival!! ...debbie
ReplyDeleteThat book is a fantastic find! I found one at a thrift shop that was from the 60's, what I love is that all the organic advice, composting, etc is exactly the same and they speak of it as if it's the ONLY way - as it should be! I love the yellowed pages too :)
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