Getting Started Or Why I Got Into This Crazy Adventure

A few years ago I moved to an acre of property in the Rocky Mountains.  I was ecstatic!  After 4+ years in Florida I was ready for a break from the heat.  Born in raised in NW Ohio, I thought after my children were grown I'd seen the last flake of snow I ever did care to see, until... I realized I missed the change of seasons, I just didn't miss the rainy, crappy, depressing winters of the Midwest.  Lucky for me 2 of my 3 children had already relocated to Colorado so I strapped a "Go West Young Woman" sign onto a U-Haul and made the trek across the country to bluer skies and wider spaces.

Since I arrived in September and winter pretty much starts in October up here, I spent my first winter dreaming of the things I'd do to the property in the spring (whenever that may arrive - which turned out to be the following June).  One of my most anticipated adventures was starting a flock of chickens.  During the winter I poured over breeds, coop designs, care and maintenance, organic feeds and the list goes on.  One of the most helpful books was "Fresh Eggs Daily" - if you're considering chickens or even if you already have them, this book is easy to read and full of great information. 

When March rolled around and it was time to pick up baby chicks, winter wasn't even close to being over so I set up a brooder in my laundry room - which is the only room in my 736 sq ft cabin that made sense. The coop, which was a large pre-existing hand build shed was not safe or ready for baby chicks.  My brooder was basically an old metal rabbit cage that was lifted via attached legs about 2 ft off the ground, it had both a top that opened and a front door for easy access and was on wheels which made it easy to move and clean under.  I purchased a heat lamp, pine bedding, a plastic waterer, a metal feeding tray, organic starter food, installed a couple of low (but movable) wood perches and waited on pins and needles until the local feed store's chick order arrived in mid-March.

I had settled on 2 Easter Eggers, 2 Buff Orphingtons and 2 Silver Laced Wyandottes.  When the time came to pick up my new babies, I snuggled their adorable little fluffy bodies into a small box, tucked the box under my coat, jumped back into my already warm jeep and brought them home to their new pampered life in my laundry room.  I was anal about the temperature in the brooder, I was checking on them every 30 minutes.  I held them constantly and fretted that they weren't getting what they needed.  That seems like ages ago - my method of raising chicks has changed dramatically over the last 3 years and I'll cover that in later posts.

From my original flock I have 1 hen left - Harriet, named after my mother, God rest her soul.  2 of the chicks turned out to be Roosters.  1 was re-homed, the other took a trip to freezer camp.  Its ok, he was an asshole.  Of the remaining 4:  An Easter Egger (Sweetie), a Buff Orphington (Eva) and both Silver Laced Wyandottes (Harriet & Lola), I eventually gave Sweetie away since she wasn't much of a layer, sadly Eva was never really healthy and passed at about 18 mos old due to being egg bound, (there will be more on illnesses and health issues in another post) and not so long ago Lola died in front of me from what appeared to be a heart attack.  I was crushed.  She was a wonderful girl. 

At the moment I have 18 chickens however, that number will decrease by 4 or so as I re-home the roosters that are growing out with the new groups from this Jan, April & May.
The current flock consists of:  1 Main Rooster - Chocolate Orphington, 1 Silver Laced Wyandotte hen, 2 Wellsummer hens, 1 Dominque hen, 1 Barred Rock hen, 2 Golden Laced Wyandottes pullets, 2 Speckled Sussex cockerels, 3 Light Brahmas (believe 1 is a cockerel), 5 Easter Eggers (2 pullets and the jury is still out on the other 3) - I don't think I missed anyone - well except for my 2 ducks but they're a story for another time.

This blog will cover feeding, watering, coop design, raising chicks and a whole host of other fun or not so fun information.  The only thing I wont do is answer health questions or post about care for various diseases or health issues.  That is something only a vet should discuss.  I might post about various methods I use but I am in no way indorsing their use or suggesting that you use the methods you read here, always consult a veterinarian.

Terminology:  Hen (Adult Female)  Rooster (Adult Male) Cockerel (Juvenile Male) Pullet (Juvenile Female) Chick (a baby chicken before the are completely feathered)