The Chickens are Coming!
It has been a busy week for the farm operation and I haven't been able to plant my butt at the computer much, but there is exciting news.
The chickens are coming! Next Tuesday, the 4th of September, will mark the day the first animals will be on the ground at the farm. It still feels surreal. I haven't figured out exactly how I am going to get them here, but come hell or high water, they're going to be here by next Tuesday.
This wasn't the way we planned to get this operation off the ground at all, but an opportunity came up that seemed too good to pass up. However, we are almost literally flying by the seat of our pants. There have been more than a few moments where I have wondered what the hell I am doing.
There are roughly 240 birds coming to the property, so it's no small feat to get them from where they are in Whitehall, NY to the farm in Vermont. These aren't day old chicks that you can get in the mail. These are chickens that are 6-10 weeks old and nearly full-grown. They take up some space.
It's exciting and nerve wracking at the same time. My fiance thinks I'm nuts, and I think the farm I am buying them from is convinced I'm just feeding coyotes; which may end up being true.
The bottom line for me was to make it happen. We've been hemming and hawing about how and when to start for months, and I felt like we were just sitting on the fence letting the season go by.
So even though it's stressful and I have no idea what's around the next corner, it feels good to be doing it. I hope people can relate.
Cheers all,
Haven
Recent Comments
31
That sounds exciting.. and brave...and risky...and good for you. Good luck with this next step.
Debbie
Debbie, those sound like the kind of adjectives I would like people to use when they describe how I lived my life.
It sounds better than dull...timid....and easy. We'll see how it turns out.
Haven
Wow! That's a lot of Chickens. Good luck with them! Hopefully, all works out like you're expecting it to.
Thanks, Smokey. This is going to be a learning experience for sure. Whatever happens, we will know more going into next year.
Haven
Hey Haven,
Sounds like you are going to be busy on the 4th!!! This journey is similar toours here at WA.
Tried and True
Elaine
... enjoying a 'bird' day! ... you're enlarging your family instantly!
... a friend of mine who had three chickens built a 'shed' which in reality was like a 'house' with rising stairwells inside along the walls and a ventilated roof to help keep them sheltered at night and to help keep predators at bay ... tough job! ...
... all the best to you with your new big family! ... cheerio... :)
I have an extra large dog crate that I put perches in and covered with an old futon mattress, some tarps and have filled half full of wood chips. I have it against my house so only one end is open. I close that end at night with another tarp. They are out of the wind and rain/snow.
I am hoping this will be enough to keep them warm. I am thinking about buying an outdoor heater for them, or maybe a heat lamp.
I have three pet chickens who I saved from the cooking pot. I am worried and wondering how I am going to keep them warm this winter. Any suggestions?
I am probably not the person to give advice on pet chickens given that I am raising these birds for the cooking pot.
However, chickens are pretty hardy. If they have a place that is relatively protected from wind and rain, they can handle the cold as long as they're in good health.
That is good to know. My pastor raises chickens for their eggs. These three stopped laying, so he was going to butcher them. I stepped in and bought them from him. I have a soft spot for critters, plus I have a flea and tick problem in my dog's fenced -in yard. These chickens are earning their feed, by eating all the pesky bugs. Plus, I am getting attached to them.
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Your gonna be knee deep in bird poop. :-)
But, enjoy.
Blessings,
Scarlett and Elaine
They're going to be out on a 16 acre pasture, so I hope not.
Then you have free fertilizer I remember my dad buying a truck load of chicken Pooh years ago. And putting it in our yard whew!
What a stink.....
Free fertilizer is the idea. Also, I never want to deal with piles of manure because, like you mentioned, it stinks.
With the birds out on pasture, it goes right to the place where it's needed and gets "digested" so you don't have a build up of stink.