Cold snap update

Just a quick post to say that the girls left two eggs in the box today that were frozen solid by the time I got there. A good effort, all things considered.

For those of you who will be on duty on days when it never gets above freezing, try to head over there around 12:00 or 1:00 to give them a midday sip of water -- the stuff freezes so fast that they don't have time to drink much of it.

Also -- as the temperatures rise and the snow melts -- we may have to replace much of the hay that is on the ground because it is going to get pretty soggy. Keep an eye out for that issue and contact Sara if you decide to take out the old hay and put in some new.

The chickens survived the night!

Call me a lily-livered chicken lover if you will, but I was damn worried about our girls, what with the weather folks called for -6 overnight and all. Even had a few bad dreams about getting to the coop in the morning and hearing an eerie quiet and, well, you can fill in the rest. But when Paul and I approached the coop this morning, we heard the same old chatter coming from inside that uninsulated wooden box. The eight of them rushed the door as soon as I opened it, hopped onto the ground and started pecking away at the cous cous and scratch that we had set out for them. So I guess what I'm saying is: All is well.

Cold Snap Logistics

Hi, everyone -- The girls were very happy and frisky this morning -- and they produced two eggs by noon! Things seem to be going well, but I'm very worried about how they will fare when the cold snap comes tomorrow. I don't know who cares for the chickens on Thursdays, but I hope you are reading the blog, because here is the scoop: I plan to cover the floor of the coop with hay this evening (the part where previously we had said no hay) to provide some extra insulation. I also plan to make sure the nesting boxes are full of hay and cozy.

I emailed Wynn, and here is her advice:

Hi - You'll need to be sure that the hens get water shortly after the sun comes up - and plenty of food.....also take a little hen scratch and sprinkle it on the floor of the coop in the morning, to rev up their engines and make sure they eat so they warm up. Then come by the coop again around 2 or so and give them some new water, as the morning water will be frozen again right away. Also, be sure your enclosed roosting area has a good four inches of straw on the floor. Try not to worry. I hope your holiday has been lovely too. Good news about the eggs, it is amazing what happens when the days start getting just a little longer. Everyone is reporting more egg activity. W.

So there you have it. Lots of food. Lots of hay. And warm water several times a day.

Sending warm thoughts, I am --

Amy

eggs, eggs, eggs!

We found 3 eggs this afternoon!! Just a head's up that one of them had a crack at the end...not sure if I wasn't as gentle as I should have been or if someone is pecking? Happy New Year!

-Susan

Where or where has the oyster bowl gone?

Does any know where the silver "dog" bowl that serves as the oyster shell holder has walked off to? It wasn't in the coop or box this morning. Other than that...all's well and even a surprise egg! Yeah!!

-The Jenks

WATER!?!?!

Hi All-

When we went to put the gals to bed tonight around 4:45...the waterer was EMPTY! They had all gone into the box, so I put one of the waterers in there, and boy, were they thirsty. SO if you see it in there, please know that it is intentional. Sorry if there is poop on it, I was just worried about them. My mom-in-law, who has chickens suggested, as they leave water with them all the time.

Has anyone else experienced this? If so, do we need a larger water vessel? Love to hear the feed back.

Otherwise - all great and an egg to boot!

Happy Holidays!

-Susan et al.

4 eggs!!!!!!!!

Woo hoo! And no broken ones either. This must be the girls' way of wishing us Merry Christmas!

Looking forward to breakfast tomorrow!

Geoff and Sarah

Eggs - to wash or not to wash?

OK, technically the eggs do not need to be washed because they are layed with a protective film on them, if you don't wash this off, they can actually be kept at room temp, out of the sun. If you choose to refridgerate, once an egg goes in the fridge, there it must remain. I found lots of discussion about what to wash with, and it seems that if you are grossed out by the "protective layer" or if you actually get a dirty egg, you can use warm water and non-scented detergent with a scrubby. There is also a spray made by Biokleen, called Biokleen produce spray that can be used. All this info is based on my personal research, I have emailed Wynn, our official answer-lady, and will let you know what I learn.

Sara

Tuesday, the shortest day

One intact egg this afternoon, it was actually pretty funny to see it lying alongside the golf ball. No broken ones, perhaps the balls are working.

Don't forget to wash the eggs. Wynn had two suggestions, but I cannot find my notes at the moment and don't remember what she said to use. I used a vinegar/water solution, and that made the shell feel sticky, so then I just washed with warm soapy water. I will research what was suggested.

Sara

Monday Eve

Just went to put the gals to sleep - they were already in the roost. No eggs this time. We did put golf balls in each of the 4 the nesting boxes - so lets hope that helps with the pecking of the eggs. There was a considerable amount of straw in the food tray - I scooped it out. Also, there was really no water in the container tonight - not sure what happened there - hope they got enough! Good night and enjoy that beautiful full moon and the first day of winter tomorrow - OK, where's the snow?!!

More eggs!

We found the exact same thing this morning. Two eggs in the far south box with one of them pecked open. Looks identical to the picture previously posted. I forgot to bring a couple of fake eggs or golf balls this morning as we discussed in the meeting last night. The Fahres' will be putting them up for the night so I'll call Erin and Tom to see if they have a few plastic eggs they can donate to the cause.

Time to fry up the lone survivor!

Geoff and Sarah Noyes

Eggs - Part Deux!!

We got eggs today too!! One was pecked open but the other was whole. Both were in the far left nesting box...

eggs!

yes, it is beautiful, or i should say was beautiful. frank fried it up, and the four of us each had a quarter. it was the best quarter of a fried egg i have ever had! we did save the shell, and will show off to everyone on sunday.

it also should be mentioned that the egg was not in a laying box, but on the "deck" out front, so be sure to look for eggs in odd places!

IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL!

OMG...tears are coming to my eyes - no wait that's the onion for the omelet....

Congrats to us all!.

p.s. all was well on Thursday - late in posting. Oyster shells have been replenished and thanks to the Fahres for the hooks - worked splendidly!

EXCITING NEWS!!!

WE HAVE AN EGG!!!!!

lock update

ok, when i went back later, the locks opened just fine, so they were frozen this morning. perhaps we all should get ourselves some lock de-icer and bring with on cold snowy mornings just in case.

sara

locks, etc.

hello all,
a few things about locks, we need to be super dilligent about making sure all locks are locked when we leave the coop, a couple times this week locks have been left undone. also, frank and i had to force our way into the coop area this morning as the perimter fence lock would not unlock, and i nearly could not get the storage bin one open either. we think they might have been slightly frozen? i am going to get some lock de-icer today and see if that remedies the problem. just be careful if it happens to you, not to force the locks too hard, or you will break the barrels.

don't forget sunday's meeting at our house! kids welcome, xmas treats will be served.

sara

Monday Morning

The gals were all good this morning - all out and kinda frisky with eachother and me too. Over the weekend, Tom installed a hook inside the coop so you can lock the door while you are inside the coop and the door will not blow open - hopefully this will mean fewer chickens escaping! He also out some hooks on the bottom doors on the east side of the roost to hook the doors up while you scoop out the roost - hope you find these helpful - we did!

My mother in law gave me a "chicken coat" - a pretty big coat to put on over my clothes while I am in the coop. I am happy to leave it at the coop on a hook - if anyone is interested - let me know.

- The Fahres'

lovely morning with the ladies...

All seemed well at the coop this am. Only two decided to come out and say hello at Odark30, but perhaps they were just getting up? When I peeked through the back (maybe finding an egg??), the rest of the ladies were VERY curious about who was peeking in at them! Not much else to report, except we are out of oyster shells - Dave H. has been emailed - he is the "Procurement Office" aka "Gopher" for you Love Boat fans. If you ever notice that we are low on supplies, feel free to let him know - he is not currently on the "care" rotation, so is likely not checking supplies....and would continue to be the case at various rotations for the next year of care. 'Til next week!

The Jenks

Help over Christmas

Is anyone around over Christmas? We'll be out of town and need someone to cover us for the afternoon of Tuesday, Dec 21st and for both morning and afternoon Tuesday, Dec 28th. Bruce and Kris

The bucket...

Please leave the chicken poop in the bucket and I'll collect it on Tuesdays and compost it at home. If I need to pick it up more frequently, let me know and I'll come and get it. Please don't empty it into the compost bin at school. If you don't want to use the bucket, that's OK, just don't dump the bucket out. Thanks!

I took the broom home and washed it out, it was getting pretty gross...

I thought I might have an extra lock, but do not, so everyone check their pockets for that missing lock.

I thought Fiona (the girl) and Elliot were going to pee their pants laughing this morning as Coraline kept trying to stop us from cleaning out the roost. I can't accurately describe that "brrrrrrraaaap" kind of noise they make, but we love it.

And please tell Sadie that I for one, am happy chickens are carnivores. A dead half mouse is a good thing.

No one has taken me up yet on my offer to give away the LAST care day of 2010, act fast before you are too late...

didn't know chickens were carnivorous?!?

Lovely to see all the ladies well this morning, but imagine my surprise when Coraline comes over with a suspiciously furry grey thing hanging out of her mouth...yes, it was half (bottom) of one of Sarah's favorite creatures, Country Mouse (make that sad Country Mouse). Oh well, Darwin hard at work in the Park Hill Chicken Coop, I suppose! Anyway, just as a head's up...the top lock was missing from the coop door, but all looked secure. Also, I thought the little black and white spotted girl was surely going to be MIA as I chased her around the house, until finally I had to do an impromptu blockade of garbage cans, tomato cages borrowed from the garden and the P**p bucket (in which at first pass she flew over!!!), but finally got her in - phew! No much else to report, except that I put this month's edition of "Backyard Poultry" in the "info"box...check it out - worth a chuckle or two!

'Til next Thursday...

Susan, Ginny and Sadie

chicken coverage

hello all,
i am wondering if there is someone out there who would like to take care of the girls on friday, december 31? we will be in the mountains that week. it will be the last rotation day of the year! i'll be sad to miss it.