And they're out!
The fence is dug and up, the ramp is out, the coop is complete (except for permanent roosts and nest boxes) and the chickens are OUTSIDE! (You have no idea how excited the dog is!)
Now, does anyone know how to get them to go in at night? We have been playing Chicken Run for the past two nights trying to get them to go in at night and roost. They are just digging nests under the coop and falling asleep there...HELP! I swear they just were supposed to know how to do this on their own...
14
I recounted the chickens last night as they were all roosted for the night. Sitting perfectly still it was easy to see I had 14. Not 13. I guess I was always all right counting and getting 13 as long as I didn't get less...But we for surely, definitely, without a doubt, have 14.Plastics
This year I am adding one more thing to the pile (but I can't decided if I toss it, or give it to Goodwill...can you help with the decision??) Plastics. I showed Andrew the findings from the President's Cancer Panel, and he finally agreed that we could get rid of all our plastics. We are starting in the kitchen.
Here are some of the findings, you can read the full report here.
Approximately 41 percent of Americans will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives, and about 21 percent of us will die from cancer. The Presidential Panel noted cancers are becoming more common, particularly in children, and the proliferation of chemicals in water, foods, air and household products is widely suspected as a factor according to the Panel.
What I found most interesting was their list of preventive actions, most of which I have always preached. Here are a few:
Filtering home tap or well water... Unless the home water source is known to be contaminated, it is preferable to use filtered tap water instead of commercially bottled water.
Storing and carrying water in stainless steel, glass, or BPA- and phthalate-free containers.
Microwaving food and beverages in ceramic or glass instead of plastic containers.
Choosing, to the extent possible, food grown without pesticides or chemical fertilizers and washing conventionally grown produce to remove residues.
Exposure to antibiotics, growth hormones, and toxic run-off from livestock feed lots can be minimized by eating free-range meat raised without these medications if it is available. Avoiding or minimizing consumption of processed, charred, and well-done meats.
Choose products made with non-toxic substances or environmentally safe chemicals.
Reducing or ceasing landscaping pesticide and fertilizer use will help keep these chemicals from contaminating drinking water supplies.
Turning off lights and electrical devices when not in use reduces exposure to petroleum combustion by-products because doing so reduces the need for electricity, much of which is generated using fossil fuels.
Reduce or eliminate exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke in the home, auto, and public places.
While I have been slowly trying to ease away from plastics I always seem to fall back into them. The cute melamine plates for the patio, the fun Transformer set for my son, the cute Cinderella cup for my daughter, you know the drill. It is all going in the box and whether or not that box goes to Goodwill, I haven't decided yet. I did find a site Life Without Plastic which has great options including Stainless Steel cups so I don't have to watch the kids every second when they are drinking! (I'm a little scared of broken glass!) I think this cup from their site is adorable and might be a good replacement for those character cups my kids love so much!
So, do you think you could give up plastics? And what is better, Goodwill (to contaminate other families home, or the dump, to contaminate the soil and where it will end up regardless?)
Finger's crossed
We were spoiled by our warm March and April weather, this small cool down is a total kick in the face.
I'm praying this weekend will be nice-it is jammed packed with parties, bbq's, and outside work that needs to get done! Here's hoping!
Moving day!
They are extremely curious when I come to the door. They crowd around me so much when I change their water and food that I am scared I'm going to step on one!
They are also at that fun stage where they are just figuring out what wings are for. When I'm in the coop, I'm a temporary roost.
The inside, before the big move:
Andrew is still building the roosts and the nest boxes will go in later this summer. We'll start the run in a few days, but the chicks are still too young to go out.
Completed outside:
Almost ready!
As we speak, Andrew is putting the finishing touches on the coop today. We decided the floor needed some sort of laminate for easy cleaning. So he is just finishing the floor trim and the chicks will be in...which NEEDS to happen NOW because they are getting big! I think I will try to weight them tomorrow out of curiousity...
Our garden has all kinds of yummy things coming up in it already. The potatoes have popped through, the peas are ready for a trellis, the carrots are just starting to come up as well as asparagus and beets. I've already been able to use chives and found some green onions that, even though the garden was tilled 3 times, decided to come back. I've replanted them and we will see how hardy they are! I'm praying for a nice weekend so that I can plant a second crop of carrots and peas and because we need the fence dug for the chicken run! Busy busy, I love spring!
13...
I went to work on Sunday morning for a few hours. The kids went to play at their Grandma's house, and Andrew took care of some dirty work. After a long conversation we decided that Crutches #1 and #2 would not fair well. Even if they did heal mostly, they would be pecked by the other chickens and we would have to worry about re-injury, or injury to the other leg. So I came home and their little box was empty. I'm not asking how or where, but they are gone. Now I'm questioning my ability to butcher the adult hens in a year...
But on the bright side, the coop is almost done. We are just finishing up trim, the door needs a coat of paint, and we will probably paint the inside for easier cleaning. Then the 13 chicks get to move into their new home, which needs to happen fast as their wings are getting full of feathers!
Earth Day is this Thursday and I have nothing planned for the kids and I to do. Perhaps we will spend the day in the garden...Do you have plans yet?
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)
![[image]](http://mowser.com/img?url=http%3A%2F%2Fi177.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw239%2Fwildmf%2Fyellow.png)
![[image]](http://mowser.com/img?url=http%3A%2F%2Fi303.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fnn132%2Fpjrmayo%2FFriend-1.gif)
![[image]](http://mowser.com/img?url=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.auctiva.com%2Fimgdata%2F1%2F0%2F0%2F3%2F1%2F1%2Fwebimg%2F224932161_o.jpg)
![[image]](http://mowser.com/img?url=http%3A%2F%2Fruntime.widgetbox.com%2Fsyndication%2Ftrack%2F95209f53-2728-4e2c-ab32-f4d2b652686d.gif)
