3 Basics for a Chicken Run

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This post goes along with my Periscope from tonight.

You can find it on Twitter @hoofprints

https://twitter.com/hoofprints

It will be viewable for 24 hours, until 7pm, 8/14/15

3+  important things about chicken runs.

•Make your run or chicken yard as big as you can.

(At least 10-12 Sq. Ft. per chicken.)

•Make it secure.  No chicken wire, use hardware wire.

•Keep your main run covered to avoid any swopping hawks.

Pick up any food or debris at night so it doesn't attract rodents.

In the larger yard, have a place they can run for cover.

You can hang shiny cd's or pie plates to help scare away hawks

Poultry fencing with or without electricity.

Wobbly fence to discourage chickens from flying up and landing on the fence.

Protection for free range chickens:

Brush  or shelter to hid in, a rooster or guard dog.

Shirley

The 3 Musts When Building Your Chicken Coop.

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1. Build your coop bigger than you think you'll need!

          Chickens need at least 2-4 sq. ft/ for each hen.

          Plan your coop for future additions!  

After 2-3 years of age, the laying diminishes and you'll want to add more chicks for more eggs!

Don't crowd your chickens or you may start to have behavioral problems.

2.  Make sure your coop is predator proof.     

Elevated off the ground.

Locks on all doors. (Man door, egg boxes and pop door.)

Use carabiner latches or pad locks.

Use hardware wire not chicken wire.

Chicken wire only keeps chickens in, and does not keep predators out.

Keep in mind, if a five year old child can open it, so can a raccoon!!!

Predators can include:

Raccoons, Possums, Fox, Hawks, Owls, Coyotes, Dogs, Snakes etc.

3.  Build you coop with good ventilation.

You want good ventilation without drafts on the chickens. 

Use hardware wire on the windows.

This post goes along with the live scope I did on Periscope tonight.

It will be able to be viewed until 7:30pm  8/13/15

Check it out from my Twitter page @hoofprints.

https://twitter.com/hoofprints

Shirley

It's Like Starting All Over!!

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When you haven't ridden in a few months and then just a couple times since I hurt my back, it's like starting all over again.

I've lost those riding muscles and muscle memory!

Frustrating.

But I intend to keep at it.

It'll just take time.

Why does my helmet look so huge!  Has my head shrunk!! 

              

I have to say, my inner thighs are killing me today : ))

So out of shape!

Shirley

A Taste For Lemon

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I had such a taste for good lemon cake.  I got out an old recipe and changed it around a bit.

Ingredients:

1 pkg. (2 layer size) of lemon cake mix

2 pkg (3/4 oz each) Lemon Flavored Instant Pudding

1/4 cup white granulated sugar

2 cups cold milk 

1 1/4 cups water 

Juice of one lemon

Zest of one lemon. 

Powdered sugar for topping.

Prepare cake mix as directed, (I exchanged the vegetable oil with coconut oil.) 

Pour into a 13 X 9 baking dish sprayed with cooking spray.

Put dry pudding mixes, granulated sugar, milk and water into a bowl and beat with a whisk for 

about 2 minutes till it begins to thicken.

Add the juice and the zest of one lemon to the pudding mix and stir.

(For a tarter lemon taste you can increase the zest to 2 lemons)

Pour evenly over batter in baking dish.  (I used a dipper to do this)

Bake for 55-60 minutes till done.

Pudding will thicken as it cools.

Cool completely.

Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Just out of the oven.

Enjoy!!

Shirley

How To Prepare For Your First Chicks

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Read, Read, Read!

I can't stress this enough.

Heaven knows, there's enough information out there about raising chickens.

And it's not hard to find.

I researched for about a year before I ordered my chicks!!!

But that's just me.

I'm sure most people don't do that much!

I was so afraid I'd do something wrong and my little ones would die and it would be my fault!!

They are fragile at first but most of the time they survive our blunders if those tiny ones have the essentials of heat, water and food!

OK then!

Here are the research books that I have.

Most of these you can also find in the library.

But it's good to have some on hand to answer your questions when you first start or if a problem arrises.

If I were to have just two, they would be:

"The Storeys Guide to Raising Chickens"

(It's like the bible for information)

And

 Lisa Steele's

"Fresh Eggs Daily"

I go to it all the time because it stresses raising chicken naturally and organically and has a lot of natural remedies and things about herbs.

Of course there's so much information on line too:

These are 3 really good blogs (besides mine : ))

Fresh Eggs Daily

She's the one who wrote the above book

http://www.fresheggsdaily.com/p/new-landing-page.html

The Chicken Mama

http://www.thechickenmama.com/

and

The Chicken Chic

http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/

And of course there's always Google!

She knows everything!!!

Also if you look on my Pinterest page (link on the right side bar)

I have a board for Chickens and Coops

So, get some info on coops, start building this winter and read, read, read!

I promise it's easy after you have your chickens!!

Shirley

I have started to broadcast on Periscope.

I try to correlate a blog post with the subject I am talking about on Periscope because I am trying to promote my blog.

Periscope is a new app of live broadcasting.

It's connected to Twitter since Twitter owns it.

I sort of picked the niche of "raising chickens" since no one else was talking about it.

I "scope" on other things too like showing when I cook or bake.

And I've scoped when I've been out to the barn with the horses.

The scopes only last for 24 hours and you can find them on Twitter.

Since I scope everyday, there's always one or two on there.

Find me on Twitter.

Shirley Corwin @hoofprints

(There's a link along the right side bar.)

Keeping Chickens for Fun and Eggs.

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First things first!

If you think raising chickens would be fun and your town allows it.  

I say GO FOR IT!!

Or if your city/town doesn't allow chickens, MOVE TO THE COUNTRY!

I'm sorry I didn't get chickens a long time ago.  

They are a hoot!

There are more and more urban places that are allowing chickens, even if it's just 2 or 3 hens.

With more people interested in where their food is coming from, there is definitely more talk about chicken keeping.

But, the first thing to do before you get all excited about getting those cute, fluffy little baby chicks, is to call the extension office of your town and see if there are any restrictions on chicken raising.

It would be terrible to get all attached to little Marigold and Gertrude then have to give them up!

Now, if you've found out you can have them at your location, the very next thing to do is to plan their housing.

Yes, a chicken coop.  

This comes BEFORE getting your chicks!

It's important to get started on that a couple months before it's time for the little cuties to be old enough to leave their brooder.

You know, it always takes longer to make something than planned.

You may plan on buying a coop ready made.  In that case, make sure it is really well made.  It's going to be out in the weather!

I just know about here in NE Ohio.

It can be brutal on wood!

The little second coop that I have in the chicken yard, just for cover, has already had to have it's roof replaced.

Just sayin'

My brother-in-law put it together from a kit in an afternoon and then we added the wheels and handles so we could move it more easily.  (Making it into what they call a "chicken tractor".)

This little coop is only big enough for a couple chickens and then you would have to add on a run for them.  It's not made strong enough.

Remember, if it's your primary coop, it has to keep those night predators OUT!

This little coop would be easy pickin' for a raccoon!

I'm glad now that I decided to have a friend build mine inside my garage where it is protected.

No, it's not as cute, but it is nice and big and very strong.

It's insulated and has electric power to it.

OK, those are the first two things you should do when planning ahead to get chicks.

Keep posted for the next things to do before chicks arrive.

And HEY! 

 Where are you going to get them??

Shirley

  

Monday Daybook for July 27th

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For Today:  July 27th 2015

Outside my window:  It's sunny and going to be a hot one today.  Tiger lilies and daisies in full bloom.

                      

I Am Thinking:  I'd better turn on the air conditioners before it gets hot in here.

I Am Thankful:  For the better mood I'm in today.

In The Kitchen:  I can hear the soft whir of the dishwasher.

I Am Wearing:  A green t-shirt and black running pants and my garden clogs.

I Am Creating:  Another little crocheted iPhone pocket.  I'm just learning to crochet on YouTube so my things seem to turn out a little crooked as I lose and pickup stitches when I'm not supposed to!!

I Am Going:  To run up to GoodWill to see what I can find and also stop in Aldi's for some bread.

I Am Reading:  "Aunt Dimity & the Wishing Well", a light hearted English mystery.  (Audio book)

I Am Hoping:  That Michele will see the benefit in trying Periscope for her photography business.

I Am Looking Forward To:  Riding my horse, Echo this week if it doesn't get too hot.

I Am Hearing:  My dog making little noises as he sleeps beside me.  I think he must be dreaming.

Around The House:  I am on the lookout for items to sell on eBay.

In My Garden:  It's pretty dry so I'd better water today.

I Am Pondering:  What to talk about on Periscope today.

One of My Favorite Things:  Sitting out side with my second cup of coffee in the morning.

Quote of the Day:  

                        

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:  Find more things to sell on eBay (see link right side bar),

call the barn for a riding lesson possibly this week.  Thursday is massage therapy day  : )),  Steam mop my family room floors.  (I'm seeing drool marks from the dogs!!)  Try not to spend anymore money before the end of the month.  Maybe I should make some bread in my breadmaker!

Photos From The Past Week:

I am linking this post with Simple Woman's Daybook.

http://thesimplewoman.blogspot.com

Go have a visit and read about other woman's days.

Shirley