Friday, November 2, 2012

Chicken Chores

I really enjoy caring for my two hens. They are so funny and come running whenever they are out to see if I have any treats but a typical day starts with me letting them out for some free roaming every morning. They get so excited and one of them jumps up and down. It cracks me up.

keeping a very small coop with chickens in an urban setting

Next to the coop I keep a big can of all their supplies. With just two it doesn't take much. Food lasts a long time. I give them all the heels of the bread and old apples. They adore them.


My local produce store sells lots of bulk grains so I add some goodies to their feed. Usually flax, millet and sunflower seeds with some calcium.


But these girls all time favorite treat is raw sunflower seeds. I buy them in bulk and they get them every night when I put them in for the evening.


This gives them a nice extra boost of protein. You can see how much they love their treats. They thank me with eggs though so a nice trade off. With the shorter days I am down to an egg a day, sometimes two. I have read they will stop laying when the days really shorten. Guess they will be ladies of luxury then.



26 comments:

  1. Who said chickens don't have any personality? If you've ever had them you know they do! Love yours- xo Diana

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  2. I love barred rocks, they are such pretty birds! If you have a way to put a light out in the coop to let them get 18 hours of light a day they will continue to lay. We used a timer on ours, so when it's daylight the light goes off and doesn't waste electricity:>)

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  3. Such pretty girls! I love caring for my chickens as well. They will probably stop laying when it gets really cold and there is not much daylight. But last year I still got eggs in the winter, just fewer and further between.

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  4. Love to hear about your lovely ladies of leisure, I would love to have a couple of hens.

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  5. Elaine, it's so cute and refreshing, in a way, to read about your chickens! I love farm life, and my parents had chickens from time to time growing up. My grandparents have had them for all of my life! Fresh eggs are truly delicious.
    I hope the family is feeling better, and you're well!
    Blessings,
    Leslie

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  6. They are two spoiled chickens for sure! I love how you keep us all updated with their progress. Sounds like you are having a blast with them!

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  7. Love hearing about your girls!

    xo
    Claudia

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  8. but they will be nice healthy chickens for when they start laying again.
    Cathy

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  9. They are SO beautiful! And I can tell you love them. I would be just like that with my hens too - when I get them. It's so fun to see your blog with those happy chickens!♥

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  10. Oh, how I wish I had a couple of chickens. I have to enjoy the neighbors' when they come for a visit.

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  11. They are so cute. Isn't it amazing that animal can have so much personality? They look like they both have alot of personality. Cute post.

    Judy

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  12. Mine never stopped laying in the winter. But I am only getting a few right now, as they are molting. There are feathers EVERYWHERE!!!!!
    I guess this is molting time for chickens. But mine didn't molt their first year.
    xo Kris

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  13. Those are two spoiled girls! Sunflowers every night, how sweet. I have a little Roo that runs and jumps in my lap for some love every morning.

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  14. Oh, Elaine...You take such good care of your beautiful chickens. I love the story about the one that gets so excited she jumps up and down. How truly funny and cute! That would mke one terrific video post.
    I hope you have a wonderful weekend and enjoy your extra hour of sleep as we "Fall Backwards"!
    Blessings,
    Carolynn xoxo

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  15. Chicken are great! So much fun to watch. Yours are beautiful. Thanks for the chicken update. I always enjoy hearing about them.

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  16. All animal and birds have personalities and it is so much fun to watch them. It is so nice that you are enjoying your chickens so much.

    Laura

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  17. I'm sure those chickens are so much fun to have and watch.
    Brenda

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  18. What fun! I've heard they have such individual personalities. Interesting to see what they eat :)

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  19. Elaine ~ your girls are just beautiful. Ours love corn and bread. I didn't think about mullet or pumpkin seeds. I think I'll head over to the bulk barn. Chickens are such fun ;-)

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  20. That are such pretty young ladies and fun to watch "from afar".

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  21. You're living my dream!! I have always wanted a couple of chickens, but hubby won't let me!! I have a cockateal and hubby thinks one bird in the house makes up for all the domestic birds out of the house :-{{

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  22. I'd love a video post of your chicken doing her happy dance too! They're darn cute! :)

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  23. So they are pretty easy to have around...do they make a lot of noise?

    Jen

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  24. I love your chickens, Elaine! They are so pretty. Do they have names? I would dearly love to have chickens. You are so lucky!

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  25. I love your new coop. I bet the chickens do too!

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