Angry Bird

So one of our little chicks happen to be a little constipated and she is having a hard time going to the bathroom.  You can always tell that shes trying to go because she makes the weirdest chirping sound and gets really puffed up.  The place where we bought them recommended cleaning her bottom with a warm towel and keeping it clean.  I also read that either feeding them a little olive oil or giving her yogurt would make it easier for her to go to the bathroom.  We went the yogurt route but she was very unsure of what was going on.  Here are some pictures we took.

Image by: Back Yard Farming

Image by: Back Yard Farming

 

Image by: Back Yard Farming

Image by: Back Yard Farming

Image by: Back Yard Farming

Image by: Back Yard Farming

Image by: Back Yard Farming

Image by: Back Yard Farming

Chick Pics

Our chicks are growing so fast, they were officially 16 days old on Tuesday from the date we purchased them and they have grown quite a bit!  We took one of our chicks and brought them indoors and set her on the floor, so here are some pictures for you to enjoy.  Also I will be adding a picture to the Growing Chicks post so you guys can compare their stages of growth.

Image by: Back Yard Farming

Image by: Back Yard Farming

Image by: Back Yard Farming

 Image by: Back Yard Farming

Image by: Back Yard Farming

New Larger Brooder

As you all know our chicks were quickly outgrowing their first brooder.  We looked at several options and needed to find something for them that was big enough to get us through the end of April.  The chicks will be ready to move outdoors to their new coop in early May. We ended up making a great and cheap large brooder out of plywood and cardboard (see pictures below), which only cost us 0.51 cents.  The plywood we got from cull lumber at home depot for 0.51 cents (4 ft X 4 ft piece) and the cardboard boxes were free from Murdochs.

Step 1:  Cut cardboard boxes and place on plywood with flap fold on the edge of the plywood.

Step 2:  Staple cardboard to edge of plywood.

Step 3: Then staple cardboard to bottom of plywood.

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Step 4:  Take another cut box and overlap over the other and staple to the plywood.

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Image by: Back Yard Farming

 

Image by: Back Yard Farming

Image by: Back Yard Farming
Step 5:  Duct tape overlapped edges.

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Image by: Back Yard Farming

 

Image by: Back Yard Farming

Step 6:  Add chicks

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Image by: Back Yard Farming

 

Image by: Back Yard Farming

 

Image by: Back Yard Farming

One Chick "Flew The Coop"

We let a chick loose from it's brooder and let it roam the front lawn for a couple of minutes.  She was so cute and didn't go too far from us.

Image by: Back Yard Farming

Image by: Back Yard Farming

Image by: Back Yard Farming

Image by: Back Yard Farming

Image by: Back Yard Farming

Time For A Bigger Brooder

We came back from lunch yesterday (ironically Chick Fil-A) and as we walked past the garage my husband noticed a bird sitting on the edge of the brooder.  It's definitely time for a bigger brooder!!

Image by: Back Yard Farming

Image by: Back Yard Farming

Make Your Own Plant Markers

Plant markers made out of recycled sour cream container.  I learned this from a very crafty friend.

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Cut along side the container and cut out bottom.

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Image by: Back Yard Farming

Image by: Back Yard Farming
Step 2:
 
Cut lengthwise at desired width. Make lower end into a point and label.

Image by: Back Yard Farming

Image by: Back Yard Farming

Image by: Back Yard Farming

Green House

We bought the green house featured on the Products page of this blog, it was such a great buy we couldn't pass it up.  Since it doesn't come with shelves, my husband decided to build some for it.  The entire project cost about $30 including the stain.


We bought all our lumber from cull lumber at the Home Depot.  You cant beat 0.51 cents per piece!

Image by: Back Yard Farming

Image by: Back Yard Farming

Image by: Back Yard Farming

Image by: Back Yard Farming

Image by: Back Yard Farming

Image by: Back Yard Farming

Image by: Back Yard Farming

Growing Chicks

I had no idea how fast chicks grow!!  Here are some new pictures that I took (counting from the day we purchased them).

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1 Day Old:  This is the day we purchased them.

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4 Days Old:  They are shedding the soft feathers and the adult feathers are starting to show on their wings.

Image by: Back Yard Farming
7 Days Old:  They are getting really tall and more feathers are exposed.  They are also running and flapping their wings.

Image by: Back Yard Farming

16 Days Old:  Lots  more feathers and their feet are huge. They can fly a lot higher.