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.

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7 Days Old:  They are getting really tall and more feathers are exposed.  They are also running and flapping their wings.

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

Dog Meets Chicks

Bird dog meets birds! 

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Chicks 101

Our particular chicks will need to be kept at a temperature of 90-95° for the first week. The temperature shall be reduced by 5° each week until a temperature of 75° is reached. Place the thermometer on the shavings directly below the heat lamp.

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When you first get your chicks you will have to place their beaks in the water until they take a drink, usually only a second or two. After their first drink wait 2-3 hours to feed them.

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Supplies For Building A Chick Brooder

Building a brooder for four (4) chicks is quite simple and does not require much.  My husband built a brooder from scratch and put some thought into it.  He made the arm that holds the heat lamp be able to rotate and also be moved up and down to maintain the appropriate temperature.  We purchased all our supplies at the Home Depot.

Supplies you will need from Home Depot:

           

(2) 9’ 2 x 4 boards

(1) 1” diameter 4’ long dowel

(1) 1” x ¾” PVC reducing tee

(1) pre-cut ¾” x 2’ long PVC pipe

(1) hose clamp

(1) Sterilite 106 Qt. container (33 ¾” x 19 3/8” x 13 3/8”)

Box of 2 ½” wood screws

Paddle bit to drill hole for dowel

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Image by: Back Yard Farming

Image by: Back Yard Farming

Chick Supplies

We purchased our chicks at Murdoch's Ranch & Home Supply which is just down the road from where we live.  We looked into possibly ordering them online but although the chick prices were comparable to Murdochs’s the shipping was ridiculous and some of them required a minimum purchase of more chickens than I care for.

Our total purchase for the chickens and supplies cost about $65.00 and here is a list of items that we purchased and needed for four (4) chicks.

Start and Grow Medicated Chicken Feed 50# $18.49

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Brooder Lamp with 6 ft cord $12.99

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Quick Chick - Vitamins and Electrolytes (4 oz.) $6.49

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250 Watt Red Heat Bulb 2Pk $12.99

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1 Qt. Plastic Poultry Waterer $1.99 and 1 Qt. Screw on base for waterer $1.79

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Round Poultry 8 hole Galvanized Feeder $2.99

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Pine Shavings $6.99

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Chicks

We have been thinking of getting chickens for a while and this Sunday my husband and I picked up our first chicks.

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Rhode Island Red

Information about Rhode Island Red Chickens:

This type of chicken is known as a utility bird. They are typically raised for meat and eggs. They seem to be the choice for backyard flocks because of their laying egg abilities and hardiness. They are thought to be friendly chickens with a good nature and are said to be good pets for children. They are also tough birds, resistant to illness, docile, quiet and friendly.

Since we live in Colorado they were also picked because they are known to be good layers through cold periods. They are frequent layers, and are well-known for their brown eggs and have been known to produce up to 200 eggs per year and a healthy one can lay more. Healthy hens can lay up to 6-7 eggs per week depending on their care.


References:

My Pet Chicken
Information on Rhode Island Red Chickens.

Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhode_Island_Red

Garden From Scratch

In 2008 we purchased our first home.  We bought it from an older lady and it was in need of a more modern youthful touch.  After we did a lot of work to the house i.e. (painting, scraping ceilings, installing wood floors, getting rid of doilies, sod, and re-siding our house) I was in need of something a little more low key.  So, we decided to start a small garden in the back yard.  This is of coarse a work in progress and this year our little "Back Yard Farming" project will be a little bigger.

We started out by building an 8 ft X 4 ft cedar raised bed garden.  Please see below for pictures and I will also post a material list if anyone is interested.

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BEFORE: As you can see, there was river rock around the entire perimeter of the yard. We have since put in sod but the hill to the left of the picture was left alone. This is where we will be putting in our raised bed garden.

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STEP 2: Rent or pull out your rototiller

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STEP 2-A: Rototiller if needed. Our back yard consists mostly of hard clay and needed it.

  STEP 3: Build the garden box.

 Materials: 6 cedar (non- treated) 2 in x 6 in. x 8 ft. boards. 

                     Cut 2 of them in half.

                     1 4 in x 4 in cedar post for the corners.

                     Cut into 2 ft lengths.

Screw the boards to the corner posts to form the 4 ft x 8 ft. box and place over prepared area.

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STEP 4: Figure out a layout and what type of plants you would like to plant and if you have time to do a starter seed kit, this is the cheaper way to go instead buying the already grown plants.

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STEP 5: Keep warm, put in sun, water, and be patient.

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Enjoy  :)