Back Yard Farming

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Make Your Own Plant Markers

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

Image by: Back Yard Farming
Cut along side the container and cut out bottom.

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

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

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

Sunday, March 11, 2012

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).

Image by: Back Yard Farming
1 Day Old: This is the day we purchased them.

Image by: Back Yard Farming
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.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Dog Meets Chicks

Bird dog meets birds!

Image by: Back Yard Farming

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

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.

Image by: Back Yard Farming
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.

Image by: Back Yard Farming

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

Image by: Back Yard Farming

Monday, March 5, 2012

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