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Welcome Home Chicks!
Well, after a year of researching, planning, and waiting, it finally happened. WE have chickens! Follow along on their first week!
Tip: It's in three parts, it was super long!
Part 1:
https://share.icloud.com/photos/0p7cvhKK8s-KNqwN3v-AGDTwA
Part 2:
https://share.icloud.com/photos/00e5zbeTtMJc0yAOKfbQ00Lew
Part 3
https://share.icloud.com/photos/0LP9jKbBXFfSw_yX-IPvxgJOA
See you next week!
Sycamore Hill Has a Coop! 7/6/20
Wow, I can't explain how amazing this is! Watch our coop being built here:
https://share.icloud.com/photos/0W6zilQAylx1Bm19UHPpXtXBA
So you guys might know we got our chicks yesterday, but I wanted to stretch it out so stay tuned for next week!
3.....2.....1: Coop!!!!!! 6/29
This is a big week on the hill! The coop is being built! Here you can follow our process throughout the week!!!! Enjoy!
Monday: Supplies
Hey guys! Our guys just dropped of the supplies we will need tomorrow and did a walk through. They are starting bright and early at 8 am!! See you guys then!
Tuesday: Concrete
Ahh, they just did the concrete! I can't wait for the real construction to start.
Wednesday: Framing
It looks like a real thing! They just finished the framing. Yay!!
Thursday-Friday: No updates on the coop yet as they will continue construction on Monday when our head guy can be here, but.......
the chick are now available for pickup when ever we want! They are 2 months old! So excited!
Saturday: Today we picked a bunch of herbs to dry out for mixes for the chickens
Coop/Run Mix:
Lavender
-calming
-bug repellent
-circulatory system benefits
Sage
-combat salmonella
-insect repellent
Rosemary
-natural insecticide,
-respiratory health benefits
Lemon Verbena
-repels flies
-antiviral properties
Food Mix:
Mint
-cooling
-overall health
-rodent repellent (supposedly :)
Oregano
-combats:
-e coli
-salmonella
-infectious bronchitis
-avian flu
-overall health
Thyme
-antibacterial
-respiratory, digestive and immune system health,
-antibacterial
-antioxidant
-anti-parasitic
-laying stimulant-
insect repellent
Check out this video!
https://share.icloud.com/photos/0YtE8sQJMZT9dsR5Y2JYMaPgg
Well, this was a very exciting week and I am pumped to finish the coop next week! Also, if everything is done promptly, there may be a chance chicks might be part of our 4th of July celebration ( included in the week after next's post)!!!
ITS HAPPENING!!!!!!: Exciting Coop News 6/21/20
Y'alll!!!!! Guess what happened on Saturday!!!! Our coop builder came out to finalize everything and wait for it..........he's starting on Tuesday!!!!! So on Thursday we chopped the lemon tree (thanks dad!). It was so exciting, I come down for dinner, and my dad is like, "It's a clear site now!!" It was a great surprise.
So on Tuesday our builder our going to get the posts done and the next day, start building the actual coop/run. This is sooo amazing!!! OK I'm kind of psyched out while I'm writing this.....BUT STILL! I have been wanting chickens and talking about it for like a year and now it's actually happening! I just wanted to thank my family (reluctant members included) for being so supportive, mostly :)
Check out this video for a quick overview of this week (me being excitable)
https://share.icloud.com/photos/08OeQOksnr623_i7nV4AUo0EA
P.S: I have no idea why I start talking like a Southern person when I get excited, (I think my 5th grade teacher rubbed off on me, she was born in Georgia)
Getting Ready : Picking Out Feed 6/14/20
The chickens are coming soon so it's time to get everything ready! We are working with our gardener to get our lemon tree cleared and have our coop guy all lined up! Since the chickens are will be around 8 weeks when we get them, they will be on grower feed until around 18 weeks. This gives growing chickens the protein they need. Over the weekend we compared a bunch of food brands and decided which one was best for us. Enjoy!
So we had several brands we were looking into and below I have the different characteristics of each one.
Small Pet Select Garden Goodness Grower Chicken Feed with Pumpkin Seeds: 25 Pound Bag: $37
-corn free
-soy free
-chickens seem to like
-non GMO
-not organic
-mash/crumbles
What I Think: It sounds great, but we really prefer organic brands
Manna Pro Organic Grower Crumbles: 30 Pound Bag: $54.75/ $48 for longer shipping
-soy free
-non GMO
-organic
-good reviews
-crumbles
What I Think: Very well rated brand, and could definitely work, but it's not a local brand
Scratch and Peck Feeds-Naturally Free Organic Grower Feed for Chickens - 25 Pounds : $38.49
-corn free
-soy free
-unprocessed
-some chickens are picky and don't like it
-non GMO
What I Think: I would love to get this, but the only thing is that since the chickens are currently on a non-whole grain feed, they might be a little picky about it.
Purina Organic Starter-Grower- 35 lb; $71.71
-organic
-non GMO
-great reviews
-high protein
Modesto Milling Organic, Chick Starter & Grower Crumbles for Chickens, , 25lbs :$38
-organic
-local
-soy free
-corn free
-good reviews, only a few though
-non GMO
What I Think: This just might be what we go with! Made in CA, organic, soy free, ticks all the boxes!
The Modesto Millings feed will come late June which is just about perfect. I'm SO excited! See you!
Check out my video:
https://share.icloud.com/photos/0LD2w_uW-bjxPeJ0FcatQCeMg
Happenings on the Hill 6/7/20
This week was a busy one on Sycamore Hill. We got our First Aid Kit all ready, looked at our automatic door, and started the clear our site. Also, after a few weeks of so much going on in the world, I realized you can learn a lot from chickens and their eggs.
The first aid list I had previously posted was VERY long. Some of those things do not apply to everyone. In fact, since we already had stuff like wound cleaners and antibiotic creams. So we only needed 4 things, 4 THINGS!
Epsom salts
A health handbook
Poultry Protector
Blu-Kote
Coop: Clearing The Area
This weekend we cleared almost all of our site! We:
Took out the lavender plants
Ripped up the artichokes (that never grew)
Got rid of the little plants, weeds, ect.
Raked and filled in the holes we made
It was so satisfying to go from a planted, weedy area to an almost clear one! Now we just need to have our gardener take out the lemon tree.
Chicken Values
As a result of what is happening in the world, I have here a few things we can learn from chickens and the beautiful eggs they lay.
Chickens accept everyone in the flock
No matter the colors of each-other's feathers, chickens can be found sleeping side by side every night
Though their eggs are different colors on the outside, they are all the same on the inside
The uniqueness of their eggs is what makes them beautiful
Check out my video!
https://share.icloud.com/photos/0Fi723o9QDeCqYuW2faYYfUAg
Coop Build Part 1: Planning and Design 5/31/20
Hey guys, what's up? Today was a very exciting day at Sycamore Hill, preparing for our coop builder to come and take a look at our site.
We:
Picked the look and design we liked best
Decided what features we wanted
Finalized dimensions
Finalized orientation
Here I have a video showing what we did today. Enjoy!
https://share.icloud.com/photos/0_WsF0XNIGHm7zdmlTa78ZAJg
Planning for the Coop: Site #2 5/25/20
Happy Memorial Day guys! Sorry for the late post. Also I just wanted to update you that I will be posting every weekend, not necessarily just Saturday. Today I have a quick video showing you our new idea for where we to put the coop. Enjoy!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/3RG6Ff8662m5xK1R8
IMG_7344.MOVHere are our chicks ( the golden ones) and our waterer!
Catching Up: Our Process 5/16/20
Hi guys! Since my last progress post, a lot has happened. We now have a lot of options which is important. Currently, we are looking to just having our regular handyman build it. One of the most crucial things you have to know about building a coop is that often times, the most simple option is the best one to go with. For now, we'll just have to wait and see but we have a couple other places that might work for the coop site too. On a more exciting note, we just got a new video of the chicks, they have now moved to the "big kid brooder". This video will be posted above. Also, we just got our waterer put together! I'll post a picture of that too. We are still deciding on name options, (be sure to vote, up top ) though I think we will make the final decision when we see them.
Disclaimer: This is not sponsored by any of the companies shown
Chicken 101: Home Sweet Home - Inside the Coop and Run 5/9/20
Hey guys! What's up? Today I am going to share with you part 2 in my Chickens 101 series. This post is going to cover your chicken's home, the coop, and what you need inside of it.
Chicken Coop and Run Essentials
1. Indoor and Outdoor Space - Inside the coop, each standard sized chicken needs at least 3, (preferably 4 sq ft) of space. In the run, is you're chicken has 4 ft of space in the coop, they will each need 8 ft in the run. But as always, more space is always better. Whether you free range or have a run, outdoor space is crucial for your chickens to be happy. Personally, I recommend having a run even if you free-range all day just so if you can't let them into the yard, they can still stretch their legs.
2. Nesting Boxes - Though you should block off the nesting boxes for the first 18 week, (when they aren't laying) to discourage sleeping in them, nesting boxes are essential for nice, healthy eggs. The best nest are dark and out of the way.
3. Roosts - Chicken's instincts tell them to head for high ground when night comes, so you should include poles or bars of some time for them to roost on.
4. Feeder & Waterer - Chickens obviously need feed and water throughout the day. I recommend keeping your food and water outside, as chickens don't eat or drink at night and it keeps it a lot cleaner.
What Every Great Coop Has
Extra Space - two words: chicken math, though you might only start out with a couple chickens, you might just have to get a few more. It is a great idea to factor in extra space. This is helpful if you are trying to stick with one coop.
Boredom Buster - Your chickens will be a lot more entertained if you add some fun treat holder or swings/perches for them. This can help prevent pecking between the chickens.
Clean Feeders and Waterers - This is essential in keeping your chickens healthy. While the traditional hanging feeder and waterers maybe hard to keep clean, nipple waterer systems and gravity feeders are much easier to keep clean.
Predator Proofing - This is VERY important. The biggest mistake people make is not predator proofing BEFORE you have a problem, you can save lives this way. Some ways you can predator proof are:
Use hardware cloth not chicken wire, much sturdier.
dig hardware cloth at least 18 inches down or make a 2 ft skirt around the edge
add blinking lights
put carbiners on simple locks
cover openings
The second video is a quick clip of our chicks at our chick raiser's house. Note: The yellow ones are ours.
Check out the first video for my tips own picking your chickens.
IMG_6333.MOVIMG_4316.MOVChickens 101: Pick'n Your Chickens 5/2/20
One of the hardest and most exciting steps in getting chickens is deciding what breed/breeds and what age you will start out with. Here I am sharing my most recommended chicken breeds and some of the pros and cons of chicks and pullets.
When I was first researching chickens, something I focused on was breeds. We wanted chickens that were friendly and fun for our backyard flock. All the breeds listed here are all are known to be great pets.
Orpingtons
Buff Orpingtons are what my family chose to start out with. They sweet and outgoing, often called the "golden retrievers of the chicken breeds". Big and fluffy, Orps are favorite among kids. They are very cold hardy and are known to go broody. You can expect around 3 beautiful light brown almost pinkish eggs a week.
Plymouth Rocks
Plymouth Rocks are another amazing breed for your backyard. They are very calm and friendly, and are very good layers. Rocks lay around 4-5 brown eggs a week. These chicken occasionally go broody and are heat and cold hardy.
Austrolorp
The Austrolorp, or an Aussie, are a great chicken all a round. They are very social and chatty, and are very fun to have as pets. Also, they are exceptional layers and lay 5 eggs a week. They are great free-range birds and are very hardy.
Brahma
The big ol' Brahma is a good choice for a pet flock. Big and sweet, these gals are some of the calmest chickens out there. They are fair layers and lay around 3 eggs a week, but go broody often. they are very heat and cold hardy.
Easter Eggers
Easter Eggers got there name because of their gorgeous green, blue and pink eggs they lay around 4 eggs a week. They are hardy in all environments and very calm and friendly. Easter Eggers are a "mutt" chicken. They are a cross of an Ameracauna, (blue egg laying hens) and another breed.
Pullets Vs Chicks
Pullets
-less work
-can go straight into the coop
-higher chance of survival
-more cost-efficient
-easier to sex, (roosters start crowing at 8 weeks)
-takes longer to socialize
-don't know what they ate as chicks, (trust your source)
Chicks
-quicker to socialize
-know what they ate their whole lives
-have to have heat for the first 6-8 weeks
-more risk
-might end up with a rooster
-hatching/development is fun and educational
IMG_4283.mp4Chick-list: What You Need To Start Your Flock 4/25/20
Chick-list: What You Need To Start Your Flock 4/25/20
Check out my video above to see what tools I recommend and the essential supplies
When you first get chickens, there is some things that you need to get started. What you need for chicks, pullets, and full grown hens are varied. Here I have a list of all the essential things any first-time chicken owner needs.
Chicks 1 day old-6/8 weeks
-brooder container, ( plastic tote, cardboard box, metal water trough, etc.)
-heat source (lamp, Brinsea Eco Glow
-chick feeder
-chick waterer
-starter feed
-chick grit
-electrolytes and other supplements
-bedding, suggested: pine shavings
-treats, at 4 weeks, (optional but, the wittle chickies!)
Pullets: 6/8-18 weeks
-feeder
-waterer
-grower feed
-grit
-coop/run
-electrolytes and other supplements
-bedding: recommended, pine shavings
-treats (optional)
Full Grown/Laying Hens
-feeder
-waterer
-layer feed
-calcium source, oyster shells, crushed egg shells
-grit
-coop/run
-electrolytes and other supplements
-bedding, My tip: pine shavings
-treats, (optional)
-nesting boxes, 1 per 4 hens
First Aid Kit
A box/plastic bin-to store all of your supplies
Tweezers
Hen saddles– in a few sizes
Ink pen/notepad-to jot things down in an emergency
The Chicken Health Handbook by Gail Damerow
Phone Number of local veterinarian who sees chickens
Blu-Kote-great to cover scabbed wounds to discourage pecking and treat infection
Poultry Nutri-Drench-helps during times of stress
Vitamins and Electrolytes– helps during times of stress
Probiotic powder-helps during issues with crop/digestion
Vetericyn spray gel-terrific to apply topically to wounds
Dawn dish detergent-the soap I use to bathe the chickens
Small plastic wash basin– a nice bath tub
Old clean towels– always helpful
Gauze-cover/dress wounds
Scissors
Bandages-cover/dress wounds
Medical tape-adhesive
Adhesive bandage–splayed leg treatment
Rubber Bands-splayed leg
Band-Aids– broken toes/bent toes in chicks
Nail Clippers–toenail maintenance or broken nail
Crazy Glue–broken beaks
Nail File-filed down chipped beaks and toenails
Corn starch-stops light bleeding such as from a nail or beak.
Betadine-wound cleaner
Cotton Balls-clean wounds
Q-Tips– cleaning injuries
Preparation H– treatment for prolapsed vent
Rubbing Alcohol/Hydrogen Peroxide-wound cleaner for beaks/tool sterilizer
Heat Lamp– for the heating the hospital brooder
Hospital Brooder– a safe place away from others
Syringe– dosing medication
Digital Scale-to weigh chicken to calculate medication dose
Popsicle sticks/tongue depressors-splints
Saline Solution-rinse eyes and our wounds
Vaseline–frostbite prevention to combs and wattles also helps with egg bound hen
Waxelene-natural alternative for frostbite prevention and skin issues
Food grade diatomaceous earth– treat mites and poultry lice
Flashlight
Disposable gloves
A cardboard box to fit a chicken-to transport to the veterinarian
Sources
Tilly's Nest: First Aid Kit
https://www.tillysnest.com/2013/02/a-backyard-chicken-first-aid-kit-html/
Getting Started 4/18/20
Hey guys! Welcome to Sycamore Hill Chicks! Today I want to tell how I'm going to get started with chickens! We are planning to get our about 8 week pullets either the last week of June, or the first week of July. One day, while I was looking on Craigslist, like I always had for weeks, I spotted a post from Henry Hollow, a small farm near Santa Rosa saying they were offering a new service, chick raising. After emailing the owner, we learned that 4 available Buff Orpingtons were being hatched on April 29th, and they would be ready to take home in the Summer. We chose Buffs because they are lovable and friendly, but also hardy and fair egg layers. We are either going to get are coop and run from Mill Valley Chickens, a local hatchery, or if they are not allowed of the county, (COVID-19) we probably would get our coop from My Pet Chicken and our run from Omelet. The last two would be fine, but I'm still hoping for the first option. I'm SO excited!!
Check out this video below for more tips and more info on our setup.
IMG_4225.mp4Page updated
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