Actually, this is my first rodeo

Ugh.  Where's a wall to bang my head upon?

To bring anyone up to speed... I started out with 5 straight run (not knowing male or female) chicks.  One turns out to be a "sure thing" rooster. It's obvious he's a male.  He's got this bright, gorgeous comb and he just acts like your stereotypical rooster.   I sold the "sure thing" rooster and a pullet (young female) as a pair, as to not split them, not even a week ago.

We have 3 chickens.  Currently, in the backyard, 3 chicks.  I want 3 chickens.  I want 3 hens.  I have 2 pullets, and ANOTHER cockerel (young male). 

Yup, that's right.  I sold a female thinking I had 4 females.  Turns out, I had 3 females and 2 males. I now have 2 females and 1 male.  Currently, in the backyard.  Two females, one male.  I sold a female.  I had the three I needed/wanted!  I SOLD THE WRONG ONE!  I had the right number to have 3 females, to have what I wanted!!

Are you understanding my frustration?!

In my newbie/city girl defense... Four birds were a different breed.  One rooster was a Barred Rock and the other rooster is the single Black Australorp.  I was comparing comb height and behavior of those Barred Rocks to the comb height to the Black Australorp.  Apparently, the rooster characteristics of the Black Australorp are slower to develop than the Barred Rock.

Now what?  Start over with more chicks?  Pay more for older SURE THING pullets?

I guess I have to research adding new birds to the flock.  I don't think it would be fair to get just 1 "new" bird. But I want three!  Four might be too many.  We have space for four... Hmm, maybe I should research just having two birds.

This is him, and I really liked her. 

Rainy Day JENGA!

Day 1 of Spring Break and it's raining. Boo.  What are we to do?  We're cutting down on the tv watching (seriously, great timing...) and maybe there's a movie night in the making for tonight, so...

We're gonna play Jenga. 

And eat grapes.  

In our pajamas.





Such concentration...

Such suspense...

Can he do it?

Hooray!



Finished Chicken Tractor

It's finished! Just for full disclosure, we were inspired by one of the Catawba ConvertiCoops designs. We were trying to stay "green" (read: cheap) and so used Heat Treated wood pallets.  I wasn't the one working with them, so I say they were worth the effort of pulling them apart and weeding through good wood vs not so good wood. Ask James, he might have a different answer. 

Garage/Workshop:

Closer look:

Added shingles for the "upstairs" roof:

Nest Boxes:

Inside of the "upstairs":

Almost all done!

 

All done!  Time to move it to the backyard, and add chickens!

Finished product in action: