The New Brooder House and the Broiler Chicks

Spring is trying to come!  The snow has melted and the pond is ice free.

The hens have created their own private swimming hole.  They have worn away the grass and scratched out a hole.  The runoff has created the 'pond'.  We will be moving them back to the field as soon as possible.  They are trashing the yard, although they are tilling up my garden area in their spare time.  That is very helpful.

We had moved the chicken coop from the old house to the farm.  The guys moved it in sections.  We decided to make it into a brooder house for our young birds.  The chicks came on Thursday March 26th.  So last weekend the men worked hard putting the brooder house together.

While the guys were working, Dallas and the turkeys kept us entertained.  They don't like each other.  When Dallas is tied up, the turkeys come over and try and attack him.  He knows he is not allowed to hurt a bird on the farm.  He keeps his distance and just barks shortly and keeps looking to the house for someone to come out and rescue him, by chasing the turkeys away from his house.  He is the innocent party in this.  HOWEVER, when he is off his rope and the turkeys are out, Dallas runs circles around them.  They try and get him and he just runs around them over and over.  Some of these turkeys are for Easter dinners, so I hope they don't get tough with all this exercise!  LOL

My DH and Paul, up on the roof

The one part of the old coop that didn't get moved was the roof.  The guys had to build a new one from scratch.  We ended up with a metal one.

Once Dallas got bored with the turkey game, the turkeys returned to supervise the work.  They are the most curious birds and can get in the middle of many projects, which isn't always helpful.

The chicks arrived at the post office Thursday afternoon.  I was always taught that mail is sacred and can only be opened by the addressee.  Apparently, there is a different rule when the package contains chicks.  The package was sitting on the counter at the post office making a large chick racket.  Every time someone came into the office, the clerk would open it up and show them the birds.  

Just like this.  They are very cute.  We had set up the brooder the night before and had the food, water and lights on to welcome them.  

Elizabeth unloading the chicks.

The weather turned cold with the arrival of the chicks.  We ended up putting a heater out there also.  Michelle and Elizabeth unloaded the chicks one by one.  We ordered 100 Freedom Ranger chicks and we received 101.  They were all alive and seemed in good health.  They were chirping like crazy.  You could hear them from quite a distance.

Marbles, the cat, came over and tried to break into the brooder house.  I am not sure if he was simply curious or hungry.  We didn't want to chance it, so he was moved along.

One of our two flocks has some broody hens, and all the hens from that flock came tearing over to see when they heard the chicks.  The flock with no broody birds in it, never gave them a second look.  I looked out the door and there were all the hens on the steps of the brooder house.

We built the little brooder inside out of hay bales and boxes stuffed with hay.  We put insulation over the top to hold the heat in.  The building is breezy and it is drafts that kill baby chicks.  We were trying to keep them warm and draft free.  Chicks should be kept in a 90 degree F space the first week.

Elizabeth took a picture of a chick.  

 The chicks  started eating and drinking right away

We have found Freedom Ranger birds to be very hardy, strong and good starters. They take 9-11 weeks to get to 4-6# dressed out size.  But unlike the Cornish Crosses they are very active, and fly well and are happy to get their own food.  We don't even put food out during the day once they are feathered out. All 101 survived the first 48 hours.  That is a time when you frequently lose a couple birds.

The birds have had a real physiological challenge and so far they have survived.  I DON'T recommend this.  I checked on the birds last night and it was very cold in the building, but the chicks in  the brooder seemed OK.  I kept dreaming of chicks all night and seeing very low temps on my iPod all night (in my sleep).  I woke up this morning knowing that we HAD to get those chicks into a warm spot or they wouldn't make it.  My DH threw together a wooden brooder and we set it up in the basement.  Elizabeth and I went out with a warm 'cooler' and loaded the chicks up and brought them in.  I think it was just in time.  There was actually some ice formed in one of their waterers near the edge of their broody pen.  That seemed to indicate that it wasn't really 90 degrees in there.  They had icy little feet when we picked them up.  I felt bad.  Now they are in the basement, in a cozy corner and so far they seem to have survived their irregular care.  Now we know for next time.  I anticipate them only having to be indoors for a week or two.  Then back to the brooder.  It can't keep snowing forever, can it?  Spring has to come!

Mango Happenings

I was recently informed that I had once again slipped in my blogging habits.  I really am without excuse, just busy as usual.  Here are some of the things that have happened in the last month.

There have been some silly moments.  A red mask bought at Salvation Army has brought a lot of surprise and laughter.  Car likes to play with Elizabeth!

All the critters, including the barn cats, which now number seven, have survived the cold without any issues.  A couple of the roosters may have had a bit of frostbite on their combs, but no other problems.  It was bitter cold this February which is very unusual for Ohio.  We had days when it barely got to zero.  Anytime it warmed up close to thirty, the snow fell and then the temperature dropped back down to zero.  I think Minnesota may have sent their January weather to Ohio.  They are welcome to take it back!  This week the temperatures have finally warmed up into the forties and fifties.  Yeah for spring!!!  The colder and harder the winter, the more spring is appreciated.  Southern folk just don't have that same hard earned appreciation for spring as those of us in the north!

The boys enjoy wrestling and doing boy stuff.  Not always sure what that is, but they seem to like it.

The children saw some really cool pictures of snow sculptures with glow sticks lighting them up.  They decided to try it, only to discover that glow sticks don't work in sub zero temps.  They came in and decided to attach them to the ceiling fan blades.  They found that that was totally neat and definitely better than looking at them in the freezing cold!

 

One project that had been on our list since we bought the property, was to take this tree down.  It had some limbs that were over the house.  It was a silver maple.  A branch had fallen off once before we bought the house and knocked over the chimney and damaged the roof.  We decided that we didn't need a repeat performance.

A tree company that had brought us logs for years when we heated with wood at the old house, was looking for work and we had them take the tree down.  They had all the fancy equipment.  The snow pack on the yard made it so that the big equipment didn't tear up the yard.

They finished up by grinding out the stump.  Having this tree down really opened up the view to the back of the property.  So much nicer than looking at a tree trunk out the family room window.  Also, now I have wood to try and grow mushrooms on.  One of my projects for the spring and summer.

Elizabeth did a couple junior speech events.

Last week we spent three days at an NCFCA speech and debate tournament.  This is a different league than the children usually compete is ( usually we do CCA).  Thomas was really wanting this experience, as he wanted to try Lincoln Douglas debate.  In the past he only had competed in Team Policy Debate.  In Lincoln Douglas it is two people debating a values resolution.  This year the resolution is whether freedom or equality should be more highly valued in economics.

Thomas had never tried Lincoln Douglas at all.  He had never even done a practice round.  He had read a book and watched three rounds on you tube.  He lost his first round due to inexperience.  He is a fast learner though.  He ended up breaking into the semifinals!  That means he qualified for regionals.  We will try to get there.  It will involve a trip to Oshkosh, WI.

Elizabeth and Bethany.

This past weekend was the AWANA Grand Prix car race.  It was well attended by many parents of the clubbers, and the gospel was preached clearly!  The kids seemed to have a great time.

The children design and race their little cars.  They send them down a track and everything is timed by a computer.  Excellent sportsmanship was demonstrated by all the kids!

Not sure what was up with certain 'adults'!  My camera seems to bring the best out of Tammy!  

The snow is about 2-5" deep, despite the rain and warm weather.  The warm (45 degree) super moist air creates fog.  Elizabeth was wanting to explore and take pictures.  She thought it looked like 'fresh made lard with trees growing out of it'.  Yes, she was barefoot in order to climb the tree and no, she doesn't have a coat on.

Can you see the child wandering in the fog covered fields?  She loves being outdoors!

T-Bob was also fascinated by the fog.  He had to stop and take some pictures that he could share with his cousin in the Philippines. We were heading out to his basketball awards ceremony.  It was very amazing to look at the fog, but not so pleasant to drive in.  It was a real 'pea soup' fog.

T-Bob was recognized for his hard work on and off the court.  He was a co-captain on the junior high team.  He also shared what he had learned through the team devotions.  Thomas decided to go to debate practice instead of the basketball awards. He was also commended for being a hard worker.

This pretty much summarizes the last month.  There has been the normal life events and lots of planning for the spring, summer, and fall.  We have to figure out what we are going to raise in both the livestock and plants departments.  The busy season will soon be upon us.  We are enjoying the last bit of winter quiet.