The Welcoming Committee...

Tomorrow is the big day. Miss Tess and I will be picking up the chicks! We will be sure to post some pics.

Getting closer...

There has been a lot going on this weekend with preparing for the chick's arrival on the 27th. I completed the brooder box and have it ready and Dennis has made a lot of progress on the coop.
Here is the brooder box that I made out of a plastic Rubbermaid storage container. I am using a 100 watt bulb for a heater. Using a red bulb is best because it has a calming effect on the chicks and tends to keep them from "pecking" at one another. The marbles inside the waterer aren't decoration or a rock garden for the chicks (although they do add some nice color). They are so the chicks don't drown in their own waterer. Yes - it actually can happen.
Below is a picture of the coop. We plan to put hardware cloth on the indoor window with some shutters that can be opened for ventilation and closed to keep out cold air. There will also be a door installed.
The inside will have white metal barn siding on the walls for easy cleaning. I haven't decided what color to paint the outside walls yet. I've been contemplating the red with white trim barnyard (Old McDonalds farm) look or maybe a tan color to match the barn and the house. I suppose there is plenty of time to decide. I'm open to suggestions.
On the right side of the coop are nesting boxes with a hinged lid that will make it handy for gathering eggs.


Here are pictures of the outside and inside of the nesting boxes...

Progress on Chicken Coop

Progress is being made on the hen house. This weekend Dennis installed a window and started the chicken door and nesting boxes. I'm getting anxious for the chicks to come. Only 17 more days and we will be picking them up.

Hen House

The Hen House doesn't go all the way across the barn. It will end where the first wall we have up ends. It's about 11' wide. The loft will go all the way across the barn where the beams are. On the other side will be a small room called a "cold bin" to store produce. Mr. Suzychicks is doing most of the work. I did work out in the barn with him a couple of evenings when I got off work this week.

Progress on the barn project

We made some progress on the barn this week. There is one wall up on the hen house (on the left). We hope to make more progress this coming weekend.

Silver Laced Wyandottes

Here is a Silver Laced Wyandotte hen and a chick. I'll be getting three of these too. The Silver Laced Wyandotte originated in New York State and is the parent variety of all the other Wyandotte varieties. They are good egg layers and lay large brown eggs. They are described as docile and generally easy going with a tendency toward domination.

I decided on to get a few of these because Elissa liked them.

Egg Baskets

My Mother brought me these egg baskets this weekend. Aren't they nice? She said she thought maybe the one on the left might be an antique. My sister, Jamie gave her to her a long time ago. I don't think Jamie would mind her giving it to me since my Mother doesn't have a use for it right now. Besides - I'm sure my Mother wanted to give me more than one basket so I "don't put all my eggs in one basket".