We had our first snowstorm of the year, bringing with it about 4 inches of snow, and temperatures that dipped into single digits overnight. One morning I walked out to find my prized heated water fountain had frozen over. In the 13-degree weather, I quickly scooped out the ice from the water trough, and worried …
Hooked up for power
After a couple grueling weeks digging a trench, and having friends come over to do the handiwork, the electrical line running to the chicken coop has passed inspection!The Ferndale city inspector came out bright and early at the beginning of the week. We started out in the yard, where the electric line came out of the …
In the trenches
With the last bit of summer running past us, I decided to embark on a large pre-winter project: running an electrical line out to the chicken coop.Why do chickens need electricity, you ask? Mostly so I can plug in a heated water jug. I just don't have it in me to run fresh water out …
A dirty little secret (resolved)
It's a backyard chicken keeper's worst nightmare. That barnyard smell. For the first month, it was totally fine. Then one hot, muggy day, after a heavy downpour, it arrived. I had to be standing literally at or in the coop, but the smell was undeniable. Of course, I freaked out. I worried about it getting …
A day on the homestead
Today was a busy day on our urban homestead. While Matt was away running an errand, I got to thinking about poop. Specifically a better way to clean it up. First I want to report that my Stand-n-Scoop arrived in the mail, and I absolutely love it. I'm able to pick up poop in the …
Poop scoop boogie
Tonight, on their third night in the coop, two of the three chicks walked up the ramp and into the hen house all on their own! Once the birds saw Matt and I walking toward them, Gigi immediately flew up on the ramp and went right in. Nellie and Loretta weren't as sure about this …
It’s how cold in the coop?
As the wind blew outside, I looked out the window and shivered. "It's gotta be cold out there," I said. "Even for chickens." Matt asked the temperature. "How cold is it in the coop?" I pulled out my iPhone, and opened the My Backyard Weather app. "It says 6 degrees. Brrr." The chicks are five …
Chicken techno-geek
So I just ordered a gizmo that will allow me to track temperature and humidity in the chicken coop on my iPhone. Yeah, I'm a geek. Originally we had bought a La Cross Solar Powered Wireless Temperature Station. We selected this model because it boasted of a 200-foot wireless transmission range, which sounded perfect because …
Chicken Scratch Fever 