New friends, because of hens~

The weather here on Sunday was cool and wet. Lots of rain and drizzle. A while back when chickens were my dream....my sister told me about a blog called Dandelion House. When I first opened the page I fell in love! This little red hen house was the blog header. As I read further Deb had lots of pictures of her hen house and gardens. I kept reading...scrolling backward. I loved everything and felt I had met someone with similar interests. The hen house....I wanted the same hen house. I saved her pictures, I should have named the Pinterest board Dandelion House instead of chickens. Then I started printing them out. My hubby actually said, yes I like that one. I think it will fit in.. So it started. He got supplies, the first of many trips to Lowes. I got the brooder box all set up. I got my feed. Then I got my first four chicks. Then through comments and emails I found that Deb did not live to far from me. Can you say delighted? Deb invited us down to view her hen house. HEAVEN!!
I was not disappointed! The hen house a delight, but best of all was the family we met. We talked and talked about everything and anything. Did I take pictures you ask? No of course not. While we spent our weekends working on our own little hen house. Deb gave me some valuable pointers on what she would change and it really helped. We are about complete, the hens are living out there now. We invited our inspiration couple over to see our house. Hmmmm photo op for sure, but did I take pictures? No. Deb did take a few. The flowers below were a gift from Deb and Boz. Straight from her pretty gardens. They are beautiful. Thank you!

So we had a light breakfast and passed what would have been a drizzly, raw, dark Sunday with friends warm coffee and pastries and great conversation.

 

What's happening at The Country Nest?

I just sat down tonight and I honestly can't believe it has been almost a month since I posted. I have been really busy with work and have not had enough time in my garden. Then there are the moments spent with my chickens.....I am hooked.

I don't want to bore you to death but my original four are about 13 weeks now and the two newer chicks the Araucanas are about 6 weeks now. They are still too small to let out with the larger hens. the larger girls peck and corner them then the babies squeal and I hurry in to the rescue. We keep them in the hen house in a wire crate. They are loving my herbs and lettuce.

Ok I woke her up for the picture, meet Princess. My grandson brought her home and said her owner was going to kill her. He had thrown her and my grandson couldn't stand it. So we now have kitty #3. She is about 5 months old and as sweet as can be. Her name was Smalls, but he renamed her Princess. It seems to suit her, she rules over the two male cats here. Already love her to bits.

Chickens, plants and some great weather

I am so happy our little coop is almost done. My sweet husband has gone above and beyond to make my dream come true. He has been working steady for 5 weeks now. The girls just love it. They watch him and peep away. He is working on the run right now and they come charging to greet him when they see him coming out there.
I planted a pot of their favorite herbs to snip and add to their breakfast. They get so excited when they see me come out with the oats and snip the herbs. My little galvanized bucket came with a hard to get off label, so I painted it with  Chalkboard paint and now I have any label I want so Chicken poo it is.

The girls love the run, it isn't finished, but is enough to keep them contained.

 Their afternoon snack~

 These are a few of what is blooming at the Country Nest. I always love geraniums.

 I put this iris in last year. It is a tall bearded iris called" Poem of Ecstasy"

We planted these Rhododendrons almost 12 years ago. They are so pretty and have grown so big we had to move one of them. The funny part is we had just bought them the day I got a call that my Mom had passed away....it is kind of bittersweet how pretty they are.

Love this black petunia. I saw it last year and they were sold out. I was so happy to get one this year.

Now while I was at the farm getting plants I went into the little greenhouse with the fairy stuff....I wasn't going in, but I am glad I did. I found these gems, just what I wanted Araucana  chickens. They were down to their last few so he let me buy just two. I am so happy. So I will show you how they grow. They are about two weeks old now. I am keeping them on my porch right now. Another chapter in our Chicken Chronicles.

Chicken House Update & What's blooming?

So last Sunday the Hen house was complete. Not the run yet, but the hen house. I brought the sweet babies out to their new home. It was toasty warm here on Sunday. It got so hot we had to improvise screen doors quickly. Sweet hubby did a great job and we cooled it down fast.

 Now I need to tweak and decorate, but we hope to get a run built this weekend.

 The were outside today and they are all tuckered out. They love their perch and will hop up when they hear us coming out. I usually see one head pop up, then two, then three, then all four...then they all hop up on the roost. So cute.

They are growing so fast and they seem to be so ready to get outside.

 The Scottish Broom, it smells so sweet~

 Columbine one of many we have purple, pink and two toned plants.

 My white iris' from my Mom's house on the Cape, along with Johnny Jump Ups that have jumped everywhere.

 Purple Iris

 My Tree Peony

 Solomon's Seal

 Blue ???

Not to mention my Hobo who is always in the garden, stalking chipmunks in the walls and voles which he catches all the time. He is a good kitty and loves the chickens.......

So what is blooming in your garden today?


I am going to join Deborah Jeans Dandelion House Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop! You can tell my coop is a copy of hers.
I am linking up to Tuesday Garden Party.

What is growing?

My little red hen house is coming along. I hope to get the girls out there this weekend...they are getting big. The girls are getting more and more active. Flapping of wings, chasing each other around and lots of tweeting. I am so happy I got them.


 The rhubarb is coming along, some rain might be nice.

 These May apples were a gift from a sweet lady. I admired them at a friends house and lo and behold on Sunday morning a few years ago she popped up at my back door with a few plants. They are finally catching hold and I think of Mary when ever I see them.

 Some blue forget me nots.

 Some new lime green hostas. I need to look up the name, but I put them in last year and they are looking pretty nice. A nice pop of color in a blah space.

Some Solomon's Seal for a pretty ending :)
 

Something new here!

The Chicken Chronicles~

This all started about five years ago. This yearning for my own chickens. A friend of mine had her own and sent fresh eggs my way every so often. That is kind of where it started. Every time I cracked a grocery store egg the runny white made me cringe. So I found a lady who sold her fresh eggs. Then she moved away. After a while I found someone else. It was self serve and I had to make sure I had the correct change and sometimes for convenience sake I would pick up a dozen in the store only to regret it.
I found many blogs where the ladies had their chickens...it made the yearning so strong. I still put it off. Where would I keep them. I am too busy. What about the cats? Would we be able to go away? I had lots of reservations. Then when my last birthday came around I thought if not now? When?
I found two blogs I loved. My sister in Texas has chickens and she prodded me on. She even told me about these two blogs. One is Fresh Eggs Daily. My sister sent me her book, Fresh Eggs Daily, by Lisa Steele, which I have read cover to cover and back again. You can order it from her blog. The other blog pushed me over the edge it is Deborah Jean's Dandelion House. I loved her Chicken Coop. Love, love, LOVED it. so much so I started pinning her coop on Pinterest. Deb probably felt like I was stalking her. I copied and printed out every picture I could find. Her blog, her Pinterest, I loved her style. It is down home fresh, warm and friendly.
Fresh Eggs Daily had great beginners directions. I started to shop. I got the boxes I needed to make a brooder box. 2 plastic tubs, 1x1 wire, heat light. Chic feeder and water container, pine shavings, starter feed, thermometer. I got everything all set. or so I thought. Now I only plan to have 3-5 chickens. Enough for my own use and enjoyment.
Deb from Deborah Jeans Dandelion House was so helpful. She sent me measurements and details on her own coop. You know, the coop I am lusting over!!  Hubby spent the afternoon at Lowes and I went to Home Depot for the stain for the outside. Hubby started to build my sweet coop. Many, many questions. Thank goodness for the internet.
While then I go to the farm supply for my chickens....no I didn't order them, the girl said there was always plenty of extra. WHAT DO YOU MEAN THERE ARE NONE??? Ok I didn't want to, but I went to 3 local Tractor Supply Stores. The had a few chicks all one kind and you have to buy six! Ok I don't want six of the same chickens for my little backyard brood. I looked into ordering, but 15 minimum? I don't think so. :(
I was feeling so discouraged I had it all ready to go and NO CHICKS!!! By chance I check a small local place P&P Pet food Shoppe. I met the nicest girl with chickens of her own. She is a Herbal Specialist! Could it get any better?  Sure they have chicks. Sure I can take four of them!

They are about 4 weeks old. Much sturdier then the 3 day old ones. I am surprised by how quickly the respond to my voice. I love the sweet chirps. First I had them in the dining room which is open to the kitchen. Oh no, I have an appointment, so out go the cats. They are looking at me like "what the heck?"I usually get them in before I leave and here I am pushing them out. I need a better plan. The basement? Kind of cool down there and the litter box is down there. So my guest room becomes home. It is small enough the heat lamps warm it right up. Most of all the door latches so the cats can't get in during the night and while I am gone. Phew! My Hobo cat come in with me and peeks up at the chicks. He jumped up and lay down beside the brooder box for a while. Then hopped down and hurried off downstairs. My other kitty displays no interest at all. Not that I would leave them alone with each other.

 So we now have four babies. Two Barred Rock and two Black  Australorp.

 I can't believe how much they have grown in just 5 days.

 This is my daredevil. She flies right to the edge when I pull the cover off. She likes to be held and she will push the others out of her way.

 So Lisa Steel has great advice on giving the chicks natural and herbal supplements. I have ordered a couple other things she recommends, but today they had some oatmeal and garlic powder and oregano. I mixed it up with some starter meal. It is the third day I have made it for them. They run for the dish. Chirping away and I see four cute butts in the air. That is until the daredevil plants herself in the middle of the dish and takes over.

 Here is the start of my coop. If you look at Deb's you will see where I am coming from.

I have the best Hubby. Really. His work is crazy and stressful and he came home and spent the weekend helping our son and then here building a coop for my chickens. Even after 42 years I feel so lucky.

Here is Miss Daredevil right in the middle of the dish.
Stay tuned for more Chicken Chronicles! To be continued~