Monday, February 25, 2008

Pictures of the chicken pen and more

A view of the new pen
Here is an image of the new pen to keep the chicken poop where it belongs. The chickens have reacted surprisingly well. I had been braced for hours of squawking in protest of being denied access to many of their favorite spots, but it hasn't happened yet. (knock knock) It's recommended that you have about 11 total square feet per bird (4 in the coop and 7 in the run) and these chickens have about 150 square feet each, a regular Beverly Hills.
The chickens kicking back
The view from the pen includes many of the newly planted trees. Right now they mostly look like sticks with little green buds starting to come out. I hope they make lots of fruit. Fresh fruit is one of my favorite things, and so is free stuff, so free fresh fruit is pretty high up on my list of stuff that is the opposite of lame. Conversely, my husband is the only person in existence that hates peaches-- not just the fuzz, but the flavor and everything about them. Luckily since I am in charge of the yard, I get the winning vote. :)

Sunday, February 17, 2008

New Trees and a chicken pen

I had to go get a crown the other day (tooth not Miss America) and I was really upset, both because it hurt and because I have such good dental hygiene that things like this should be impossible. So to make myself feel better I went and bought a new little peach tree, a Mid Pride variety. I came home and planted it and got so excited that I decided I needed more fruit trees. Today I picked up a Dorsett Golden Apple (which will help with the pollination of my Anna Apple), Beauty Plum, Gold Kist Apricot, Black Mission Fig and a miniature bonanza peach. I am so excited about the new trees. I am still sad over Moxie dying, so this helps a little.
Secondly, my husband and I have decided that chicken free-ranging throughout the yard is just not the best idea. This week we will be building a fence to keep them free ranging in about a quarter of the yard. This way we won't have poop on the back porch and they'll stop tearing up my plants. The chickens are quite vocal when they're unhappy, and I am a bit concerned that they'll be throwing hour long screaming fits over this new confinement. I am crossing my fingers that it goes smoothly.
I haven't taken any pictures yet, hopefully by the end of this week all the new trees will be planted and the fence will be built, then I'll post pictures.

Saturday, February 2, 2008

R.I.P. Moxie :'(


Moxie, the nice little hen that never laid an egg, died today. She was 11 months old. I noticed that she was acting a little sick around lunchtime and by dinner she was gone. I think whatever made her die was the same thing that kept her from laying. (She wasn't eggbound, I think it was just a birth defect) I don't really have any good adult photos so here's one from when she was a week or so old. I'm really sad.