Trying to be patient, but it is SO hard!

Our broody hen still has not hatched her eggs...I'm so glad that I am able to peek in her area without her seeing me so that I don't bother her.  Why is it so hard to be patient sometimes?  She has been so diligent to be on those eggs...

I will keep everyone updated with pictures of course as soon as we get a peek of those little tykes!

Some of our recent babies...

Wednesday and Thursday we had a bunch of chicks hatch and they were Blue, Black and Splash Marans. 

This little one is the biggest butterball and super fluffy!

Lost 2 Eggs...

Well, our broody hen lost 2 eggs, and unfortunately, I don't think by choice.  If you look in the picture I posted last of her on her nest, there is a bright light by her face.  She is in the old chicken tractor and then light near her face is coming in from the little door that the chickens use to get in and out to the small fenced-in outdoor area.  The other day she decided to turn around and have her butt near the door after she had got up to get a bite to eat and a drink.  I was afraid she might lose one out the door so I piled some extra straw over in that area to try to block them in.  This morning I found out that my temporary solution did NOT work....bummer...I went out in the morning to find two eggs outside on the ground.  Shoot!  How long had they been there?  How cold were they?  I got Paul and we moved the hen and her eggs into a different brooding area that we have.  She was not happy with us at all! She promptly got back onto her eggs and Paul put the 2 that had fallen out back under her.  They were very cold so maybe they won't make it, but we figured that it didn't hurt to try.  So, in the end she is still on 10 eggs, but 2 may no longer be viable.

We will have to be patient as the chicks are due to hatch on EASTER!  What are the chances of that???

Our First Broody Hen of the Year!

Here is our first broody hen this year.  Spring has come and one of our Black Copper Marans decided that she wanted to be a momma!  Yipppee!  We are so excited to have her sit on 10 eggs...some are cross breeds and a few Marans eggs.  So far, she has been very protective of her eggs and Paul has been bitten and pecked multiple times when he has been trying to move her, clean her nest, give her an egg, etc. 

She definitely has a "Don't mess with me attitude"!

Black Copper Marans Eggs

I wanted to share the eggs that we have been getting from our Black Copper Marans.  According to the Marans egg color chart, the eggs are currently about a 6-7 which I would say is pretty good considering the darkest color is labeled as a 9.  We are a work in progress and I hope to get darker eggs, but right now I love seeing the eggs we receive everyday.

 Egg color on the computer and in pictures is a little hard to take completely accurately so I tried to take a few different pictures to try to get ones that reflect the real color the best.

This is the Marans egg color chart.

Meet our Newest Chicks!

We purchased a few new breeds to had to our hen house this year.  They were all born the last week of February so they are about 1-2 weeks old now.  Pictures were taking during their first few days.

Our Silver Laced Wyandotte

What she should like like as an adult

I love the lacing on these birds!

Our Gold Laced Wyandotte

What she should look like as an adult

Not sure I am crazy about the pea comb, but oh well...

Our Ameracauna

Well, Ameracauna girls are known for ending up as all different colors and patterns so I don't have an adult picture of her.  I am hoping that she turns out to me a lighter red and brown so we have some more color in the coop.  I mostly bought her though to change up the egg color a bit. I am hoping for a blue or green egg layer.

Getting Started Chick Kits - $40

We now have chick kits available for a one-stop-shop for your chicks and supplies.   

The kit includes the following:

1 chick base and 1 qt. canister feeder (available in purple or yellow)
1 chick base and 1 qt. canister waterer (available in green or red)
1 red heat lamp bulb (in box)
1 metal brooder heat lamp reflector with clamp
1 5 lb bag Manna Pro medicated chick starter feed
Basic Chicken Instruction Sheet
$10 voucher for chicks

All kit items (minus chicks) are brand new directly from the distributor's warehouse to our location.

Chicks can be a mix of whatever is available at the time.  Availability changes daily as chicks sell.

Special chick pricing for kit purchases:

1. Cross Breeds - These chicks are bred to be a hardy dual purpose chickens that are very good to excellent egg layers. The rooster is a Birchen Marans and the chicks come from the following excellent egg laying hens: Rhode Island Red, Buff Orpington, Black Sex Link, and Turken. These chicks come in lots of unique colors and patterns.

Chicks Days Old: $3 each
Chicks 1-2 weeks: $4 each
Chicks 3-4 weeks: $5 each
Chicks 4-5 weeks: $6 each
 
They are unsexed.
Breed mix cannot be guaranteed except for Turkens (Naked Neck) as the rest are too hard to differentiate.

2. Marans - These chickens are known for their very dark eggs, but are also a dual purpose bird. The rooster is a Birchen Marans and our hens are Black Copper Marans and a Blue Copper Marans. These hatches will produce Black Copper Marans, Black Birchen (Silver) Marans, Blue Copper Marans and Blue Birchen (Silver) Marans.

Chicks Days Old: $6 each
Chicks 1-2 weeks: $7 each
Chicks 3-4 weeks: $8 each
**there is now a waiting list on Marans**

They are unsexed.
In the early ages we can only usually distinguish black from blue chicks.


If you are a newbie, don't worry, we can answer questions and help get you started.