Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Chicken Varieties


This post is for the chicken loving nerd in me.  Did you think I could just leave the last post as is, without even telling you what kind of hens are on their way?  So, if all goes well, our flock will consist of:

3 Red Stars
2 Rhode Island Reds
3 Barred Plymouth Rocks (or just Barred Rock as most people call them)
3 Australorps
2 Speckled Sussex 
2 Easter Eggers

Some of these we have lived with before and know how wonderful they are and others will be new for us.  I tried to make it so that all the birds are hearty and good layers and then the next important thing was to have a colorful flock.  I love that they all look different.  This will be fun!!!!

If you are interested in seeing what they look like www.mypetchicken.com is a great place to see and learn about the different varieties. 


Spring is Just Around the Corner


I just ordered 15 day old layers to arrive on April 16.  That will give me till the middle of May to take down the old coop and put up a new one.  I am so excited.  Living in the country is beautiful, but I could be living anywhere and live the way we have been.  Only, there would be a lot less driving if we lived closer to things.  So, to make living in the country "worth it" to me, I had to get the hens.  I know I could have a few if we lived in a more populated area, but I like having a flock.  Next, I'm going to figure out if we could have sheep.  Of course there are other people living here, so I guess I need to find out if they would care.  

Another exciting thing we are doing is, brewing beer with some friends.  We have two batches going and we'll make a third next week.  Since we all love drinking beer, we thought we should make it ourselves.  In the long run it saves money and it'll be one more thing we do for ourselves.  

I've been wanting to grow hops, so I think the next thing I'll do is start researching how.  My current garden was, as my kids might say, an epic fail last year.  I'm hoping it will go better this year.  If I could just get it planted, I think it will be fantastic.  I made the design myself and I really want to see if it works.  Its a companion garden, everything in it supports the growth of everything else.  This time of year, when its cold, and still dark, I have discovered, as so many others have, planning for the spring is a great way to get through it.