Tips to keep chickens cool!

Here in Texas we are quickly approaching Summer and that means you need to stock up on electrolytes for your girls.  Chickens will die if they are too hot.  If you see your chickens panting, they are too hot!  

Go ahead and offer them regular cold water, and another container of "chicken-aid".  I mix up a gallon every night before bed and keep it in the fridge. Here are some other tips to keep chickens cool!   

I let my chickens free range when its this hot, they know where they feel coolest(aka under the porch)  So I place water close to where they will be. Just walking around will over heat a hen, so don’t make them travel far for water.  I also have a box fan to keep air moving under there.  

In moderate weather a hen may drink a pint of water a day.  In hot weather, that amount nearly doubles.  Two pints a day X 6 hens = 12 pints people!!

Water EVERYWHERE: but don’t be thoughtless… a 5 gallon bucket of water is not the way to go.  If its not good for a toddler its not good for a chicken.  Keep  the bowls/pan shallow.

Shade: every animal should have plenty of shade to get into on hot days.

​Frozen water balloons make BIG ice cubes for waters.

Ice in drinking water: keeps the drinking water cool and helps lower body temperature. Chickens don't like drinking hot water either!  You can freeze water balloons to make big ice cubes.  Just make sure they fit through the top.  

Wading pools: fill inexpensive kitty litter trays with water for chickens to wade in.  Refill and wash it out twice a day. (this can make a huge difference)

Frozen water bottles: chickens can lay against these to keep cool.  Use larger 2 liter or gallon jugs to last longer before needing refreezing.  Put a towel over them for chicks that are not fully feathered. (keep them away from your food, or keep them in plastic bags while in your freezer)

Fans: Fans can be used, but keep in mind the dangers of chickens and fan blades.  Also, make sure the chickens can get out of the wind if they want.  You are trying to keep them happy not torture them!

Misters: a mister is a system that shoots a fine mist of water into the air to cool the air.  This works best in dryer climates and can be used in the run, in a shady spot, or in the coop so long as you are aware that it might leak a bit and cause wet bedding.

Electrolytes: if a chicken suffering from heat becomes lethargic, treat with electrolytes.  Powdered electrolytes can be purchased from feed stores and veterinary suppliers.  Store bought electrolyte drinks can be used but have a high sugar content.  Pedialyte, found in the infant food aisle is better than Gatoraid because it is lower in sugar content.

​Watermelon:  ​Chickens love melon and it is a great way to keep them cool.  Just don't over feed them.  It is very messy.

Cool off the coop:​ ​Spray down the roof of the coop a few times a day if you can.  

Williams-Sonoma wants you to have chickens!

Re-blogged from

Williams-Sonoma Launches Agrarian Line

| April 2, 2012 | By Amber Benham

Chicken coop (Photo courtesy of Williams-Sonoma)

At Edible nothing warms our hearts like somebody learning to grow their own tomatoes or make their own ricotta. We’re all about empowering home cooks to take control of their food, both where it comes from and how it’s made. So when Williams-Sonoma told us they’d be launching a new line this April to help customers take their food from seed to table, we couldn’t have been more pleased. The new line, Agrarian, will launch this Thursday, April 5th online and then on April 9th in a few stores across the country (none in New York just yet). We got a sneak peak at the products included in the new line and thought we’d share a few.

Shiitake Mushroom Log (Photo courtesy of Williams-Sonoma)

For home gardeners, or wannabe urban farmers, there are raised bed planters, heirloom seeds, live plants, slate garden markers from our own Brooklyn Slate and even chicken coops! Kitchen enthusiasts will love the home canning tools, DIY cheesemaking kits, and kombucha kits. Our personal fave? The shiitake mushroom log. It’s just so cute and boy, wouldn’t it be nice to pluck a few homegrown shiitakes off your window sill when you’re making dinner?

Raised beds (Photo courtesy of Williams-Sonoma)

“There’s a wide range of people who live in the suburbs or in the city who maybe aren’t growing their own herbs or food and here’s a way for them to get started,” said Shannon Gomes, public relations manager for Williams-Sonoma. “We’ve got a DIY cheese kit that only takes a gallon of milk and one hour and you’ll have your own mozzarella and ricotta cheese.”

In addition to the 275 products being featured in the new Agrarian line, for the past year or so Williams-Sonoma has been experimenting with something called “Artisan Market”–an initiative to highlight and bring local food purveyors into its stores. On the first Saturday of each month at six locations around the country, including our Columbus Circle store, local food and drink makers are invited to show off their goods. The selection of vendors changes quarterly, but some of the folks that have turned out so far include: Brooklyn Seeds, Brooklyn Slate, Kombucha Brooklyn, Brooklyn Brine, Early Bird Granola, Rough Confections, Saucy Sauce, Emily’s Homemade, One Girl Cookies, Dulce Nona, Crown Maple, and Kyotofu. The program has been a big hit so far, resulting in robust sales, according to Allison O’Connor, Williams-Sonoma’s vice president of merchandising. So far there are Artisan Markets in New York, Chicago, Atlanta, San Francisco, Austin and Portland, Oregon.

chicken poo..

Everyone knows that keeping a clean coop is 100% must for the safety of your flock and family.  That being said, why not plant some fragrant plants to help with any odors from the coop.  Here are some suggestions! [caption id="attachment_727" align="aligncenter" width="490" caption="lilac-white"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_724" align="aligncenter" width="490" caption="Cotton Lavender"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_725" align="aligncenter" width="490" caption="Fuchsia"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_726" align="aligncenter" width="288" caption="Sweet William Dianthus"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_728" align="aligncenter" width="490" caption="Spanish Lavender"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_729" align="aligncenter" width="490" caption="Grape Hyacinth"][/caption]

Click here to find what "zone" you are in.  You will need to know so you can pick the best plants for your area.  Rosemary in containers is my favorite for my yard.  Especially since it is drought resistant.

chicken run Vs. the ramblers

We are going to be embarking on a little chicken run project.  We usually let the ladies out during the day, and they wander around our back yard.  However, recently I have been coming home and finding them in the front yard.  I am pretty sure that the people across the street (selling their 300K condo) are none to pleased.  So I have been looking around for ideas.  Here is what I have found!

I think this last one is the best one for our backyard,  a little wider though.  I am looking forward to getting "the ramblers" more fenced in space.  Plus an ivy covered barrel vault will keep them cooler in the summer.  I would 100% recommend this, as free range all the time is just not realistic..even though I have been doing it for a year.

Once we get started I will post more pics.

Chicken Concierge

Spring break is right around the corner, and as your finalizing your plans... don’t leave the chickens to the last minute!  Your chickens deserve the best concierge.  Please email me for prices.  Prices depend on where you are located.  I will happily provide the following.

• AM visit: Let the birds out of the coop, feed, and water, collect eggs.
• PM visit: Close the birds up in the coop, feed, and water, collect eggs.
• Extended Service: Watch the birds for an hour while they free range in the yard. (depends on day)
• Coop maintenance bedding change, mulch flip, straw fluffing
• Emergency vet visit: Take any birds that appear sick to the vet.

PS. Have a kitty or a dog?  Not a problem!  For an additional fee per pet, I will make sure your furry family is in as excellence shape as your feathered one. 

Vintage Shasta Chicken Coop

Here is the cute chicken coop of the week.  It has been built to look like a vintage Shasta!  This is a strange phenomenon I keep encountering.  Tiny travel trailer enthusiast (him) and chicken keepers (her) often marry! Here is the link to see how it was built by member; FlyingHam of the Vintage Shasta forum.  He is obviously a saint and has one lucky wife.  LOVE the details.

Have a fun weekend!

a meeting of the minds

Yesterday I went to a networking meeting my Garden Inspirations buddies organized at Ann’s Health Food Center in Waxahachie TX. It was really great to meet other people in our area that have the same interests as me.  Some of their specialties included; food safety concerns, organic farming, natural ranchers, organic gardeners and just other people living creatively.  This group of people is so important to DFW and surrounding area.

I am looking forward to getting in touch with those I met!  Hopefully I will get to conducting some traveling workshops. :)

[caption id="attachment_504" align="aligncenter" width="490" caption="if this is your photo please contact me so I can give you credit for being so awesome."][/caption]

12 Must Haves for a coop

1. Provides space for all the hens (depends on the breed)
2. Has ventilation
3. No drafts
4. Maintains a comfortable temperature
5. Protection from the elements
6. Keeps out rodents, wild birds and predators.
7. Has plenty of light during the day (not directly across from the nest box)
8. Plenty of roosting space. (depends on the size of hens you have)
9. clean nest boxes with lots of fluffy nesting material.
10. Super cleaning feed and water stations
11. Easy for you to clean (figure this into your coop design)
12. Has good drainage in the run (use mulch with no dye like Cypress Mulch)

When it comes to chicken keeping, cleanliness is the most important thing you can do for your flock and family.  A soiled coop is the fastest way to harm your chickens, alienate your neighbors and give the rest of us a bad name.  NO messy coops people!

How to wrap your chicken coop for the winter

There is no need to re-write the book on this.  The Garden Coop people have it all figured out.  Here is a great tutorial about how to keep your chickens out of cold rain and snow.

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Tips on wrapping your coop with plastic sheeting

• Use plastic sheeting that’s durable enough to hold up in the wind. Thickness is measured in mils. I used a roll of 4-mil polyethylene film, which you should be able to get at any hardware store. For comparison, a heavy-duty garbage bag is around 2-mil thick.
• Roll out your plastic sheet to the length you need and cut it to size. You decide how much your chicken coop or run that you want to enclose based on your local weather, angle of the sun, etc. I’ve found that on our Garden Coop, covering the back, right, and at least part of the front side works well to keep out driving rain and up-splash from the drip line in the back. I bring the plastic up about 2/3 of the way, since the roof overhang does a good job of shielding the top third or so. I might cover more, including the area under the henhouse, if conditions become particularly harsh.
• Cut a couple of one-by-twos to the width of each section of the chicken coop that you want to cover, one to attach the film at the top and one at the bottom. If you want to secure any side edges, cut one-by-twos for those too.
• Roll the edge of your plastic sheet around the upper one-by-two a couple times, then attach with a screw on either end (1 1/4″ should do), driving through the plastic and the one-by-two into the studs on the coop. At the bottom, you can do the same thing, or just sandwich the plastic sheet between the one-by-two and the sole plate.
• You’ll see in the pictures below that my plastic sheet was wide enough to simply fold in half and still cover the height I needed, so instead of rolling at the edge, I just tucked the one-by-two into the fold to mount it at the upper end.

Chickens in your Garden

Trying to figure out how to garden with chickens can be problematic.  Here are some tips from Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens. Whatever system you use, keep chickens away from crops you plan to eat to avoid contamination with droppings that may carry salmonella, E.coli, or to other pathogens harmful to humans.  Pathogens may absorb into a plants cells, where they can not be washed off.  To be on the safe side, for root crops and any other crop in which the edible portions touches soil, keep chickens away for 120 days; for crops without soil contact, 90 days is sufficient.

• Divide the garden area in two with the chicken house in the middle.  Garden on one side and confine the chickens to the other, alternating these uses annually.
• Build a portable shelter to fit over raised beds so you can rotate the birds along with your veggies.

• Choose a breed with heavy leg feathering, since they tend to scratch less than others and will do less damage.

• Let the chickens into your garden late in the day, giving them an hour or so to glean bugs and nip leaves but not enough time to do serious damage before they're ready to go to roost (keep them out while tomatoes are on the vine, though, as birds invariably make a beeline for the tomatoes)

Hooray! The holidays are over

I am not going to lie.  The past holiday season was brutal.  But, I am feeling better now!  So onward with the news of the Chickens!First of all we are rapidly approaching spring (here in Texas) and if you want to get chicks soon, you’re going to HAVE to start construction on a chicken coop! 

Depending on what you want to build you better get to planning…or calling me so I can plan for you.  

Here is what you should be thinking about…

• Figure out what type of chickens you want and how many.

• Design/Build them a coop for them. Different chickens require different roost, run, and nest box space. (This is serious because an overcrowded coop will lead to cannibalism)

• Get the chicks (Chick Days will be here soon at Tractor supply)

• Wait until the chick’s feather out and purchase 8 week old that are out from under a heat source. (tractor supply will not have them, but I know where to get them)

Hurry up!! Or you're going to miss out on all the chicken fun!

chickpostcrd1

10 Great Reason to Keep Chickens

[caption id="attachment_318" align="aligncenter" width="490" caption="Lola cooling off in the water pan"][/caption]

1. Know where your eggs come from.  You can be part of the solution! Factory farms do unspeakable harm to chickens.  I wont go into details, because I will just get upset.  Google it for yourself. When you raise your own eggs you know that the hens were treated humanly, feed well, and given space they deserve.
2. You can produce enough eggs for your family and others What a great lesson for you and your children.  Teaching them about where their food really comes from.  Also, teaching them to share with others.  You will become an ambassador for fresh food and sharing!
3. Natural pest control! Chickens eat mosquitoes, ticks, cockroaches, pretty much all insects that are pests! (even mice and snakes, turns out chickens are not chicken)
4. Endless entertainment Chickens are endless entertainment.  They are always exploring and playing around.  They have a lot of personality!  Running and pecking.  Looking for grubs.  Your chickens will run up to you after a long day at work (looking for snacks)..but its still really cute.
5. Easy to care for If you can take care of a dog, you can take care of a small flock of chickens.
6. Home grown eggs are WAY better for you.  1/3 less cholesterol • 1/4 less saturated fat • 2/3 more vitamin A • 2 times more omega-3 fatty acids • 3 times more vitamin E • 7 times more beta carotene
7. Free Range does not mean Free. Cage free is a joke. Terms like 'free-range' and 'cage-free' don't always mean what people think (and hope) they mean. In fact, because there is very little regulation for these words, they basically have no meaning whatsoever. Cage-free is simply that the chickens aren't raised in battery cages but that doesn't mean they aren't stuffed into huge houses with forty thousand other chickens, leading only a slightly less miserable life than if they were in cages.  They do not get to go outside.
8. For all the Money you can make!  Just Kidding! Just Kidding! You will not make money with selling your backyard flocks eggs.  Don't get me wrong, I sell my eggs at work, but not at a great profit.  Your reward will be will be wonderful though!  The chickens are so fun, and you don't want to be part of the food problem in America..it's just gross and sad.
9. You will make new friends You will for sure meet other people with chickens.  You may even be on a coop tour!  Way to be awesome.  Teach people about chickens, and improve their health with home grown eggs.
10. You have to take care of yourself!   There are too many people and not enough ways to feed them..so its all being mass produces in the most disgusting ways.  The government watch over our food safety by testing one in every 18 million eggs consumed, which is hardly reassuring.

1. Read more: http://www.motherearthnews.com/Real-Food/2007-10-01/Tests-Reveal-Healthier-Eggs.aspx#ixzz1gejOOXBw 

Cute chicken coop round up!

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Bok Bok Brrrr…

This week the temperatures have dipped into the 20’s.  If you do not have your coop winterized yet here are some tips.

• Make sure your coop is not drafty.  Caulk any gaps or cracks that might be causing a draft.  Chicken coops need to be ventilated; however a draft across your ladies is no good.
• Add extra pines shavings to the bottom of the “inside house” part of the coop.  A couple extra inches will help insulate the floor.  Toasty chicken toes.
• Install a Digital Wireless Weather Thermometer Indoor/Outdoor.  Now you will be able to check the temp inside the coop, from inside your house.  I recommend this one an AcuRite Digital Wireless Weather Thermometer Indoor/Outdoor, 00604

• Heat lamps.  Depending on the size and shape of your coop will determine how many you need.  I recommend this one:
• Use it with a ceramic infrared heat emitter…No light just heat!  Make sure you purchase the mesh safety cover so the hens don’t get too close. 

Hook the whole system up to a Thermo Cube Thermostatically Controlled Outlet.  This will turn the lamps on automatically at 35 and turn them off at 45.

You will read on the internet that chickens don't mind the cold...but as the curator of their lives it is your responsibility to keep them as safe and happy as possible.  If you need assistance with your winterization project please contact me.

[caption id="attachment_146" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="I don’t know where this photo originated!  If it is yours contact me so I can give you full credit for being so awesome"][/caption]

i miss spring

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Consulting services up!

Service	Details	Rates per hour
Assessment Consultation "I am interested, but don't know where to start?"	About 2 hours at your residence Assessment of space and coop plans Information on care and keeping of chickens Answers to questions at time of consultation or with an e-mail follow-up One phone consultation after initial visit	$40
Chicken Procurement “where do we get chicks?  What is a Pullet?”	I will help you acquire your first chicks, pullets, or hens. Assessment of which flock is best for you and your family? Have children, needed docile chicken? *NOTE: Please do not mail order chicks, it is very stressful for the birds.  They are often abandoned in post offices without food and water.  Shipments can also get lost in the mail.	$40
Coop and Run Consultation“Pre-fab coop? Custom coop?  That is a great question!  Do you want it to blend in, or be a focal point?”	A visit to your residence to choose best location and housing type Advice and/or assistance with building your dream coop. Information on feeders, waters, feed, and general information on chicken accessories Information on coop security Seasonal Coop I.E. Heating and Cooling Chicken Budgeting One free 15-minute phone consultation after initial visit	$40
Design and Build“Are you a mid-century modern coop or a Victorian?”	Custom designed coop and run Have your own plans and need a builder?  We are happy to procure materials, and build to specs We place special emphasis on form and function; our chicken houses are cheerful, light and airy, with excellent ventilation and windows for natural lighting.	Varies to size and scale of project

From under the lamp to in the coop	A visit to your residence to help your pullets transition to their new coop (about 1 hour) Information on feeding, watering, egg laying general care, and common illnesses Answers to questions at time of consultation or via e-mail follow-up One free follow up phone call	$40
Follow up anytime “Can you come out and look at this?”	A visit to your residence to make sure that your hens are healthy Information on feeding, watering, egg laying general care, and common illnesses Answers to questions at time of consultation or via e-mail follow-up One free follow up phone call	$40
911 Phone Call	Troubleshooting advice over the phone for a sick bird Phone call fee can be applied to Emergency House Call fee if I come out within 24 hours	$20 (payable by PayPal or check prior to phone call)
Chicken Sitting	Daily visits to water and feed Bedding changes Egg collection Special instructions welcome	Varies on location
911 House Call	A visit to your residence to assess a sick bird Research to determine possible causes of sickness Care to address problem, if possible, OR suggestions for care (may include referral for veterinary medicine) Suggestions for follow-up care and care for other members of flock	$75
Add-On Service “I want chickens, but I don’t have time to go out and get everything for them!	Coop maintenance Procurement of supplies needed for your chickens Instillation of seasonal need like lights and heaters	$35 per hour, billable in ½- hour increments

the coop a cabana

This is our chicken coop.  It was designed and built by myself and my husband Benjamin.  The coop has three nest boxes and enough roost space for 6+ hens.  Since we live in Dallas the coop has been built in the shadiest part of our backyard.  The windows are oriented to take the least amount of rain and wind.  It has a large access doors for cleaning.  We cut linoleum to place in the bottom of the coop.  It is covered with pine shavings and is hardly ever soiled, but it is nice to have the option of removal.  There are two lights in the coop which are on automatic timers.  The chickens need a certain amount of light to keep laying eggs.  We also have two ceramic bulbs that do not emit light, but heat for when it is cold.  They are also set on a timer to come on at 35 degrees and shut off at 45 degrees.

I will get into more of the in’s and outs of the coop in different sections.