The Chicken on My Counter

So we've talked here about our 33 chickens, but in reality when it comes down to dispatching of the mob, we're likely only going to be putting 32 into our freezer.  As I mentioned a few weeks ago, one of our little darlings had an injured leg which meant she wasn't getting around the nursery area well and wasn't getting her fair share of the vittles.  Compared to the rest of the mob, this chick was easily only a third of the size which led to her often being trampled in the race to the feeding trough or getting sat on when one of her larger cousins didn't see her.  Last week we thought she was getting better ~ at least she was more mobile and seemed to be holding her own against her larger compatriots.  But about the time we thought that, she took a turn for the worse, necessitating the making of a hard decision:  let nature take it's course or try to nurse the little peeper back to health.  Being the soft-hearted chicken farmers that we are, she ended up in a box on our kitchen counter.  On the plus side, after several days of convalescing, she's getting better and is starting to be more mobile.  On the negative (or maybe positive, depending on how you look at it), she's becoming more like a pet than a future dinner. 

She's the chattiest of all the chickens, peeping madly if she hears or sees anyone in the room.  At this moment she's sitting in the corner of the box closest to me, peeking over the edge and LOUDLY peeping in an effort to get my attention (or maybe just critiquing my work).  Being as general wisdom states not to name your food, I've held out thus far against the offspring's campaign to bestow a handle on her, but I'm guessing this is a futile effort and she'll still be spared from her execution date, name or not.  Being as we don't have any laying hens, maybe she'll get a new home with the neighbor's flock and will contribute to the neighborhood egg supply.  Only time will tell.

Outdoor living, chicken style

With the bit of nice weather we've been (surprisingly) blessed with this beginning of the Memorial Day weekend, the husband finished up the chicken tractor ~ or as he has dubbed it, THE CHICKEN FORTRESS (said with all capitol letters and a certain amount of reverence).  It IS a fortress and as about as heavy as one too.  Thankfully he figured out how to hitch it up to the lawn tractor and with the use of an old skate board propped under the front and the installed wheels at the back, could drag it around the lawn without too much exertion. 

The Fortress is half enclosed with old roofing materials and half covered with hardware cloth.  We elected to use hardware cloth instead of chicken fencing because of the potential predators (raccoons, coyotes, neighbor's cats) in the area;  hardware cloth is more durable and harder to defeat.  The feeder hangs just past middle and under a hinged hatch door made of roofing.  Two old plastic gutters were transformed into waterers installed along either side.

The mob was ignominiously moved from the garage nursery out into The Fortress this afternoon and seems to be settling in nicely.  Honestly, I don't think they really care where they are as long as their food supply is readily available.  It's a good thing we got this done, too, as we had 2 escapees out of the nursery area today, and a third that almost solved the mystery of flying over the fence.

Here are few pics of The Fortress for your enjoyment.

Hanging feeder

The dog puzzling over the new addition to his domain

Drinking at the gutter waterer

Mambo Sprouts gluten-free coupons

Mambo Sprouts, in honor of their Gluten-Free May promotion, has several excellent gluten-free product coupons available for printing, including San-J sauces, Udi's buns, Rudi's breads and flats, and Van's Natural Foods.  They also have been featuring several helpful articles about gluten-free lifestyle on their blog.

Go here to select and print coupons.

Chickens, beginning of week 4

Official stats thus far:
34 chickens, started with 38 (I miscounted the streaky little beggars last week)
3 weeks old
approximate average current weight 1.5 lb though a few are approaching 2 lb
100 lb of food consumed (we'll need to buy more, the little pigs)
money spent: $56 for chicks & shipping, $65 for feed, $20 for feeder, $50 for hardware cloth, $15 for wood shavings + $6 for electrolyte + $6 for warming bulbs = $218

The husband almost finished the chicken tractor this weekend, adding wheels to the back and covering half with old roofing material from the grandparent's defunct porch.  The goal was for light-weight and movable, but since we used mostly reclaimed and recycled materials, light it is not (but cheap it is).  Thankfully, the tractor is movable if you really put your back into hauling it around the yard, and since we will only be moving it 12 feet at a time we've pronounced it good enough.  In addition, this thing is sturdy and (knock on wood) predator proof.  The last step will be to cover the second half with hardware cloth and add rain-gutter waterers which will be done in the next few days.  We were hoping to put the mob outside this week but thanks to our variable North-"wet" weather, it might be more like this weekend or later before the littler cluckers begin their outdoor life.  I think they will be glad to have more palatial digs as the garage nursery area is getting a little squishy (and stinky).

With their increased size and adult feathers we've raised the hover brooder on risers and unplugged one of the warming lamps.  We've also added a bigger feeder since they need more space to gather around the trough and placed all the waterers on risers in an effort to decrease the mess in the drinking water. 

Chuck E. Cheese to have gluten-free offerings!

Chuck E. Cheese started test marketing a gluten-free pizza and chocolate cupcake option in a few select locations in the midwest.

copyright, Chuck E. Cheese

Hallelujah!  In my book, if you have a child under 10, this potentially qualifies as a reason to rejoice!  Just since the new year we've been to two Chuck E. Cheese birthday parties, which were a whole lot of fun, but because of the gluten issue meant that youngest was not able to partake in the pizza and birthday cake.  Thankfully, he's a good sport and understands that eating there is just not an option so doesn't feel like he's missing out on anything (well, at least not missing out on too much).  After the first party, he was pining for a Chuck E. Cheese party of his own; thankfully, we were able to dissuade him from the notion with a way cool Angry Birds birthday party at home (see my Angry Birds pinterest).  Even though it would be hard to top Angry Birds, he's still hoping for that Chuck E. Cheese party on his next birthday.  And now, with this announcement from the grand mouse himself, it just might be a possibility. 

In my opinion there are several things Chuck E. Cheese is doing right in how they're handling their gluten-free products.  They provide both pre-made pizza and cupcake in a sealed pouch which can be used for heating and serving.  The pouch is not opened until it is served at the table so this completely takes care of any issues with cross-contamination from cooking utensils, kitchen surfaces or from those preparing the food.  Brilliant! 

Here's hoping their test goes well and gluten-free kids can soon enjoy ALL that Chuck E. Cheese has too offer.