The chicken food experiment and the eggs

A while back, when I first began this adventure, I discovered a forum called Backyard Chickens. I learned many things from the experience of avid chicken owners. I learned that a 100 watt bulb will keep the coop warm enough to keep their water from freezing. But one suggestion was especially pertinent to raising egg layers in the Minnesota winter. Putting cayenne in their food. This seasoned chicken owner suggested that if you put a tablespoon of cayenne in about five days worth of feed your chickens will keep laying eggs all winter.

Hypothesis: If the chickens have cayenne mixed into the feed they will continue to lay eggs in the winter.

Pre-experiment conditions: They had been laying about 4-6 eggs a week before it got cold (below freezing) but Bel had been broody so she wasn't laying eggs regularly.

Step #1:  I started as soon as it began getting cold. I put the cayenne into their feed as directed for two weeks.
Results: For those two weeks they laid about 6 eggs per week.

Step #2:  Then I stopped. I went for a week with their usual food, same temps out side, no change in environment.
Results: They stopped laying any eggs. For the full week we had no eggs.

Step #3: I began adding the cayenne to their feed in approximately the same proportions as the first two weeks I increased the cayenne slightly because now it was sub-zero temps and a blizzard. The other change I had to make was I had to put another light for additional heat but the light was angled so that it would not eliminate their dark areas--important for keeping the chickens sane! The temp in the coop was still just warm enough to keep the water from freezing. 
Results: They have been laying 1-2 eggs every day (11 eggs per week for 2 weeks).

Hypothesis: Correct!!!!
I have been able to begin to share some eggs I have so many. This is way more eggs than I was getting in the fall.

My girls are Minnesota troopers. They may not like the snow, but they continue to amaze me in their ability to coop! And omelets are becoming mandatory.

Seven Reasons to Raise Chickens in the City

"Seven Reasons?"--I am really not copying this theme from others who may blog and read this. Actually, I am copying God. It is a theologically sound number to make a list--7 is the number of completion so I guess I could just call it the "Complete List." But in terms of lists, maybe there are 10 reasons --so it may not be the complete list. Ten could be theologically correct also, the 10 commandments and all; although it depends on which list of commandments you follow--pre- golden calf or post,in that case there are about 14 and that once again is 7 twice. And I am not about to make a list of 613 as in the Levitical Laws; or 99 as in the Qur'an's names of Allah (of which there are really 100, but Allah hasn't revealed the last one yet); or 40, which seems to just mean a lot; or 330,000, as in number the Hindu deities --although no one really wants to commit to a specific number, because you just never know who has a deity in there home that we don't know about and surprise! the Hindu religion really only has one God--that is Vishnu, Krishna, and Shiva. Three in one...hmmm, sounds vaguely familiar to this Catholic.

So 
Seven (or the complete list) of reasons to raise chickens in the city:

1) Chickens are so personable. They even greet me when they see me, unlike some of my other roommates.

2) They are a great party topic.

3) They are relatively low maintenance. They even survive the cold winter days and nights.

4) They have introduced me to my more curious neighbors.

5) They fertilize my garden (and the neighbors which gives me brownie points in the neighborhood).

6) They give Beyonce (the Guardian Dog) a sense of importance--imaginary maybe--but she is the alpha dog to the chickens anyway, or so she thinks. I don't think the chickens necessarily believe that, but they do humor her.

7)  And the EGGS of course!

Wintering Chickens or the Collective Chicken Consciousness

    So the girls do not seem to mind the cold, but they do not trust snow. I wonder what they think about it? Chickens obviously see at least some color because they always go after the red nail polish I wear on my toes (in the summer). They can pick out the corn feed from the chicken meal--that's another phenomena, a topic for later. They can pick out bugs in the dirt before I can see them.
    Maybe they think snow has no substance since it is all the same. Does it look like clouds to them--although I don't think many chickens have flown high enough to experience clouds. The real question is: How do they think???
    Maybe there is a collective chicken consciousness. Going back to the corn feed--the first day I brought them corn feed, it was in a clear bag. They began pecking at the corn in the bag, chasing me for it, in fact. They had never experienced corn before so this was not a learned behavior. There are other things, like oyster shell or pine shavings, that I have brought out to them in a clear bag and they have never pecked at that.
   I have come to the conclusion that there must be a collective chicken consciousness. The aversion to snow must be part of it. If there is a collective chicken consciousness, are there also chicken archetypes?  Like Chicken Little, or the Chicken that Crossed the Road, or Chicken Soup (probably not a favorite), or Playing Chicken . . . We will have to ask Chicjung for a consult, til next time...

chicktoons

Chicken cartoon link

First Snow!

This morning I went out to feed the girls and Cleo, who generally jumps out the door, got halfway out and turned around. "What ever that white stuff is, I don't want to go there."

I can relate.

Bel is Broody and I have been away too long

Life has changed among the chickens. Bel and Cleo have grown up and produce eggs regularly. Bel is a bit broody and likes to sit in the nesting box as much as possible. I even have to pull her out so she will get some exercise. I am told this is normal and it's good to have at least one broody hen. Cleo and her will lay eggs and Bel sits on them. It's like she is in heat. She wants the eggs to hatch so she can take care of babies.

They say snow is on the way, so we move into a new stage of life with chickens.

Our first family meal ala chickens and garden greens!

St. Paul: State Fair chickens | Minnesota Public Radio NewsQ

 One for the roosters!

St. Paul: State Fair chickens | Minnesota Public Radio NewsQ

The Official Meatrix I

Egg # 2

Do you remember the cartoons where the chicken squawks and clucks as soon as she lay her egg?

It's true!
 Cleo struts around and squawks for a good 5 minutes. Bel starts clucking with her and  Beyonce (the Diva Dog/Gardian of the pack) is barking and running to the door.  Soon we are all doing a dance to the universe in thanksgiving and jubilee. Really, some one should take a movie of this. It's as good as any birth I have been to.

Bel is starting to spend more time in the coop so get ready for even more fun in the family nest.

the little poached egg

Thank you Cleo!

News: Cleo laid her first egg!

She was so proud of herself. She clucked and squawked and strutted around. She was in the coop,now to get her to lay them in the laying box, but one hurdle at a time! It may be small but its a first!

Now what should I cook???

Hu-man Chicken Haters Club for Humans previously abused by chickens

Since I started writing this, I have discovered that there have been humans who were abused by chickens when they were young and vulnerable children trying to do their job of serving their family chickens. I decided to follow up these allegations with an investigation.

The following is an interview with the spokes-chickens for National Council of American Chickens.

Kluks: I have here Belina and Cleopatra Chicken, who both have taken vows of abstinence from the cocks of their species.
Bel and Cleo, do you see any relation between abuse of human children and the vows of abstinence that chicken egg layers have to take in order to provide humans with the eggs they want?
Bel: Why no Kluks. Bauk! Many humans assume that we hens just need to have a cock around to keep us happy. We have chosen to live this way for the most part. Bauk, bauk! It is a matter of a few sick or probably previously traumatized chickens who can't handle being around the little hands of humans taking their eggs from under them.
Cleo: Bauk! Yes, I agree that some chickens have been abusers, but for the most part, we like our humans and we want them to feel safe with us. Bauk! The real problem is over crowding and superiors who just move those chickens known to be abusers to a different part of the hen house.
Kluks: So you say there has been a cover up?
Cleo: Bauk, yes, I'd say so, but then you humans also need to look around and realize that it's not just us chickens at fault. Bauk! There are many other species that don't treat humans very well. Bauk. LIke look at the geese for instance.
Bel: Yes Cleo, but let's focus on our own right now. Bauk! We feel real bad about the human children who were traumatized by chickens and we want to help heal those wounds.
Kluks: But what about the responsible chickens?
Bel: Those chickens need help. They need to be kept out of the hen house and away from the hands of young children. Bauk. Bauk. but we also need to look at the bigger picture.
Kluks: What do you see as a solution?
Bel: Bauk. We chickens need space. we need to run free and stretch our legs a bit.Bauk!
Kluks: But don't you think that will create more problems because of less control?
Cleo: No way Kluks. Then you can see who the problem makers are and cook them for dinner. Bauk. That will keep us who are not abusers off the dinner table.
Kluks: Will the chickens still be able to do their jobs though.I mean, will we still have the egg production?
Bel: Of course! Bauk! Bauk! If all chickens were given the chance to move around freely, we would be producing a better quality egg and more of them. Bauk.
Cleo: We want to live peacefully together with humans. Bauk. We want you to know are not all bad. Bauk Bauk.
Kluks: What do you want to say to those who were abused as children by their chickens?
Bel: Bauk. First of all, we feel real bad about the damage that a few have done. We have started a support group to help with the healing of these humans. Bauk. Please contact the Hu-man Chicken Haters Club's Abused-by-Chickens-Hotline. Bauk! We are not going to ignore this problem any longer. Bauk.

Kluks: Since this report, it has been found that not only hens are abusers but perhaps the biggest human abusers are, in fact, the roosters.

Hawk alert!

Today I was riding in a car coming to my home and my friend said "That was a hawk!" This hawk was not flying overhead, or sitting on a high branch of a tree, it was sitting on top of a car--yes, on the roof of your basic sedan. We had driven by so we backed up and rolled down the window. It still sat there looking ther other way as I fumbled with my cellphone to get a picture, then it heard us and flew off. It was literally only three feet away.

Yesterday when the chickens were out and about they started squawking their alarm. Beyonce (the diva dog) and I ran outside but didn't see any signs of another animal. Beyonce ran around the neighbors house.--the chickens had been  picking around in their garden--doing her job as Sasha Fierce, the guardian dog, but didn't scare up any cat or other creature. Bel ran up to Beyonce afterward though and the two had a bonding moment. It was sweet.

Could it have been a hawk?

Tonight my neighbor tells me that she has seen hawks sitting on the railing of my deck, b.c. (before chickens).


I wonder, if I put a plastic owl on top of my chicken coop will that keep the hawks away?

More photos

Chickens are smarter than most dogs and three year olds

The reason why I started writing this blog was because of this story:

The chickens spend some time each day outside of their run to fertilize the garden and get some exercise. They play games with each other. Bel starts running and gets Cleo to chase her. They play their own form of tag, but Cleo seems to be "it" all the time.

One day, Bel took off running around the big ash tree in the back yard. Cleo joined in and chased her around the tree. As Bel started to make another round, Cleo turned around and ran the opposite way and caught Bel by surprise. I have never seen a dog smart enough to figure out that if you change directions you can head your chaser off. Most three year old humans (and some adults) are surprised when they find themselves running into their pursuer instead of being chased by them from behind.

Conclusion: You'll catch a tiger quicker if you run into it head on and stop chasing tails.

Chicken tails

   

  ..... And that my friends is why the chicken crossed the road!

http://www.creators.com/comics/the-other-coast/21684.html

2008  3 AugustOFFBEAT COMICSThe Other Coast by Adrian Raeside

Thanks to KB

I am away from home--chicken-parent anxiety

First time away from my girls. It's just like being a new parent--well, not quite, but there is a certain amount of anxiety.
 NEED TO BE FED.
 NEED WATER.
 NEED SOME EXERCISE.
 NEED TO BE BATTENED DOWN IF IT STORMS.
 NEED TO BE PROTECTED FROM CRITTERS.
oh, and they need their coop finished too.

Hope you are surviving girls, I'll be home soon.

the secret life of chickens: And now a word from our sponsors:

the secret life of chickens: And now a word from our sponsors:: "Chicken talk 'okay,okay, i think she's coming, cluckcluck' 'no cleo, that's not her, that one doesnt have the red toes' 'o, i thought it was..."

And now a word from our sponsors:

Chicken talk
"okay,okay, i think she's coming, cluckcluck"
"no cleo, that's not her, that one doesnt have the red toes"
"o, i thought it was her but it's one of those roosters shes got in her coop. he's just pinning more colored wind catchers on that high perch thats way too thin to hold on to. they drip when you walk under them you know, buak."
"yeah bauk, he wont let us out, oh and he let that four legged one out again, bauk"
"o wait bel, shes coming, ill get her attention...buaaaaaak buaaaaak,that always gets her. i think she feels sorry for us when i do that, buaaaaak... ooo here she comes, cluck cluck cluck"
"cluckcluck , its so exciting, shes coming over here, ooo she stopped, shes pulling out more of that greenage"
"buaaaaak, buaaaaak, there now shes coming"
"yeah, she sure does react when you howl like that cleo"
"it worked, quick run out the gate before she changes her mind cluckcluck."
"ok cleo were out. wait, what she doing, shes getting our dish,   !!SHES GOING TO FEED US!!!"
"shoot bel, i wanted to play tag, but food and theres corn too, o well, maybe shell let us out later, cluckcluckbuak.

Chickens are your American duty

Don't underestimate the value of your pets. Voting and paying taxes is not enough to fulfill your patriotic duties. Uncle Sam says: 'Raise chickens!'

Really, I am proud to be an American.
http://muedemaus.blogspot.com/2010/05/wwi-poster-uncle-sam-expects-you-to.html

A close incounter with Jack

7/21/10
Last night was a close call.The neighbor's dog, Jack, got out of his fence--not something that has happened before. He came over to visit Beyonce and discovered chickens. The girls were out in the yard. Jack thought this was an open invitation and his birding instincts (he is a bird dog) kicked in. The girls know that their safe place is under the deck or in the coop. Bel couldn't quite make it there without losing a tailfeather. Luckily that was all she loss, except some confidence in the security of the backyard.  It was a bit of excitement and a dilemma--should I have let Beyonce out to defend her pack? Probably, but I didn't think it through until I was too far away from the door and closer to intervening myself. I think Beyonce would have at least distracted Jack enough so that Bel would make a clean get away. She did get away minus one feather and a little trauma. She seems fine today and didn't seem to upset when Beyonce wanted to play.  Play for Beyonce means a little chase and an escape to the underdeck.

the anatomy of a chicken

When I first considered this venture , I knew next to nothing about chickens. I was a city girl, worse yet, I grew up in the burbs. After I had lived in the inner city for a while I realized the depth of my ignorance about real life when I knew that "duck" meant "hit the ground"or "take cover" and not "look in the sky at the flock of them flying over."
Now that I own some dirt in this city I feel a connection to a farming instinct, not out of innocence, but survival.
Gardening, yes, but I never thought I would be raising chickens.
What I knew of chickens was limited to food sources. Chickens lay eggs. I can cook and eat the eggs in many ways. I can cook and eat the chicken in many ways. But really, which came first the rooster or the egg? Do you need a rooster for a hen to lay an egg? What do roosters have to do with the egg laying process anyway? I know that you need a rooster  to fertilize the egg, but when does this happen? Do hens and roosters really get it on? They always refer to the birds and the bees, but I missed the day they showed the movie about the birds.

I know now that hens lay eggs without having a rooster so I don't need a rooster to get the eggs. It's a good thing too because roosters make a lot of noise and not just at the crack of dawn. And, you need to get permission from about a thousand people in your neighborhood to be able to have a rooster. If one says no, then you can't do it.

So I have two hens that I am told will produce eggs for me come fall. But We'll figure that out when it comes time. 
diagram courtesy of: http://www.backyardchickens.com/LC-anatomy.html

the history

These are a few of the first photos, then  Beyonce chewed my upload cord for the camera, so more will be coming when I get the new cord!  

Belina

Cleopatra-definitely likes getting her picture taken!

Oh,we also got a new puppy, Beyonce, the same week as the chicks.

Chicken history

Hopefully I will have some photos if I can figure out how.

the day the chickens hatched

7/18/2010:
It was Palm Sunday, 2010. Bel and Cleo came out of their shell and into a new world. 24 hours later, they were in a plastic crate with a warming light and some bedding in my living room. This was the start of a new relationship--or 2. Now they are an integral part of our everyday lives. The City Chicks were home to stay.