Baby Chicks 1 under the heat lamp January 16, 2013. They’re in the garage in a galvanized trough with a heat lamp and covered them with hardware cloth. Their flooring is cedar shavings.Baby Chicks 2 under a heat lamp on January 16, 2003. We can see them growing every day so I thought they would perch on the branch. Some did … some didn’t.Adult Chickens 3 under the heat lamp February 22, 2013. Ah … moving day is approaching F-A-S-T.They’re all over that perch.All fifteen of them fit in this cage but barely.Moving them was easier then I thought. Now to get them in the chicken house without losing any.New chicks are getting acquainted with the guinea. He moved from right to left for several moments before he got bored.New Chicks are mingling with everyone else. At night they still cuddle under the heat lamp.After spending ten days inside the chicken house, we opened the doors to this new atrium so all the chickens could enjoy the sun while remaining safe from predators at the same time.
Update on the guinea
About six years ago we began with twelve guineas. Sadly over the years we’ve lost them to predators of one kind or another; two landed in the dog yard and there was no way I could get to them before the dogs did. A few were killed while they were nesting; I didn’t know were the nests were and didn’t find them until I mowed but by then, it was way too late.
We were down to one last guinea (a gray) whom we cherished greatly. While we miss them dearly, we’ve decided to not to get any more guineas mainly because we can’t protect them from the dogs.
I called him Gray. After all these years he was the last guinea. While he had other birds to chase and be with, he does have different behaviors and needs from the chickens.
Then one evening he disappeared only to reappear the next morning. This went on for two or three nights (worrying me beyond measure. After all I’d counted his little head in the coop for several years.)
Then one morning he returned with two other guinea friends. He found other guineas in the neighborhood! Even though he stopped sleeping in the coop all three of them did hang around for a few days in the nearby trees.
I fed them in the back barn, hoping they would move in. That lasted for about three days. One morning they were gone. Apparently they moved back into the wilderness. I’m sad that our little Gray doesn’t live with us any more but I’m happy that he has two other guinea friends to live with.
I send out blessings and ask God to protect them every time we hear them in the distance. Guineas are fun creatures. They kept me company for several years. When I mowed they would chase the grasshoppers that were spooked by the mower. I’ll always have fond memories of the guineas loudly announcing the FED EX truck or the mail ma’am, or when a predictor flew over.
They’re great company and filled my days with blessings.
Recap
As I understand it our new chicks were hatched in January. We got them in February; put them in the basement until they outgrew their pen. On March 15th we moved them to the chicken coop in the front garden. Now we’re caught up to this past weekend May 25th.
One of the ladies gave us an egg! That was truly a happy moment when I noticed this egg. Imagine … her first egg! Now the excitement begins because we have about eleven hens.
Since this past weekend, the hens have given us three more eggs; my babies are growing up.
Over the past few weeks we’ve noticed that the roosters are growing up and getting their ‘voices’. Their crackling voices reminded me of when my son’s voice was changing. (No, I haven’t mentioned this to the son.)
Now they have their voices — all three roosters (one is still working on his voice). Guess we’re pretty lucky to have four roosters – out of 15 birds.
The boys are doing a good job protecting the ladies, too. Two of them are the last ones into the coop every evening. And I dread the day when they meet up with the local raccoon. Not that I want that to happen but I’m betting on the roosters. The raccoon is a baby, too. Sigh … . But I still shut the birds earlier every evening … just in case the raccoon decides to check ’em out again.
Farmhouse Musings 
Update on the guinea
About six years ago we began with twelve guineas. Sadly over the years we’ve lost them to predators of one kind or another; two landed in the dog yard and there was no way I could get to them before the dogs did. A few were killed while they were nesting; I didn’t know were the nests were and didn’t find them until I mowed but by then, it was way too late.
We were down to one last guinea (a gray) whom we cherished greatly. While we miss them dearly, we’ve decided to not to get any more guineas mainly because we can’t protect them from the dogs.
I called him Gray. After all these years he was the last guinea. While he had other birds to chase and be with, he does have different behaviors and needs from the chickens.
Then one evening he disappeared only to reappear the next morning. This went on for two or three nights (worrying me beyond measure. After all I’d counted his little head in the coop for several years.)
Then one morning he returned with two other guinea friends. He found other guineas in the neighborhood! Even though he stopped sleeping in the coop all three of them did hang around for a few days in the nearby trees.
I fed them in the back barn, hoping they would move in. That lasted for about three days. One morning they were gone. Apparently they moved back into the wilderness. I’m sad that our little Gray doesn’t live with us any more but I’m happy that he has two other guinea friends to live with.
I send out blessings and ask God to protect them every time we hear them in the distance. Guineas are fun creatures. They kept me company for several years. When I mowed they would chase the grasshoppers that were spooked by the mower. I’ll always have fond memories of the guineas loudly announcing the FED EX truck or the mail ma’am, or when a predictor flew over.
They’re great company and filled my days with blessings.
Recap
As I understand it our new chicks were hatched in January. We got them in February; put them in the basement until they outgrew their pen. On March 15th we moved them to the chicken coop in the front garden. Now we’re caught up to this past weekend May 25th.
One of the ladies gave us an egg! That was truly a happy moment when I noticed this egg. Imagine … her first egg! Now the excitement begins because we have about eleven hens.
Since this past weekend, the hens have given us three more eggs; my babies are growing up.
Over the past few weeks we’ve noticed that the roosters are growing up and getting their ‘voices’. Their crackling voices reminded me of when my son’s voice was changing. (No, I haven’t mentioned this to the son.)
Now they have their voices — all three roosters (one is still working on his voice). Guess we’re pretty lucky to have four roosters – out of 15 birds.
The boys are doing a good job protecting the ladies, too. Two of them are the last ones into the coop every evening. And I dread the day when they meet up with the local raccoon. Not that I want that to happen but I’m betting on the roosters. The raccoon is a baby, too. Sigh … . But I still shut the birds earlier every evening … just in case the raccoon decides to check ’em out again.