Rhode Island Reds

Just got a call from Golden Mill.  Something happened at their hatchery and won't be able to get any Bhramas in until May 20th.  I was hoping to get the chicks out of the house at the end of May and into the yard and coop at the beginning of summer in June.  So, I am sadly changing our bhrama order to Rhode Island Reds. The Rhode Island Reds are kinda of a classic image of a chicken and from my research, the RIR are still hearty in the cold, and great egg producers.  I aslo read that they are great pets and pretty smart chickens. You can call them and they will come and they will follow you around.  So, I'll let you know what our reds come out like.

Heat Lamp

a brooder lamp from Walmart for $11 for a 250W heat bulb

I just swung by the local WallyMart to pick up a heat lamp for the heat bulb.  The one I bought takes up to 300W bulbs and I purchased a 250W heat bulb.  They also have smaller heat lamps for $7 but only go up to 150W bulb.  This baby should keep those chicks nice and warm!

Getting ready

Heat bulb, waterer and chick feed

Our 3 chicken order will be coming next week, so I stopped by Golden Mill to start getting some items for when we bring the chicks home.

I picked up a 25lb bag of chick feed.  The chicks will eat this food until they are 18-20 weeks old. I also picked up a 1qt waterer, and a heating bulb.  The chicks need 95˚ temp for the first week home, and then decrease the temp 5˚ a week.  Once it gets to 70˚ or so, they don't need the heat lamp anymore.

I also picked up a tall cardboard box for their little home.  I plan to line it with newspaper for the first 2 days so they can learn to walk, then I will take out the newspaper sheets and put in wood shavings.  I am also going to put this box in our bathroom down stairs that way I can lock out two cats out.  The last  thing I want Lucy to see is Oscar gulping down a newborn chick!

The total for food, waterer and bulb was $20.56.

Chicks

a Bhrama rooster

Alright, now we are finally moving forward.  My plan is to get 3 Bhrama hens. Bhramas are unique due to their feathered feet.  But more importantly they are also quiet, gentle and good in colder climates.

But where do you get chickens?  It's not like you can go to Target and pick up some.  However, getting chickens is still pretty easy.  Here are the three options I found.

1 - Internet.  There are lots of online stores that will ship you eggs, or 1 day old chickens
http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/index.html

2 - Murdochs.  The Target of farming supplies.  Its on south Santa Fe down west of Highlands Ranch.
http://www.murdochs.com/

3 - Golden Mill. It is one of those stores in Golden that you have driven by a hundred times but not having a horse, I've never needed to go in.
http://www.goldenmillinc.com/

So, I first called Murdochs, and the person on the phone was nice, but said that I can't place an order for   any.  So its first come, first serve and she said the Bhramas go quickly.  With Murdochs being 30+min or more away I didn't feel like turning our chicken purchase into scene from the Black Friday standing in line in 20deg weather at 5:00am.

Next, I stopped by Golden Mill.  I should have gone directly to them first. The store reminds me of a country store in Nebraska.  I walked in I spoke to the nice guy about getting some Bhramas and he placed an order for me.  The chicks should be here April 6, 2012! I feel good about buying locally and love that they are 5 blocks or so from the house.  (Another reason I love Golden, but thats a different blog).

Planning

The City of Golden permit sign

I have had this idea of raising chickens in my head for a year and half.  It is not something I wanted to jump into uneducated.  I have spent a lot of time on the researching on the internet and scouring websites like BackYardChicken.com  As well as talking to a co-worker and another cycling buddy who have chickens too. While chatting with them and asking questions, I feel good and start to get a sense of what it will require.  Then I get on my own and I feel completely unprepared and scared.  Then I remind my self that people have been raising chickens for thousands of years.  My confidence now starts comes back.  Then I told myself that I teach middle schoolers, so I can easily raise 3 chickens!

A quick Sketchup of the property and where we are going to put the Coop

So, step 1, check with the City of Golden.  For $45 you can get a small animal permit and then are allowed to raise up to 6 hens.  I took Lucy down to the city planning department with a check and a drawing of my property indicating where the coop is going to go.  They then put up the pretty sign in our yard and sent letters to people in the neighborhood living within 500ft of our house inviting my neighbors to the first of two city meetings about our 3 chickens. The lady I spoke with said that others don't normally show up to the meetings, so I don't expect much to get in the way.  The first meeting is coming up next week, I'll let you know how it goes.

Next step, order the chicks...

Why?

Why are we raising chickens?

I have some friends who are completely surprised when they hear we are going to start raising chickens. To me, it doesn't seem that weird, but to others it seems very unusual for me to get my wife and kids wrapped up in having chickens. So, I thought I would try to explain my thinking...

- I was raised on a farm until I was 3 or so. I don't have any memories of it, but I can only think starting my life around animals would have made a positive impression on me.  I would like to help Lucy and Link build some of their own memories around having animals in their lives.

- I see it as a Family Project. I have lots of personal projects, whether is my biking or working on cars, or projects around the house, its always me building something for my self. While I may be the driving force behind this crazy mission, I do think having a project that my wife, and kids and I can all do together will make us stronger as a family and bring us together.

- I would like to teach Lucy a little responsibility. I think chickens fall between Pet Rock and Puppy on the responsibility scale.

- EGGS!!!  As I get farther and father down this rabbit hole, I see that the cost/benefit of not having to buy eggs anymore slowly disappearing, but I have heard that fresh eggs taste incredible! I think it will be a good feeling for the family to be able to eat from something we have taken care of.  I had originally thought we could also use the chickens as meat later on, but from what I have heard you grow pretty attached to your chicks...

So, there you go!  Those are the reasons I have for adding some chickens in our lives.

I'll do my best to share with you all our photos and tales along our chicken journey!

:)

Swift's Chick'n Shack