Winnie Update - Our Three Remaining Backyard Chickens

As you can see, we have had two unfortunate losses at the Frobuzz Ranchero. Somehow, when I wasn't looking for a very short amount of time, we lost two Winnies due to some vermin or beast executing a sneak attack. May they RIP.

 

However, the remaining three are growing like weeds and gobbling up their feed!

 

The surviving Winnies in all their glory

They have been receiving free choice (as much as they can eat) starter/grower chick ration since we brought them home and you can see how big they've gotten! The ration is 18% crude protein and supports muscle development and growth. After they finish this bag, I will move them to a layer diet.

This is what we feed the backyard chickens aka Winnies.





Plenty of straw and shavings for them to scratch around in.

It's been pretty cool here for the past few days so I turned the heat lamp back on and they've been rather appreciative.

Another update in few weeks! They are almost seven weeks old so in about 14 more weeks they should start laying eggs - wahoo!

Until next time,
~ Buzzard ~

Backyard Chickens Round 2 - Welcome Home Winnie(s)

As you may have seen on my Instagram feed earlier this week (@brandibuzzard), we have some new guests at the Frobuzz ranch. I would like to introduce the Winnies!

You may remember last year I attempted backyard chickens with some Barred Rock chicks, which I affectionately called the Stellas. Unfortunately, they met an untimely fate with some sort of rodent or weasel. So after mourning 10 innocent lives, I vowed to do better this year and keep them protected.

Instead of Barred Rock chicks, I bought basic pullets this year and thus far, things are going well. They are locked and barricaded in the coop with their heat lamp, clean food and fresh water.



Red waterer (because chickens are attracted to red) and a
Frisbee for a feed pan because Rooster chewed up the other one

No way in hell that anything is getting into that impenetrable coop.


Two hay bales, some tin and cinder blocks. No way there are any varmints getting in this thing!

They've been on the farm for five days and are DOING AWESOME.



Sleepy little Winnies

As with last year, I will document their growth and how I care for and feed them. The goal is to get eggs for our household and occasionally have a fryer if we hatch out some of the eggs.

Wish us luck - I'm hoping and praying (literally) for success and livelihood for the Winnies!

Until next time,
~ Buzzard ~

p.s. The winners for the Sierra Shea giveaway have been picked! Congrats Katelyn V and Jessie W!



Stella the Chicken(s) Update - Sad News on the FroBuzz Ranchero

A Barred Rock chick who survived the heinous attack

This post was going to start out very cheery with an update on nutrition and growth about my Barred Rock chicks who are all named Stella.

But tragic news has struck the ranch - three little Stellas have left this Earth. 

I was going into town for a meeting at 6 pm and the roof on the coop had been closed all day so I thought they might be getting hot since it was 83 degrees today. I opened the hatch and left.

When I returned at 8 pm, I started feeding the horses and went to check on the chickens and top off their feed pan. Sadly, two chickens were lying in the coop dead and one other was missing. The two that were dead in the coop looked like their necks had been broken and bitten but their wings and legs were intact. Basically, I think the killer was killing for sport and took the third away for dinner. I'm not impressed. The seven remaining chicks were understandably huddled together in the corner and probably traumatized.

So, we've closed the lid and set a live trap for the perpetrator. I have no problem seeking revenge on whatever varmint attacked my baby chickens. I will punish appropriately.

The obvious sadness of my chickens, even though they're small, is that I do care about them. They were in my care and it was my job to raise them and I couldn't protect them - I feel horrible. On top of that, it's also a financial loss. Not a huge one but down the road, that's three fewer chickens to lay eggs. If I want to boost the flock, I'll have to go buy three more chicks (which I'll probably do but maybe I'll get a different breed. Suggestions?).

The next update will hopefully feature me bragging about my varmint catching and a more upbeat post about nutrition and growth of the baby chickens.

In sadness,
~ Buzzard ~

Wordless Wednesday - The Chickies Are Growing!

 

Growth and development update coming soon - and nutrition too!

Raising Babies on the Farm

There are some new babies on the FroBuzz ranch... baby chickens! Now raise your hand if you thought I was preggo. Shame on you if your hand is in the air; tsk tsk. This uterus is uninhabited by any croissants, buns or mini-ninjas.

I'm calling this one Stella; but since they all look the same I'll probably call them all Stella. I might name one or two Rupert just because I like that name.

Anyhow, The Ninja and I are jumping into food production on a smaller scale. We'd love to have cattle but right now it's just not feasible since we have very little land and what we do rent is under the reign of the roping ponies.

 

So earlier this week, we welcomed 10 baby Barred Rock hen chicks to the ranchero. We are excited to raise them and I have every intention of giving weekly updates on their growth and also provide info about what they eat, how we care for them and basic information about raising your own chickens.

Aren't my baby Barred Rocks cute?

There were several reasons why we chose Barred Rock chickens:

- They are good layers and tend to live long lives.

- Once they reach egg laying maturity at approximately 5-6 months of age, they will lay year-round (although decreased production in the winter).

- Cold hardy breed; which is great because it's been cold and rainy this week!

- A multi-purpose breed, they are also good for meat. Fried chicken here we come!

 

Our chicks are less than a week old and even though I didn't watch them hatch, I know this because they still have their egg tooth. What's that you ask?

 

See that little protrusion on the top of their beaks?

The egg tooth helps the chick break the air sac while they're in the egg and also assists in hatching. It falls off when the chicks are a few days old because it's no longer needed. A few of our babies don't have their egg tooth anymore, they're the big sisters.

 

 As you can see in the pictures we put down pine shavings in an enclosed shelter with a light and heat source. Chicks need to be 90+ degrees F for the first few weeks of their life so we hung the heat lamp low and made sure there were plenty of shavings for warmth.

 

The heat lamp and shavings will keep our baby
Barred Rocks warm in the unpredictable Kansas weather.

You can also see a feed pan filled with starter diet and a waterer. Anyone know why the base of the waterer is red? That's because chickens are attracted to red. Some producers will cover up injuries or bleeding cuts on chickens with Blu-Kote to keep their contemporaries from pecking at the cut.

 

What chicken questions do you have? I'm so excited about our new venture!

 

Until next time,

~ Buzzard ~