rooster Archives - Farm Homestead

15Feb 2011 by Farmer No Comments

It’s been a rough year

But not everyone is as lucky as I am ... (Okay, I couldn't resist a little humor) I got this email see, the chicken is what got me. The economy is so bad that I got a pre-declined credit card in the mail. I ordered a burger at McDonald's, and the kid behind the counter asked, "Can you afford fries with that?" CEO's are now playing miniature golf. If the bank returns your check marked "Insufficient Funds," you have to call them and ask if they mean you or them . [caption id="attachment_3464" align="alignright" width="292"] This chicken had a rough year[/caption] Hot Wheels and Matchbox stocks are trading higher than GM. Parents in Beverly Hills and Malibu are firing their nannies and learning their children's names. A truckload of Americans…

10Dec 2008 by Farmer No Comments

Dogs 1 Rooster 0

Chickens, Our Homestead

Well, it's a sad day at our little homestead today. I left the dogs outside for what was to be a warm night. I thought they would enjoy it. Mr. Red had been aggravating the hens so badly, that I had turned him out of the chicken coop last weekend. Now, you have to picture this, LOL A big, Rhode Island Red rooster, chasing a big black Labrador around the yard. Molly, our lab does NOT enjoy getting clipped in the back when she's not looking. Red holds his own every single day... until today. I guess, since Molly was trying to sleep and he woke up at the crack of dawn, as usual, he found her napping. You can probably imagine the rest. The worst of it was that…

23Oct 2008 by Farmer No Comments

Chicken Hawk in the Hen House!

Our Homestead

This was WAY weird. I came out to get tools going for about three hours we came up with in the middle of the week to work on the chicken coop and there was squeaking and squawking going on. Mr. Red was jumping up and down, carrying on something fierce. But let me give you some history about that... The night before, I went in to make sure the babies were tucked in nice and sound. It was only their third night outside alone with a sole heat lamp. And while the night temps were hanging in the mid 50's, I didn't want to take any chances. So about three in the morning, I went out to make sure the light hadn't burned out or anything terrible, they still don't…

12Oct 2008 by Farmer No Comments

Chicken Coop Progressing

Chickens, Our Homestead

What a long day, getting things square against all odds. The entire chicken coop frame was off square from the chicken run due to the fact that I wanted to use the 4x4's from the garden fence to build off of... seemed such a shame to let all that wood, cement, and hard work go to waste. You can see the autumn leaves are starting to really fall. Another reminder that we don't have long to go before it gets cold and the chicks still don't have a place to get out of the cold. Errrr. My son works during the day, goes to school three nights a week, has two children, one newly born August 28th and his brother will be two in November. His wife is taking online…

24Sep 2008 by Farmer No Comments

Time for new chicks!

Chickens, Our Homestead

Guess what my mother informed me she found while perusing my favorite ag store today? BABY CHICKENS! in the fall no less... I was really torn. Starting baby chicks in the fall... getting them grown up enough to face a cold surly winter. Should I? Mr. Red is so lonely... he needs some more of his own kind. What is a rooster, without hens? So, I go home, I research the city statutes that I had left the girls to do last time we bought chicks in the spring. Sure enough, they were right. We are allowed twelve birds. Only one can be a rooster... well, that is accomplished well enough, so I bought eleven chicks. Once again, hoping for the best. If you'll recall, that's what we thought we…

01Jul 2008 by Farmer No Comments

Mr. Red

Chickens, Our Homestead

Isn't he wonderful? He now has his very own run... no real house yet, but his run is safe and sound. He crows day and night. I have been hoping my neighbors won't complain, but he starts up around 5am and doesn't stop until dusk... I mean off and on ALL DAY long! My son has dedicated his Sundays to helping me build the chicken house. My daughter has started college, the 'friends' that begged and pleaded for their purchase, I see less and less. It's just me and the dogs and the rooster. I have to give him credit too... The rooster is quite protective. Nothing is getting into this backyard without his say so. Even the dogs are afraid of him now. My sister came over the other…