Photos: Previous Chicken Flock

I found some old photos of my previous flock from about 3 years ago.

In this photo, you will see a lot of different breeds, of both chicken and duck, all living in harmony.

5 Buff Orpington Pullets
4 Muscovy Ducks
1 Barred Rock
2 Silkies

The Flock

Silkie

Muscovy Hens

Muscovy Hen

Baby Chicks in the yard

This the first time these chicks have ventured outside of the coop.

Group shot

Group shot

Hiding underneath the garden hose

See the little white silkie in the back left?

This hen always seems to be perched on something

Baby Chicks have arrived

Today the chicks have arrived. It was really fun ordering the different breeds, as I've accumulated much more breed knowledge since my last order. I really liked being able to mix up the colors. If my vision is correct, this is going to be a pretty damn awesome group of colors and breeds.

This bird is super happy

All of the little hens 

together

One little silkie

Jackson loves the babies

2 future dinners

Zero Waste Chicken Feeder

After years of messing around with poorly designed chicken feeders that are prone to waste feed, I've moved to a different home made model, and the results thus far have been terrific, my feeder has zero waste.

I've always suspected that the chicken feeder and waterers companies have mutual agreements between each to keep manufacturing shoddy products that waste feed and promote the purchase of more and more of the other. It's an interesting thought at least to a guy that can't even seem to keep his side burns trimmed straight.

The combination of this feeder and using pellets (instead of crumbles) has resulted in my feed bags lasting 30% longer. This design prevents waste by forcing the chicken to stick it's head back into the feeder 2-3 inches, and any twitches or sudden head tilts that typically send feed flying into the wasteland with a standard feeder is blocked by the walls on the deep feeder, and the feed flies back into the consumption area. With feed prices shooting up, preventing feed waste has become more important to me. Also, it gives me a reason to build something new, and this design is working better than I expected.

The feeder consists of a 3 feet long, 4 inch PVC pipe, a single reducer and 2 45 degree elbows. Stick it all together, it was just around 20 bucks total. The feeder will save me that 20 bucks spent in about the first 3 months of use, so it's a sound investment.

Capacity and food access is probably suited for around 6 birds, and since I typically have about 10 birds, I may build another one. The opening could be a double access with a pair of 45 degree adapaters if someone wanted to open it up a bit.

Ducks taking a swim

I thought this picture of the ducks was funny, the two runners are yelling to the muscovies to hurry up. Pecking orders are a bitch when you aren't on top.

Store bought egg next to my chickens egg

Notice a difference?

Left is store bought, right is mine

Vineyard Police

Here are the vineyard guardians taking a rare but much needed rest from the daily patrols. It's not uncommon to see these ferocious beasts working night-and-day protecting the harvest. Having an unfenced backyard has not been a problem with this team of soldiers monitoring the area for signs of intruders.

(From the top down) Pepper the cattle dog, Cat the cat, and Purdy the fox terrier.