Clucker Caper

It all started with "I sure miss having chickens." That was me.

Friend Clare: "We used to have chickens, too. I would love to have some for eggs."

Clare and I were just daydreaming about how we could have a little garden in her back yard, for some organically grown greens and other goodies we both love. The garden plan segued into adding organic eggs.

Thus began the Clucker Caper.

I found five large (about 4 x 6 1/2 feet) pallets, with decks, for $5.

Clare dug up some poultry netting she had stashed in her garage - she figured she had paid 75 cents for each 50' roll an some clearance sale.

In full scrounge mode, I scored about a dozen free metal T-posts for the pen.

After some sleuthing and arm twisting, we found a feed store that just happened to have 4 adult 1-year old hens, already laying, that had been brought in on a trade (gotta love small town bartering!). $10 each.

Collin volunteered to help build the chicken house and pen, and Than and Lee jumped into the project with little persuasion. Lunch from Sonics will get me a LOT of help from the punks!

As these sort of plans go, the last element came first: the hens were available unexpectedly, I brought them home in a dog crate, and the pressure was on! The boys had the chicken house up in about 6 hours - they were very creative in some of their building and problem solving. I'm sure their Grandpa Dennis was smiling...


Two Barred Rock, two Americana hens.
"Chickens do NOT live in a dog crate....these guys better get the hammers out in a hurry..."

"Come on guys, we're dreaming of our new home...nice cool  breeze, shavings on the floor...custom perch...you know, all the fixin's..."

 

Max and Jayden came along later to help.  All the boys know how to run a saw and hammer!

 

We re-purposed a couple of metal bread pans for feeders, and cut up a plastic milk carton for water font.  A few more hours on another day to put up netting and posts for the outside run, build a ramp and sliding chicken door.  It's a real Clucker Castle now!

Our first eggs!  Only took about two weeks for the hens to adjust to their new home, and they didn't molt - one of the dangers of moving laying hens!  They don't lay while molting, so we were very happy they felt comfy enough to just pick up their job - laying lovely eggs!

 

 

In the carton with "store eggs", it's evident how superior "real eggs" are - FRESH!  Brown eggs from the Barred Rocks, greeny-blue eggs from the Americanas.  White eggs from some poor caged egg-factory hens down the road.

 

Before long, all four hens were producing - what a beautiful sight in the nest box...or nest bucket, which is what this is.  Picked up a 5 gallon bucket along side the road, made a great nest for the girls!

 

Happy hens...

 

Total cost of hens and house: $45.75.

Add in a bag of feed.

Cost of fresh eggs: priceless!!