Right. After a few days of all talk and no photo action, may I present . . .
CHIIIIIICKS!!!! (That one's for you, J.T.)
They're about two and a half weeks old now, which is why they are no longer just bundles of yellow fluff but instead look like . . . miniature chickens. The breed is Rhode Island Red, which is a very old dual purpose breed (meaning for both eggs and meat) known for its hardiness. Good thing, considering their new home.
And speaking of their new home . . .
CHICKEN TRACTORRRR!!! (What, not as exciting?) (Please note Mia gazing in longingly from outside the barn.)
I didn't actually take any pictures of the chicken tractor as it was being built, but you can see it's just two rectangles top and bottom with three vertical supports on either side (plus one horizontal on either end for stability). The whole thing except the top and bottom was then wrapped in Satan's wire and put in the barn with a couple of spare pieces of metal roofing on top. A. pried apart pallets to use for the supports on the sides and end, because that wood is thin and makes the whole thing lighter. Also, that way it was free, which is always our aim.
Woodchuck construction at its finest.
It's not actually a tractor yet, because we haven't put wheels on it. So it's . . . a litter, I guess? A. and I can carry it together anywhere we want to put it for now. We do have two old wheels that came off Grasshole, so if we can rig up an axle and put those on the back, then I guess it would be, oh, a rickshaw.
Yes, in time, we may have the world's only chicken rickshaw. We aim to be original.
I wondered where the "tractor" part came in. You're going to put WHEELS on it, okay then...
ReplyDeleteThey are still cute little guys even though they are starting to look like miniature chickens.
Hope they are all pullets. My experience with Rhode Island Red roosters was not fun. They were the most aggressive I've every had, both to each other and towards people.
ReplyDeleteI know it doesn't seem like much of a tractor, but a chicken tractor is any portable pen that you can most the birds daily/easily to new ground/grass.
most= move
ReplyDeleteWouldn't that make it a chickshaw?
ReplyDeleteWord verification: dalse -- what a Maine firefighter does to a small flam
Sheila: Yes, they are somewhat known for their aggression. All the males (and probably some of the females, as I do not need a dozen laying hens) will be going into the freezer when they're grown.
ReplyDeleteI actually read on one site that the RURed Roosters have been known to kill predators. Could be a good thing. But with a toddler about, we won't make any experiments. I read with interest this site: http://www.albc-usa.org/documents/cookingwheritagechicken.pdf
ReplyDeleteThe last puffed-up Perdue roaster I bought was so tasteless that the steel entered my soul. I plan to start converting the males to dinners when they are 14 weeks old. And if any get nasty, I will accelerate my rate of conversion.
I meant RIRed.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chicken tractor photo. Drew beat me to the punch with "chicksaw," which leapt to mind as soon as I read rickshaw. I'm thinking you may need a bigger version if the MiL is slow on thinning the flock for rooster dinners.
ReplyDeleteA chickshaw - yes, a new invention.
ReplyDeleteYAY for chicks! I will live vicariously since Bubba has put his foot down on the chicken idea. Not that I have space for them now what with the bees, but still. I don't like to be told no.
ReplyDeleteI hope none are roosters. Yikes.