#rhodeislandred

[justfacilitatinglife]

Introducing New Chickens to My Flock

Hello and welcome back to Just Facilitating Life! Today, I'm excited to share my journey of introducing new chickens to my backyard flock. It’s been a fulfilling experience, especially as I’ve found new energy and motivation since quitting drinking.

The Decision to Get Chickens

Back in March, I finally decided to get chickens. The idea of keeping chickens always intrigued me, but I never followed through with it. Years ago, I received a small coop from a friend, but it ended up stored in the garage unused. Eventually, I used the parts to create a window for a food booth I operate annually as a fundraiser for a youth service organization called the Optimist Club.

Getting Started

In March, with newfound energy from quitting drinking, I decided it was time to pursue my wish to keep chickens. I began researching online how to set up a coop and run for my small backyard. My goal was to give the chickens as much space as possible while keeping them safe from predators and allowing my dog to roam freely.

I purchased an aluminum pole run from Amazon, measuring 10x20 feet—plenty of room for a few chickens. Initially, I planned to get four chickens, which seemed manageable in this space.

Setting Up the Coop

I found a used Ecoflex chicken coop on OfferUp for $30—a fantastic deal. The coop is made of resin material, making it easy to move and clean. However, it is small, offering about 12 square feet, which is tight for four chickens (they recommend 4 square feet per chicken). Despite its size, the coop worked out great.

Choosing the Chickens

I got my hens delivered from a hatchery in Montana, which shipped them via US Mail (since FedEx and UPS do not ship livestock). I decided on some heritage breeds based on my research for looks and egg-laying ability. I wanted a mixed-colored egg basket and good chickens to be around my family. Here are the breeds I chose:

White Leghorn: Known for their excellent egg production and friendly nature, White Leghorns lay large white eggs and are very efficient layers.

Buff Orpington: Buff Orpingtons are friendly and good with families. They are reliable layers of brown eggs and have a beautiful golden color.

Ameraucana: These chickens lay blue eggs and are known for their beards and muffs, giving them a distinctive look. They are calm and docile.

Rhode Island Red: Rhode Island Reds are hardy and excellent layers of brown eggs. They have a deep red color and are known for their resilience.

They arrived as pullets, teenage chickens if you will. It took them about three weeks from arriving to start laying. They are great layers and give eggs just about every day.

Chicken Math is Real

Now that I’ve had the girls for about four months, I’ve come to find out the rumors about "chicken math" are true. It’s a form of math that multiplies chickens if you own them. First, it’s four chickens, next you have seven, then twelve, twenty, forty, and so on.

Adding to the Flock

So today, I found on a Facebook post that the semi-local feed barn happened to have some pullets. Since I was in the neighborhood, I thought I’d stop in and check them out. So here I am now, adding three more to my flock, bringing my chicken math total to seven. Here are the new additions:

Barred Plymouth Rock: Known for their black and white striped feathers, Barred Plymouth Rocks are friendly, hardy, and excellent layers of brown eggs.

Cuckoo Maran: These chickens have a similar feather pattern to the Barred Plymouth Rock but lay dark brown eggs, often referred to as "chocolate eggs."

Black Australorp: Black Australorps are known for their glossy black feathers and excellent egg-laying ability. They are calm and good with families.

They are a great addition, though they are trying to fit in with the flock. It will take some time as they are only 15 weeks old, and the older hens are making it known who is on top in the pecking order. It’s fascinating to observe their instincts and behavior.

Chicken Names and Logo Update

My daughter has named all the chickens, and I had to update my logo that I put on the eggs I give away to family and friends. The original flock consisted of:

Bertha the Buff Orpington

Snowy the White Leghorn

Chocolate the Rhode Island Red

America the Ameraucana

The new birds are:

Scorpio the Black Australorp

Oreo the Barred Plymouth Rock

Sky, a play off my daughter Skylar’s name, the baby of the bunch, the Cuckoo Maran

I’ll update once the new young hens have started laying. Until then, happy homesteading!

[usa1731]

Our fearless hens just started the morning shift in the egg assembly line @ #ColeFarmhouse in #Providence. Beautiful variety of #rhodeislandred #barredrock #australorp #blackcoppermarans and #longhorn. Our #airbnb guests are loving the eggs. And yes, our fearless hens are delivering fresh eggs also in #newengland weather. Read our #fivestarreviews🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 at www.USA1731.com (at Providence, Rhode Island) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cll5zz2O8b_/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[shadowfishtank]

Day 14: #rhodeislandred #40daysofchickens #chicken #chickens #rooster #bawkbawk #cluck The Rhode Island Red is an American breed of domestic chicken. It is the state bird of Rhode Island. It was developed there and in Massachusetts in the late nineteenth century, by cross-breeding birds of Oriental origin such as the Malay with brown Leghorn birds from Italy. (at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/ClOsZwouaBn/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[halltastic]

Cindy The Rhode Island Red

[sparkandpen]

I drew this for @sugarfreesweet his name is Streaky and he has better style than me. • • • #chicken #airforce1 #custom #rooster #rhodeislandred #petportrait #tattoodesign #digitalart #art #artistsoninstagram #womeninillustration #etsyart #etsy #etsyseller #commission #petcommission (at Lebanon County, Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/CSwjKUFrgYp/?utm_medium=tumblr

[knitcircus-luxury-yarns]

Available at Knitcircus today! Our new King of the Coop handpainted speckle is all the colors of a Rhode Island Red rooster. Each color is bright, full, and pops off the yarn just like the colors pop off the feathers of the rooster. This majestic colorway is perfect for any pattern! Available at knitcircus.com

[mrmaplematt]

ACER PALMATUM 'RHODE ISLAND RED' DWARF BLOODGOOD JAPANESE MAPLE https://mrmaple.com/collections/mrmaple-10-new-trees-10am-on-tuesday/products/buy-acer-palmatum-rhode-island-red-dwarf-bloodgood-japanese-maple #mrmaple #acerpalmatum #rhodeislandred #rhodeisland #red #japanesemaple #maple #design #dwarftree (at MrMaple.com) https://www.instagram.com/p/CMIJxaqgogU/?igshid=1l6hmzrxt69im

[gregstevemarkstuleightonandchad]

Her name is Schwoopsie and she do be stylin

[joembpro]

It's time to bring #fresh #eggs to the #office. That's three dozen this week! $4 a dozen. #backyardchickens #homesteading #capecod #capecodlife #capecodinsta #capecodigers #capecodlife #capecodtoday #environment #sustainability #americauna #coppermaran #rhodeislandred #leghorn #easterallyear (at South Yarmouth, Massachusetts) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8JUuurHq2j/?igshid=lsio23pzfdrf

[heatheraddley]

Just hugging my chickens 🤷‍♀️ #backyardchickens #pets #hens #bighug #easteregger #australorp #rhodeislandred #kindaweird https://www.instagram.com/p/B22DJ_TFqgD/?igshid=2sot4v6d8qy2

[zerowastehomestead]

Happy Ostara!! #minirex #rexrabbit #raisingchickens #chick #chickensofinstagram #chicken #rhodeislandred #homesteading #zerowastehomestead #spring #rabbitsofinstagram #rabbit #spring #ostara https://www.instagram.com/zerowaste.homestead/p/BwiJv5CHxDG/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=xuawixk1ryga

[cosmopolitan-moonshine]

Hens.

Meriadoc and Peregrine (Merry and Pippin). Gold Tops, adore them. Freeloading slackers when it comes to eggs though.

Slim and shady. Part chicken/Part roadrunner and Rhode Island Red.

Only got them 2 days ago, they’re doing well!

[cheeseacresfarm]

I see you looking at me! 👀 #rhodeislandred #prettygirl #chickenfarm #rir #hens #chickens #farmlife #theeyesfollowyou https://www.instagram.com/p/Bu89co7FO8z/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=lft9pmui6pfx

[thornhillorchard]

One of our sassy Rhode Island Reds strutting around our fancy lawn ornament.

[suzannafisher]

More chickens! This is Coquo😊 #tattoo #BellwetherTattoo #chickentattoo #rhodeislandred (at Bellwether Tattoo) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw3hRoYF99a/?igshid=14cvihwde9se4