The Special Chicken Coop Door

If you don't know much about chickens. Then read my blog and you will slowly learn about them.

To keep chickens safe they need to be let in and out of there coop at dusk and dawn. If you know my work schedule I leave before dusk and Keith is not always available so we decide we needed a automatic door opener. We took an automatic antenna from a car (we purchased it at Advance Auto Parts) and attached it to a DC/AC converter and then to a timer. The antenna itself is attached to the coop door for the chickens. So that when the antenna it cut on by the timer it shuts the door and when it is cut off it opens the door. Here is what it looks like.

RIP Little Hellen

Little Hellen did not make it. We took her back to the doctor for a second time and was told that the eye was going to dissolve and she would have a tunnel to her brain. Dust and dirt would have very easy access. She was a third of the size of her sisters so we decided that she would not be able to live a happy life and might get picked on or pecked at.

We miss you little Hellen!

Snow Day in Georgia

In March we got snow and at our house it was about 3 inches above our sidewalk. To us that is a nice amount. Everything looked so nice like a blanket or a cloud I didn't even want to make snow angels and mess it up.

This is a building that is a couple miles from our house. It is so cute and has a lot of character so I could not resist.

This is our house from the street.

Nine Ways God Always Speaks

by Mark Herringshaw and Jennifer Schuchmann

Have you ever thought "Ummm, I wonder if that was God trying to tell me something"? I sure have and always thought "Nope, that was my mind just being silly".

If you have ever done that or thought that you knew God was never speaking to you then you need to read "Nine Ways God Always Speaks". This book is great! It describes stories from the bible where people had different ways of hearing God and it also talks about recent events that have happened to people and how different they were from others.

This book is made to let you know that your idea of God speaking to you is not rare and that there are many different ways and signs that God speaks to us in.

If you would like a copy please email me at angelaalford22@yahoo.com and put "Nine Ways God Always Speaks book" in the subject line.

Hellen's Trip to the Vet

Hellen's leg did get better and we were able to put her back in the brooder with the other baby chicks. But I kept noticing that her eye was still not opening. So after a week of dropping water on it hoping that it would open up I decided to take her to the family vet. I didn't know if her eyeball never formed or if her eye lids didn't form correctly and could not open. I was really worried that she would get pecked at or picked on since she was half the size of everyone else. I was not sure what I would put her but decided that a picnic basket would be perfect. Here is the picture of her in the basket Friday on the way to Valley Vet in Pine Mountain. Dr. Rachel said that there was a eyeball that it was grey due to the infection and nasty stuff on it. She gave her some medicated drops and I have to open her eye lid daily and put a few drops on her eye. So far it has not opened but this is only the 3rd day. Keep your fingers crossed that her eye will heal and she will grow some feathers like all the others.

Building the Run

The first completed wall...
Keith after all the walls have been put up and connected checking to make sure it is level. Double click on the picture and check out those awesome triceps.

The human door to the run and my finger.

Miss Piggy checking out everything.

The frame work on the run is complete. We just need some wire, older chickens and a roof and it will be finished.

Chicken -n- Dumplings

My sister was coming home so we decided to have a nice family dinner. Keith and I made chicken -n- dumplings. They were so good and I burnt my tounge really bad because I could not stop sipping the flavorful juices. Anyway here are some pictures of the process and also a picture of some flowers that my Grandma received as a gift for her birthday last year. She got them potted and then decided to plant them by her front door and ta da they bloomed and are very pretty.

Sick Little Hellen

Here is Hellen in the chick hospital. She is sleeping on top of her food bowl.
Dr. Alford checking Hellen out to make sure nothing else is wrong. At this point she has a hurt leg and her left eye will not open.

Hellen trying to walk on 1 leg as Dr. Alford checks her progress.

2/20/09 Photo Shoot

Here is a picture of one of the Buff Rocks with 2 Rhode Island Reds sleeping in the background.
Cason came over to play and stay the night with us. Here is him looking and pointing at the chicks.

Some sleeping and some just laying around.

Our New Addition (10 Chicks)

Finally, they are in order!! Hip hip hooray :) There new home for the next 6 to 8 weeks.

Them trying to get used to the new layout.

Keith and one of the 10 babies.

9 of them chowing down. The other is visiting Dr. K.L. Alford for a pasting up problem.