The Kure Coop

May 11, 2012: 27 baby chicks arrive in a box on our doorstep.  There were 26 hens and 1 rooster.  There are several different breeds: Barred Rock, Rhode Island Reds, Buff Orphington, even 2 Golden Polish, and more. 

A year later I am happy to report that all 27 chickens remain alive and well.  We get around 18 eggs per day from the hens and around the clock protection...and sounds...from the rooster, who we've named Big Ben.

But where to put them???

I know you're sitting there wondering how we've managed to have 100% survival rate over a year later.  It is worth wondering and I will show you how our version of Fort Knox...the Kure Coop...is so strong. 

*Editors note: Kure in Romanian means 'Chicken'.  This is Amy's attempt, and it is noted, to get in touch with her married family's heritage.  :) *

Tour the coop in this visual tour!

Where they play

Where they eat/sleep/lay eggs

Where they sleep at night (rods for closets!)



Where they lay their delicious golden eggs...golden yolks that is....





These gals are demonstrating how the interior coop and exterior pen connect

 

 

 

Exterior shot from the back.  An expansion was completed May 31, 2013.

 

Complete with door for letting them roam a bit.

What?? How did I dig those 4x4x8's in?  With my auger of course.  :)



Freshly Shorn Alpacas

Any want to buy unique, luxurious, elegant, and just plain soft alpaca fiber?  Sure, it needs to cleaned and washed before it could be spun, but this stuff is worth the trouble!

I can't believe I haven't posted since July.  Life is so busy and hectic it's obviously to much to keep up.  When I started this blog in 2011 it was a coping mechanism as well as a neat historical archive for our family to have.  I am proud to say that I have finally accepted living out here and enjoy the labor of love it requires to operate the Lancaster's Edge.

I will try my utmost to continue posting.  There is a lot going on, but the most interesting upcoming news is the soon-to-be births of our nubian goat kids.  Our two ladies, Peppermint and Rose have been pregnant since January 14 and could start birthing around June 9.  Stay tuned, we are exicted to meet the kids!

More to come soon, thanks for sticking with me!

Buzz looks goofy without all his fiber

The fluffy blanket from Buzz

Happy One Year Anniversary- Alpaca

Editor's Note: This post was scheduled to be posted on 7/12, however, someone hacked my blog and stopped it.  So far, I cannot find anything else wrong with it.  Isn't that weird?  There is a weird conspiracy against our Alpaca's first anniversary???

July 12, 2012: Today marks the official one year anniversary of owning livestock and specifically our alpaca, Buzz and Phantom.  I will never forget a year ago when Amy flipped out after finding Phantom for sale on Craigslist last June.  She brought the idea up that we should get him and I went along with it (unusual if you know me).

The man we bought them from refused to just sell us one because these are herd animals and require companionship.  Excited for another year and hopefully we can add some females soon so these bachelors get a little culture in their lives!

Where to put the Chickens?

As the summer dwindles and I gear back up for another school year, we can't help but look at our beginning of summer goal sheet and see how we did.  Goats, check.  New car, check.  Roof the garage, happening on Thursday.  Build a coop for the chickens...ugh.  Looks like we have some work to do these last couple of weeks.    

When we bought the property, we knew we had four buildings.  The barn, house and garage speak for themselves but the little cob house which sits behind the house was never put to use.  It has no electricity, no shelves, only one window and two doors.  What better way to utilize this building than use it as a chicken coop?  

So, when Amy and I work up the courage and energy we are going to attach to this building some fencing that will allow our 27 chickens outside space as well as a comfortable roost and nests on the inside.  I will call it Camp Kluck-Kluck.  I am willing to listen to some suggestions on the name. :)