KEEP YOUR HENS HAPPY WITH....

HAPPY HEN TREATS!!!

Your hens will jump for joy when you give them a handful of Happy Hen Treats.
Just make sure you don't little chicks with the big hens when you feed them. Otherwise, the little ones will get stepped on.

How to Give a Chicken a Bath

The following post is the compliments of Tilly's Nest. Enjoy!

One of my favorite things about my chickens is their fluffy butts! 
(Mine too. ChickyChat'r)
My husband always chuckles when I say this, but I truly do love to watch as their heads are down on the ground discovering tasty treasures while their tail and fluffy butts reach for the sky.
Sometimes, though, not all fluffy butts are beautiful.  Sometimes, certain hens have more difficulty, for whatever the reason,  keeping their fluffy butts fluffed.  Oyster Cracker is one such girl.

She is my most beautiful henny girl.  She is the fullest, heaviest and is the best looking chicken in the bunch.  She is really a sight to see; except when you get to her back side on a bad day.  Her fluff  is sometimes replaced by poopy, clumped together feathers.   If you have ever seen a chicken poop, then you know the skill necessary to keep the fluff clean.  I am not sure why Oyster Cracker is the only girl in my flock who is prone to a dirty butt.  There are a number of potential reasons why.  Perhaps, she is not as skilled as the others.  Perhaps, she actually poops more because she eats so much.  Maybe it is because she likes to start sleeping out on the floor of the coop before jumping up to the roost.  Or, maybe she has looser stools than the others.  I am just glad that she is washable.  I typically, let her try and clean herself the best she can.  Sometimes she does a really good job.  However, other times, it seems to keep getting worse until finally, the majority of her butt fluff is coated with poop.  Here is how I give her a bath. 

Items needed:

3 old bath towels
2 large bins or bowls
Dawn dish detergent (This is what they used on the wildlife after the oil spill in the Gulf.)
warm water
hairdryer

Preparation:

Create a washing station.  I like to do this in the garage.  Spread a towel out on the floor.  Fill the two bins with warm water and add a few drops of Dawn to one to create some bubbles.  One bin will be for washing and the other for rinsing.

Spread the second towel on the ground and create a hair drying stations away from the washing area.

Retrieval:

Once you catch the chicken, while holding your hands over the wings, loosely wrap their head and upper body in a dry towel.    Remember to keep talking to your chicken through the entire bathing process.  After a few times, they will look forward to you giving them baths.

Bathing/Drying:

Place the chicken in the bin with soapy water.  Cup some water with your hand and wet the soiled area.  Yes, there really are not too many feathers there once wet.  You will then be able to loosen to poop off the affected feathers by rubbing each feather between your fingers.  Be careful not to pull the feathers.  Also, clean the feathers very well around the vent.  This may take some time.  Once satisfied, transfer the chicken to the rinsing bowl and try to remove as much soapy water and remaining poop from your bird.

Once rinsed, squeeze the excess water out with your hands and then towel dry your chicken.

Now, move over to the drying station.  On the lowest heat setting and speed begin to dry your chicken.  Keep the dryer constantly moving and continually fluff the feathers as you dry with your free hand.  After about 5 minutes, poof, your chicken's beautiful fluffy butt will return. 



Oyster Cracker mid-action

It is pretty simple if you ask me.  Sort of like washing a dog.  You know, we really have a nice time while I bathe her.  She does not seem to mind anymore.  She talks a lot to me but she never tries to run.  Today, she even stood still without the towel on her head as I dried her feathers.  I usually sit on the floor while doing this with her between my legs.  As I bent over her to dry the feathers on her chest, she pressed her cheek against mine.  I felt her warm little comb and wattles against me.  She was happy.  I think, she even gave me a chicken kiss.

Visit Tilly's Nest for more chicken info.
Special Thanks To... Tilly's Nest
Photo Credits:  Tilly's Nest

YUMMY! Baked Chicken and Rice in the Dutch Oven!

I made chicken and rice in the Dutch Oven for the first time yesterday.
It was sooo good.
As soon as I make it again, I'll the recipe posted with detailed instructions on how to make this yummy dish.

Say HI! To Chicky Chatter Girls' Best Friend...

POCO (Pronounced pock-o)

Here he is at 5 weeks old. So Cute!!!

And here he is at 6 months old.
Still So Cute!!!

Poco is Landrace pig that we bought in December. He was only 5 weeks old and 35 pounds.We planned on butchering him in mid-June, but found it has been too hot to do any butchering. So, I get keep him a little longer, up until November, when it will be cooler out and we won't have to worry about flies buzzing around so much.

Simple, Delicious Baked Chicken Recipe!!!

Here's a simple and delicious baked chicken recipe, straight from the
Chicky Chatter Kitchen!!!


CHICKY CHATTER CHICKEN

You will need:
Chicken thighs w/ skin and bones
(enough for the whole family)

1/2 tsp. Garlic salt per chicken thigh

Directions
preheat oven to 350℉

Arrange the chicken thighs evenly on an ungreased baking pan or in a cast iron skillet (my personal favorite).
Sprinkle 1/2 tsp. of garlic salt evenly on each chicken thigh, so that they are all lightly covered with the salt.

Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes or until juice runs clear.
Best served with sweet tea, green beans, and Homemade Garlic mashed Potatoes. YUMMY!!!

DID YOU SAY DELICIOUS CHICKEN?

I'd Like To Introduce You To....... The Chicky Chatter Girls!

Emma

Although she doesn't happen to be as sweet as her sister, Cuddles, she does have her good days when she's feeling lovey and wants to be held like the big baby she is. Besides Cuddles she has two other sisters, but I gave them to a friend after her 2 wk. old chicks got eaten by a predator.

Cheeky Cheeks (a.k.a. Cheeks)

She's my white Ameraucana with a shy personality and a sweet disposition.
She downs her food like there's no tomorrow, but you wouldn't know it to look at her.


Cleopatra (Cleo for short)

My first Ameraucana out of four to start laying her pretty green eggs.
She also happens to be cheekless, unlike the common Ameraucana.
Likes to perch on my arm, and she holds her tail feathers up with pride.(knowing she's beautiful, she likes to display it).

Cuddles

She's big and she likes to cuddle. And judging by her size, I don't need to be finding her sneaking in the feed bag anymore. LOL!!!

Lacie

Another cheekless Ameraucana. I purchased all four Ameraucanas at the same time, 2 have cheeks and 2 have none. Lacie has an attitude problem. She is also very unpredictable. She likes to peck my feet as I'm walking and it always feels like she waiting for the right moment to peck something else on me. But then she has days when she's the the sweetest little hen in the world.



Lady Hyacinth
PICTURE COMING SOON!

Both of my Australorps have vanity issues, so it's probably a very good thing that I don't have a  mirror in their coop. Otherwise, they would be spending all their time looking at themselves, instead of laying.

Miss Scarlett

This sassy hen was named after
Scarlett O'Hara on "Gone With The Wind".
Not long after I got her, she got pecked in the neck by the others so many times that it tore her skin. After it healed, it looked like a sort of head (or hackle in this case) piece with feathers coming out of it. She and her sister, Queen Isabella, are both Golden Buffs.

Princess Calpernia

She is Lady Hyacinths' sister. Not much to be said about them, besides the fact that they're both proud yet sweet.

India

Sister to Cheeks, Lacie, and Cleo.
And I have to say, she is the prettiest of the three. Up close, her hackle feathers look transparent, almost like a veil.
She can be sweet when she wants to, but it seems Lacies attitude rubs off on her at times.

NEW! Amazon aStore NOW OPEN!!!

The Chicky Chatter "Convenient" Store is now open!!!
Check out the great deals on things you need to get your flock started.
You'll also find How-to books, kitchen accessories, and so much more.
Click on the link to start shopping!!!
http://astore.amazon.com/chicky02-20