Who knew Valpolicella would be so helpful?

So today's progress was to be in the watering system arena..... a Ziggity poultry watering system ~ www.ziggity.com ~ is installed in my barn already. I need to clean and sterilize it (and figure out how it works - but that's total sidebar, eh?)

I know there is a bit of maintenance needed because some of the spiggits are dripping water. If the watering system leaks it can make the bedding wet. Wet bedding can lead to coccidiosis. This disease would wipe out my flock.

Leaky spiggit

So my plan was to run bleach water through the system in addition to wiping down the exterior with bleach. So I searched the main barn for reservoirs to start the bleach solution in and to expel the solution in to at the end of the line. My hubby is a home brewer of excellent wine and his primary fermenters are the perfect size! Problem solved.

Today's helpful gadgets - hand tools, bleach, and wine making primary fermenters

 I twisted, I turned, I tested... but for the life of me I could not figure out how to get the bleach flowing through the lines. I know its possible because some farmers supplement the water with nutrients or medication - but I couldn't figure it out. I was close to sucking on one end of the hose to get the bleach water flowing through - but I was not excited about sterilizing the inside of my own mouth.

So, I tidy up, stroll inside, pour myself of glass of red wine (Valpolicella this evening), and plop down on the couch with the laptop and begin to let google solve my problems. Again, wine has proved to be useful.

Where to get a chick (or 100) in this town.....

Where to get the chicks.....

The broiler side of our chicken barn is 386 square feet. A full size chicken needs approximately 2 sq ft so we could have up to 200 birds. I think am going to start with 100. For some reason that seems more manageable for a first attempt. A friend from Vancouver Island suggested I try Rochester Hatchery. She had used them in the past and were very happy with them. Their website has a load of information that I found very helpful, but I have opted for a local hatchery in Abbotsford. ~ Western Hatchery for the simple fact they are local. They have provided a lot of support over the phone so far and I look forward to meeting them when I go pick up my chicks on hatching day.

Prep for the chicks....

Interior of the barn; before cleaning and prepping

To increase my chances of not killing all 100 of these lil fluff balls I need to make sure the barn has been sterilized and all the equipment is ready to go. So I turned to google. Use bleach. Don't use bleach. Use vinegar. Use lime. Spend hours doing this. Don't worry about it. Man the internet is a double edged sword. Since the barn has not been used for several years, I am starting from a good point. If I had recently used it for raising a flock, or had a flock with disease then more efforts would have to be undertaken. I have opted for the lime method for the floors and walls and a diluted bleach for cleaning the water system. Lime because the barn will not need to dry out after and it seems easier and less fuss than the liquid based alternatives and bleach because I thought that it will kill any bacteria that has built in the lines.

What to feed them..... 

I would like this poultry to be medication free  ~ as wholesome as possible. I am opting for the non-medicated chicken feed made by Pro Form feeds. In this neck of the woods there are several places to get supplies. I like Dare's Country Feeds. I picked up the started feed today. $15.99 / 20kg. Each chick gets 50 grams / day and they eat it for 21 days. Quick math - because I am accountant by profession - (and really because I have a calculator on my iPhone) I bought 5 bags of the starter feed.

Here goes nothing.....

I am about to cross off another item from my bucket list......

Karen helped me cross off "get a friend's car unstuck from the snow"


Cam has helped me cross off several:

Stay at the Plaza

Kiss on the Eiffel Tower

Hold my child for the first time

Learn to ride a motorbike

 
Jodi and Tairalyn helped me with:

Be a bride's maid

and there was the one and with my mom that was magical: "went wedding dress shopping".

So what is the the latest one? (the one that inspired me to try blogging....) is....

 "to farm"

Yes, this city slicker accountant is going to attempt to raise chicks. Amazing, but true!

These chickens will be fryers. Meaning, they are being raised to eat. As much as keeping chickens for eggs is much cozier and has a romance side to it.... it means that we are truly "tied" to this land and this hobby. We like to travel and do spontaneous day trips too much to have such an intense commitment. So for now, its fryers or broilers - approximately a seven week cycle.

A tad of background - we moved to South Langley a year and half ago and bought a property with an older farmhouse, a big barn, and a well equipped chicken barn. We embarked on massive renovations to the home and land and feel like we have a handle on those now.

Our renovated home

So we are now working on the barns. We are under going barn painting this summer. Massive undertaking, but barns are meant to be "barn red" in my books.

The chicken barn is well equipped. In theory I have all the hardware to successfully raise chickens; gas brooders, a beautiful watering system, feeders, and a load of rain barrels (these will be explained later as their function is not pretty). The former owners raised chickens and were kind enough to leave us all the supplies. However, I am greatly lacking in the knowledge side of things and the understanding side of things. However, with a bag of courage and determination I am giving it a whirl. (Hey its kinda in my blood, eh aunt Karen, I can't fail too terribly).

Check back to keep up with my daily progress.....