Chickens | One Hundred Dollars a Month

Amazon Stocking Stuffer Deals – Smencils, Ear Buds, Chimps Sticks, Necklaces and More

December 11, 2012 Leave a Comment

Pink Paw Print Crystal Necklace in Purple Puppy Dog Gift Box $5.92
Bumble BEE Girls Kids Necklace Pendant in Shaped Gift Jewelry BOX $5.89
TURTLE Crystal Pendant Necklace in Turtle shaped Gift Box $5.79
Ladybug Crystal Pendant Necklace In Gift Box $6.09

Fred & Friends Chimpsticks Chopsticks $7.00

Okay, so I’ll admit it, I cannot use chops sticks but I do own a set of these LOL and I love them. I hear they are perfect for kids too.

JBuds Hi-Fi Noise-Reducing Ear Buds only $5.99 each – 8 Colors to choose from

Premium sound quality, Compact size, and Sleek design
Soft silicone ear buds provide a super comfortable, noise reducing fit
High intensity listening experience with crisp, clear sound and deep bass
Works with every iPod, mp3 player, CD, portable DVD, PSP, MD, and Laptop
Goldplated 3.5 mm audio jack for premium, no-loss sound connection to your audio device.

Go HERE for JBuds Hi-Fi Noise-Reducing Ear Buds

The Girl Who Thinks She’s a Bird has been receiving Smencils in her Christmas stocking since elementary school and looks forward to them every year.

Educational Insights Smencils Colored Pencils 10-pack
Educational Insights Smencils 10-pack

Webkinz Tree Frog $5.01
Webkinz Bulldog $5.32
Webkinz Golden Retriever $4.81
Webkinz Siamese Cat$5.02

Find More Webkinz

Have you signed up for UPS My Choice*yet? Not only is it free, but you’ll know when your packages are scheduled to arrive. I have it and I LOVE it!

Amazon prices can change at anytime. See more Amazon Deals HERE.

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Filed Under: Amazon.com, Chickens, Online Deals Tagged With: amazon, christmas, Online Deals

Raising Backyard Chickens – 3 Month Check Up

December 6, 2012 9 Comments

Well, Pablo is still here. We are now at the 12 week mark and Pablo has not let out a crow yet {fingers crossed}. I’m sure it will be happening any day now, so if you are interested in a pet rooster, send me an email because once Pablo makes a peep, we’ll have to send him to a new home.

He is a pretty lovable rooster though I must admit. Pablo LOVES being held {is that normal?} and gets along great with the other birds, so we’ll see. If he knows what’s good for him he’ll keep quite.

Picasso on the other hand has been pretty unfriendly with us since the day she arrived. I’m not sure if she knew from the start she would loose her boyfriend {Pablo} or not, but she doesn’t like us one bit.

Matilda is our glamour girl and boy does she know it. She is way to cool to pose for pictures. We think she’s probably holding out for a better offer so I totally get her dismissive behavior. I don’t know what she’s looking for though, we give her corn, lettuce, melon and everything a chicken could ever want, so I don’t get it.

Peanut is crazy. Always has been. Always will be.

Hilda is still a total sweetie. She loves us, no doubt about it.

Ahhh and baby black fatty. Such a little love bug. Baby Fat always wants to be held, told she is beautiful, and likes to follow us around the garden. I’m not sure if all australorps are like this, but all 3 of ours are. In my opinion, they are the best chicken on the planet and a PERFECT choice if you are looking for a pet chicken for a child.

This is Maroon, one of our Rhode Island Red chickens, it looks like she is having a bad feather day in this picture.

And last but not least, 5. Maroons baby sister. What a cutie. She has grown out of her shy and awkward phase and is making friends left and right.

Bottom Line – Raising backyard chickens is a blast. Especially when they get old enough and start laying eggs {only 8 more weeks to go!}. After raising pet chickens for a couple of years now, I’m so glad we took the plunge and went for it. I love them, my daughter loves them and the neighborhood kids love them as well. Life is good.

Do you have pet chickens? Which breed has been your favorite to raise?

~ Mavis

Filed Under: Chickens Tagged With: chickens

Holiday Gifts for your Pet Chickens

November 17, 2012 8 Comments

Are you torn about what to gift your chickens for Christmas this year?

Me too. Last year I gave the chickens yummy sourdough bowls filled with corn and mashed potatoes. But this year, I think I want to get them something a little nicer. So if you are having difficulty coming up with a smashing gift this holiday, here are a few of my top picks.

Happy Hen Treats can be found on Amazon.com as well as your local feed store for around $5.99 per bag.

Instead of waking up to frozen water bowls this winter, splurge a little and get your flock a heated pet bowl this Christmas. Heated bet bowls are available for as low $17.97 on Amazon.com.

Save a chicken. Buy the neighbors dog a rubber chicken to play with and he’ll leave your hens alone. There are rubber chickens in all sorts of sizes and costumes on Amazon.com.

Every chicken needs a “little black dress” for parties and other social gatherings, get yours from ChickenSuits.com.

Chicken Diapers are all the rage this year. And with so many styles to choose from, you won’t have to worry about the hen in the next nesting box over will be wearing the same pattern. These outrageously awesome chicken diapers can be found at backyardchickens.com.

Filed Under: Chickens Tagged With: chickens, christmas

A Decision About Mr. Produce Guy

November 15, 2012 5 Comments

Yesterday while I was working in the garden, I was able to uncover a few more potatoes and onions. Finding these gems of vegetable goodness puts a smile on my face every.single.time. I bet it’s the same feeling gold miners had when they found gold in them thar hills.

When I opened the curtains this morning, I noticed I had completely forgotten about the lettuce growing on my patio. Crap! There was no way I’d be able to make a salad out of it now. So I chopped the lettuce at the base, and put it in a bowl for the chickens.

On my way out to the chicken run, I also noticed a few undesirable broccoli florets. So I brought those along as well.

As soon as I walked into the run with the food I had no interest in eating, the chickens started to gather around. And at that moment, I realized what a dumb mistake it would be to break up with Mr. Produce Guy.

Beggars can’t be choosers. After all, I did originally ask him for “chicken scraps.” So anything I get above and beyond is just a bonus. So instead of whining about the current lack of edible produce, I should just be thankful I’m able to feed my birds for less out of pocket each month.

Thanks for weighing in. I knew I could count on all of you.

~Mavis

Filed Under: Chickens, Gardening Tagged With: chicken scraps, chickens, Gardening, mavis garden blog

Mavis Garden Blog – Harvesting Broccoli After a Frost

November 11, 2012 10 Comments

Last night was the third night in a row we had freezing temps. So when I woke up this morning I felt like it was now or never time to harvest the last of the broccoli. Even though the heads were very tiny, I’m glad I was able to harvest them.

Something is better than nothing, right?

I consider this a good learning lesson. Next year I’ll plant the fall broccoli seeds in mid-July rather than late August. Hopefully then, I’ll get larger heads to use in stir-fry instead of stalks to use in a broccoli casserole.

So even though we wont be eating a ton of broccoli this winter…

The chickens will still get plenty of homegrown food to munch on.

It’s an adventure isn’t it?

Life is Good!

~Mavis

Filed Under: Chickens, Gardening Tagged With: broccoli, chickens, Gardening, mavis garden blog

Raising Backyard Chickens – 2 Month Check Up

November 9, 2012 2 Comments

This is Martha. Martha was part of a group of 3 Barred Rock chickens we purchased as baby chicks last spring. When we first brought her home, Martha and the two other Barred Rock chicks were best buddies. Then, one day that meany Ricki Raccoon came along and ate her two friends. Leaving her all alone. It traumatized her and she has not been the same since.

She’s jittery, does not like to be held, and doesn’t rush in when we bring the hens food. Instead she patiently waits her turn. But ever since the fall chicks were introduced, Martha has been hanging out with them and slowly coming out of her shell. It’s kind of like she’s playing the role of big sister, which is cool to see.

Our baby chicken 5 loves her.

And so does Hilda.

This is Baby Black Fatty. She is the most loveable bird ever. In fact if there was a popularity contest in the coop she’d totally be crowned queen.

Matilda the glamor girl is feisty and waiting for her big break to fly to coop, for bigger and better things like New York City.

Pablo and Picasso – I still have not found them a home. I’m kind of hoping Pablo will turn out to be transgender. He/She is so fun to be around.

Maroon has been pretty pleasant lately.

But Peanut, forget about it. This bird is totally headed up to Girly Girls Coop as soon as she’s old enough.

For the most part, this has been a really great group of birds.

Now, if they would just start laying eggs.

~Mavis

P.S. Did you get chicks this fall? How are they doing? Did you end up with any Roos?

Filed Under: Chickens, Frugal Living Tagged With: chickens

Raising Backyard Chickens – Flock Blocks and Leaves

November 2, 2012 3 Comments

Today was Black Fatty’s lucky day. The hens were out of feed and I had some extra time on my hands. So while I was at Wilco picking up crumbles and layer pellets for the birds, I also took a look a few minutes to browse the aisles of the feed store.

I ended up coughing up an extra $9.99 on a Flock Block for the chickens. I typically buy them one or two a year when I see them on sale. The last one I gave them lasted over 3 weeks.

If you don’t know what a Flock Block is, it’s basically filled with cracked corn, sunflower seeds, oyster shells, and barley. You know, all the good stuff.

But the thing is, Black Fatty always gets first dibs. The other birds don’t even dare approach the Flock Block until she has had her fill and walks away. It’s quite a sight to see then hunker down and wait their turn. The baby chicks are the last ones to get a taste of course.

We also gave the chickens 3 bags of leaves to play with.

Putting sacks full of fallen leaves in the chicken run is the easiest way to get free compost in the spring. Over the next few weeks I’ll be placing as many leaves as I can in the run for the hens to “play with.” After all, having the chickens turn all the leaves instead of us having to do it really helps with their personal trainer fees this time of year. Yep, I no longer have to take them to the gym. They can scratch leaves around the backyard all winter instead.

Life is good!

~Mavis

Looking for a rubber chicken? Ahhh c’mon you know you are. Well guess who has rubber chickens in stock? Amazon.com of course!! They have everything over there! Head on over HERE to see the whole collection of charming chickens.

Filed Under: Chickens Tagged With: chickens, flock block

How to Get Free Food Week # 26 – Reclaimed Food Show and Tell

October 30, 2012 3 Comments

The last two weeks the quantity of the “good” chicken scraps has been decreasing. Which is a good thing for the stores, because they are tossing out less produce. But on the other hand, it’s kind of a bummer for my family as well. We are not seeing boxes and boxes filled with boatloads of castoff goods anymore.

So what does this mean?

Is the store buying less produce and throwing less of it away? Do stores sell more fruits and vegetables in the summer months? Is that why there was such an abundance of free fruit and vegetables this summer, but not this fall?

Well one things for sure, the chickens are still getting their fill of fresh fruits and vegetables.

And they don’t seem to care if it’s in season or not.

So what do you think? Do the stores waste less in the fall and winter because the demand for fresh {real} food is less? Or am I just imagining it?

~Mavis

Would you like to see what else we have brought home over the past 7 months?

Head on over HERE to read all the past stories and to see all the pictures.

Filed Under: Chickens, Reclaimed Food, Weekly Shopping Trips Tagged With: chickens, how to find free food, Mavis, one hundred dollars a month, Reclaimed Food, Weekly Shopping Trips

Raising Backyard Chickens is Totally Cool!

October 26, 2012 6 Comments

Pablo and Picasso {Silver Laced Wyandotte}

Last night The Girl Who Thinks She’s A Bird asked if chickens can be neutered. Here we are at week #7 with the baby chicks, and Pablo has yet to crow. Pablo has turned into such a little love bug the last few weeks that we don’t want to get rid of him. Picassso on the other hand knows something must be up, and keeps giving us the evil eye.

Maybe we need to be looking for a new home for the 2 of them and not just Pablo.

Maroon {Rhode Island Red}

Maroon refuses to let us take her picture and if she keeps acting this way she may be moving to Girly Girl’s coop soon.

5 {Rhode Island Red}

5 still loves us though, and she is slowly growing out of her awkward, shy stage.

Black Fatty {Australorp}

If you have never had chickens before, I would totally recommend getting a few australorps. They are the friendliest birds I have ever come across. They are quite, great with children and nice and plump, which makes them easy to catch and cuddle.

Matilda {Easter Egger}

Matilda doing the cat walk… She is destined for New York City someday.

Peanut {Easter Egger}

Total stinker. May also be shipped up to Girly Girl’s place if she doesn’t change her attitude soon.

Hilda {Easter Egger}

Well, she’s definitely not the cleanest bird ever, but she practically begs for The Girl and I to pick her up and carry her around as soon as we set foot in the coop. She’s a bit of a talker too, and is always trying to tell us a story.

Raising backyard chickens is the best. Especially if you are able to giveaway the disagreeable ones to a neighbor. Just remember to say NO GIVE BACKS when you do hand them off.

~Mavis

Read More Chicken Stories

If you are thinking about getting a flock of your own, check out the book Homemade Living: Keeping Chickens with Ashley English: All You Need to Know to Care for a Happy, Healthy Flock. Amazon currently has the book in stock and on sale.

Filed Under: Chickens Tagged With: chickens, one hundred dollars a month

Friday Night at the Movies – The Natural History of The Chicken

October 19, 2012 7 Comments

Before The Girl and I had chickens, we watched The Natural History of the Chicken and giggled our heads off. Last night we watched it again {this time for FREE via Amazon} and now that we are chicken owners, we found the movie a bit more endearing the second time around.

Now, we get it. We love our birds and so do the people in this movie. I don’t think I would go as far as to give my chicken mouth to beak resuscitation like the older lady in the video did though, that still seems a bit odd to me.

If you have chickens {and even if you don’t} you should watch The Natural History of Chickens, it will put a smile on your face.

Amazon Prime Members can watch The Natural History of the Chicken for free HERE.

What is Amazon Prime Membership?

Amazon Prime is a membership program that gives you and your family unlimited fast shipping, such as FREE Two-Day shipping to street addresses in the contiguous U.S., on all eligible purchases for an annual membership fee of $79.

Amazon Prime members in the U.S. can enjoy instant videos: unlimited, commercial-free, instant streaming of thousands of movies and TV shows through Amazon Instant Video at no additional cost.

Plus, Amazon Prime Members who own Kindle devices can also choose from thousands of books — including more than 100 current and former New York Times Bestsellers — to borrow and read for free, as frequently as a book a month with no due dates, from the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library.