Chicken Madness Winner

It has been a long and grueling process for the chickens that have competed in our chicken contest the last month. Dreams have been made and broken. It is important to note that all of the chickens showed great composure and hard work. They all are winners in their own way. Unfortunately, there can be only one champion. Our followers have voted and Annie the chick is the winner. I expect great things from this chick in the future.

Thanks to Candace for submitting this photo. Email your address to backyardfarmingblog@gmail.com and we will send you the grand prize "Your Farm in the City" by Lisa Taylor.

Doctrine & Covenants 43:24

O, ye nations of the earth, how often would I have gathered you together as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, but ye would not! 

My Job is Feedin' a Nation

by Uncle Dale

As a Farm Management Specialist at the University of Maryland, I spend about 25% of my time working with dairy farmers to help them analyze and improve the profitability of their farm businesses. I love this part of my work because dairy farmers are the salt of the earth. They are some of the best, most hard working people I know. The following video says is tall.

Chicken Madness: Final

It seems like our followers like the chicks as both of our finalists just barely left the safety of their eggs. It just goes to show you what a chicken can accomplish with hard work, determination, and a little luck. Vote for your favorite at the bottom of the post. The winner will receive the book "Your Farm in the City" by Lisa Taylor.

Chicken A

 Here's a picture of our newest chickens for your contest.  They don't have names yet, the kids are still working on that. They are gold stars, and I have a whole post about them on my blog - http://deannh.wordpress.com/2013/03/02/round-3/

Chicken B

I have so many pictures i had a hard time choosing, but this one is a New Hampshire Red named Annie. :) 

My blog is: www.mercyisnew.com

Chicken Madness: Round 2

These are the last three chickens before we go to the final. Vote for your favorite at the bottom of the blog post.

Chicken A

 Here's a picture of our newest chickens for your contest.  They don't have names yet, the kids are still working on that. They are gold stars, and I have a whole post about them on my blog - http://deannh.wordpress.com/2013/03/02/round-3/

Chicken B

Without further adieu, here's Cruella.  She's wearing her pinless peepers because, true to her name, she likes to pluck other people's feathers.

You can see more chicken fun at Cranky Puppy Farm at crankypuppy.blogspot.com.

Chicken C

This chick was named Legos by my two year old son. Go to www.joyfullybecca.com to see the other awesome names he chose for the five other chicks.

Becca

Chicken Madness: Round 2

We have finished the first round of our chicken madness contest. All the chickens we received in our email have had a chance to compete. Our first contest was a tie so seven chickens have qualified to move on to Round 2. We will have 2 contests in the 2nd round. The chicken with the most votes in each contest will move on to the final. Now is when the chickens will prove themselves as true champions. Vote for your favorite chicken at the bottom of the post.

Chicken A

This is for the chicken contest. her name is Mohawka, she is a buff lace polish and yes her hair/feathers is pulled back. she's a diva chick.

Cindy

Chicken B

I have so many pictures i had a hard time choosing, but this one is a New Hampshire Red named Annie. :) 

My blog is: www.mercyisnew.com 

Chicken C

We call her PigPen - because she's really that messy. :)

Chicken D

We adopted a few chickens that (sadly!!) had their beaks clipped. they have started to grow back, thankfully, but this little girl still makes us smile with her crooked little mouth.

ALMA 32:28

Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.

Chicken Madness: Sixth Challenge

Another day, another face-off. I believe these are the last two entries we received. After these two are done competing we move on to the second round of the competition. Vote for your favorite chicken in the poll at the bottom of the post.

Chicken A

This chick was named Legos by my two year old son. Go to www.joyfullybecca.com to see the other awesome names he chose for the five other chicks.

Becca

Chicken B

Meet Ugly-Stepsister. The ugliest hen we have seen.

Michael A

Anyone have issues with egg blockage in their chickens? We found one or our turkins tonight with its feather drooping and she doesn't want to move, just stands there. We picked her up and it feels like there is an egg ready to come out. Any ideas how we can get her out of misery??

 ~Tyra

 Please leave your answer as a comment!  

Drip System Ideas

This year will be our third summer at our current home. The last two years we have used a hose and sprinklers to waterour garden. My intention has been to get a drip system hooked into our sprinkler system.As you all know, sometimes what we intend isn't what is realized. This year, I decided to just put in a drip system hooked to our hose and a timer as I don't foresee getting it hooked to our sprinker system soon. I still have about a month to get it in as it snowed today.

I found some great ideas from my local Utah State University extension on making a PVC drip system at this link. Scroll down through the first part to see lots of great pictures and ideas. Here are a few pictures of the systems that people have built. All pictures taken from the University of Utah extension site and the article that I linked to.

This one is appealing to me as you can open and close various sections depending on what you want to water. Seems to add a lot of flexibility.

 

This one looks like it would work well too.

 

Here is one that looks good for a raised bed or square foot garden.

I am sure there are many pros and cons to a system like this. I like the idea that it saves water and I can automate it. I have talked to people that don't use PVC because it leeches chemicals into the soil.What are your experiences with a system like this? Share your feedback, ideas and resources in the comments below.

~Michael~

Chicken Madness: 5th Challenge

We are having so much fun viewing your chicken pictures. Here are two strong contestants that could end up winning their owners a book. You know the drill. Vote for your favorite chicken at the bottom of the post.

Chicken (rooster) A

Here is a picture of our handsome, suave Rooster named Buddy.

My blog is cricketsongfarm.blogspot.com

 Thanks  JILL

Chicken B

Without further adieu, here's Cruella.  She's wearing her pinless peepers because, true to her name, she likes to pluck other people's feathers.

You can see more chicken fun at Cranky Puppy Farm at crankypuppy.blogspot.com.