KG Chickens

08/18/2026

My ladies know what they like. lol The Brabanter hens have been released again to free range and of course returned promptly to the backyard. There is no water in the backyard, their water is in their coop in the pasture where they should be. This is no problem to enterprising hens they are aware that there is a magical hole in the wall that water can flow from if only they could turn it on. Oh, look here comes mom.... they lead me straight to the faucet and were very proud that they discovered water all on their own.

08/14/2026

Lost two hens last night to an opossum. I don't care what anyone tells you because someone will always comment opossums don't kill chickens. Yes they do. This one was caught in the act. Slipped in a hole that was about 3 inches wide and 6 inches high that had just turned up yesterday. I was lazy and thought I'll fix it tomorrow. That cost me two precious hens. Miss Bonnet one of my first chickens and Mini Pearl who hatched last year. Mini Pearl was a Porcelain frizzle. Both sweet girls. The whole pen had another go over today and touchups done everywhere. It is a constant battle keeping a pen secure to keep predators out. Losing a hen is always a heartbreak losing them to your own laziness is a double loss. Reminder not to put things off until tomorrow.

08/09/2026

Trying a soaker hose for the chickens right now. In this heat it's important for them to have a way to cool off. Chickens cool off through their feet so having something cool to stand in is one of the best ways to cool them off. I've tried a pool but they didn't want to get in it. I have run fresh water down a dry creek bed which is their favorite method but I have to be home all the time to do that. This year trying a soaker hose with a timer. Hose is set up to wet down dirt in the shade turn off, let the ground soak it up so that the chickens have a cool place to go take a dust bath during the hot part of the day.

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07/16/2026

Lost Tucker and Junior to the coyote today. It was bound to happen since they insisted on going into the woods. All the girls are fenced in now but too many roosters to pen up with them so the boys were allowed to roam free. Boomer and Radar stay near the Hen Pen so they should be safe. Patriot and Dutch are in with the girls. They will be missed but there are risks as well as rewards in free ranging.

07/08/2026

Decided not to hatch this year. Instead will be working on improving their pens. These girls didn't appreciate the memo. There are other nest boxes but these three always get in the same one. Lady Peep, Lil, and "Not Misty". Not Misty has another home lined up so hasn't been named, she just looks a lot like another hen named Misty except Misty has mottling. Had a rooster pulling out head feathers which is why Lil and Not Misty have feathers missing. They are all broody hens sitting on one ping pong ball. I prefer aspen chips for nest material but couldn't find any so straw it is this time.

05/20/2026

Every morning someone in the bucket.

05/05/2026

Tucker and Junior were walking through the tall grass and I guess the height of the grass fooled a hawk into thinking they were a lot smaller than they were. Saw it swoop down and realize at the last second they weren't tiny birds but big old boys and it took off so fast it almost crashed. Tucker and Junior chased it a few feet but they are ultimately lazy and quit.

05/05/2026

Lost one of the girls a couple days ago. Starling decided to be broody out in the pen. She dug herself a nest under a log and was missed at bedtime. An opportunistic critter got into the pen and ended her. The pen has since been fixed. This is the reason we secure the coop and lock up at night. It is difficult to make a wire pen entirely secure. Not impossible but we don't see at the same level as small animals and mistakes are sometimes made. Our fence panels were moved bit just enough to allow a small critter to slip in. Secured the panels with some t posts, added fence, and gravel. Picture of Starling eating dinner. It looks messy but it's just chicken crumbles in water, helps keep them hydrated as well as fed.

04/24/2026

Junior is the hatch mate of Tucker. He is a son of Mr. D and Iris. Love the black spangling he has on the front. He is a laid back rooster who kinda just floats around and doesn't get upset by much. Loves food and will eat out of your hand given the chance. Junior is open to new spaces but currently enjoying free ranging around here.

04/24/2026

Tucker hatched last year. Iris raised him but I believe Lemon is his biological mom due to the barring. Love Tucker he is so much fun to have around. He is open to moving to a new location but he is fine here as well. He's been free ranging with his hatch brother Junior. Tucker is out of Mr. D's line. There is a genetic marker where they get a white streak in the long tail feathers. If they were for show it would be a mark against them but since they are just yard ornaments it is a fun way to identify their lineage. He's a great boy, you can walk right up to him and he's always interested in what's going on.