Forever Beloved

Faith, Love & Truth

My Journey

If you’ve followed my blog for any amount of time, you know I keep it real here. And while I haven’t made a weight loss post for a long time, loooooong time, today it’s finally time.

The past few years have been hard; physically, emotionally and mentally. And honestly, half of 2015 was as well. My weight loss journey had been pushed aside. It’s was basically non-existent. Not only did I have physical limitations but I guess I had some mental ones as well. There were times I wanted to just throw in the towel and give up on my journey.  And on so many days, I did just that. So many days I felt defeated, broken and like a failure. I felt like I not only let myself down but also those people that always told me I had inspired them. I was embarrassed and many days didn’t want to leave the house and have others see me. And honestly, I was angry. I was so angry at myself.

BUT…

Halfway through 2015, something clicked. And I refused to let circumstances defeat me anymore. I refused to be broken. This girl right here, she’s a strong one. Finally, I was determined.

It didn’t come with flashes, bells or whistles. It didn’t need to be broadcast daily on Facebook. It simply didn’t need to be a public fight. It was a path I needed to walk quietly alone.

It came with a ferociousness that felt so familiar to me. It came with a determination that I loved. And it came with confidence that no matter the outcome, I loved my body as is. That, my friends, was the key I had been missing.

So far my weight loss hasn’t been an astronomical amount, it isn’t mind-blowingly obvious, but it’s all mine.  It’s a beautiful song and dance between my mind and my body, and I’m loving every minute of it.

2016 will hold more of my journey, more ups and downs. But I know in my heart, my body will be loved.

Meal Planning Monday

Monday – Hamburgs and hotdogs on the grill, baked beans and macaroni salad.

Tuesday – Chili Cheese Dog Bake…one of our favs!

Wednesday – Subway

Thursday – Finger food NYE party…cheese sticks, onion rings, Spinach Artichoke Dip, Brown Sugar Smokies, Queso Dip and Cucumber Party Slices.

Friday – Sauerkraut, kielbasa, hotdogs and pork roast with homemade mashed potatoes and dumplings.

Saturday – Pizza night ♥

Sunday – French dip beef sammy, bacon cheese fries and homemade ranch…at the request of my youngest little, this is her FAV…

What I Wish I Had Known Before Getting Chickens

In this house, we are animal lovin’ fools. I must add, I was also born with a touch of farmer in me. So for years, having backyard chickens has crossed my mind. Every time I would bring it up, I was met with a resounding no. But this girl, she’s a persistent one! I guess I just wore them down until the answer yes {actually, more like an I guess so}.

I spent months researching different breeds and narrowing down what ones I wanted.  One day, I just took the plunge and ordered them. I just jumped in blindly with both feet. I kinda roll like that sometimes. I think that might be a quality of mine that drives my Mama nuts.

So, you’re thinking you might want to keep backyard chickens? Have you been doing tons of online research like I did? Once you’ve read all the articles, browsed all the blogs and bought the “backyard chickens for dummies” now it’s time for some just honest, self-learned lessons. Some lessons are just plain painful {and expensive} to learn by experience. So hopefully I can share some info here that will spare you from those.

  

Just do it. That’s my first piece of advice. Just take the plunge and get them. But first, check your local ordinances and zoning code regulations. I live in the country, so I didn’t really have any I needed to abide by. I know many forbid roosters and some even have a limit on the number you can have. I would also assume if you live somewhere that requires building permits, you might need one to build your coop.

If you’re buying chicks, remember vent sexing is only 90% accurate. So even when you’ve only ordered females, you may get males. I think we’ve all named a Lucy later to realize it’s a Ricky. Chances are you will discover you have a male at some point too. So if you live in a city where roosters aren’t allowed, have a plan ahead of time.  That may very well mean getting rid of a super sweet roo that you’re attached to. 
Have what you need before they arrive. If you buy them as chicks, you will need to have a brooder set up. A brooder is a heated container that can have it’s temperature controlled. It’s used to house your chicks, with their feed and water, until they are 6 weeks old and ready to go outside. Although I will tell you, your chicks can’t move outside until the weather is warmer. I waited until the days were in the 60’s or better. So if you purchase during the winter months, get ready to have those babies in your house for a good while. Unless you have a heated coop.
 
The average chicken has a lifespan of around 10 years. On average, chickens lay productively for the first five years or so, then gradually taper off and may only lay once a year in their old age. That means within a relatively short period of time, you’ll have chickens that aren’t laying at all, but continuing to eat and poop to their heart’s content. Chickens can live up to an average of 10 years (though some may make it to 20 years!), depending on the breed and environment.  So be thinking of what you will do with your chickens once they are elderly.  I plan to just keep mine as they are now, in the coop with all their chicken friends.

Chickens have to be shut up at night or they will get killed.   This summer, we started letting the chickens out to free-range during the day.  Once dusk sets in, they go back to the coop and get settled into bed.  Thankfully, we haven’t lost any to predators yet.  Chickens are basically the snack food of the predator world. Think foxes, raccoons and even hawks like to have a little evening chicken snack. Be sure to lock them in a coop each night.

Some chickens are just mean. In fact, I have two mean witches in my coop right now. And if they don’t soon shape up, I have their walking papers ready. They are bullies and just love to pick on whoever is bottom of the pecking order.

Not all roosters are mean.  I have had some super sweet roosters.  And I mean like pick-them-up-and-carry-them-around sweet.  I’ve also had some doozys.  In fact, last summer I had two roosters that, while nice to me, weren’t so nice to my ladies.  They were terrorizing one hen in particular to the point that she wouldn’t leave the nest.  Those two roosters had to be re-homed.

Oh yes, let’s talk about the pecking order. Even when they are chicks, you will see them chest bumping and stretching their necks out at each other. As they grow older, this “fighting” will continue. They are establishing a pecking order, so don’t freak out. Every coop has one and it’s just natural for them to establish one.

Your pullets (female chickens under one year) will start laying when they’re between four and six months old. Don’t be concerned if the first eggs will be small, they’ll get larger with time. And let me tell you, those first non-egg months drag on. Every morning I would trot to the coop, hopeful to see my first egg. Nothing. You see, I had this perfect little laying box set up for them. And that’s where I expected them to lay. Then one night I was getting a little heat light set up for them. I bent down to plug it in and could not believe my eyes. There was a pile of eggs like you would never believe…13 of them! They had been laying for days, and I missed it. So also realize, they will lay where ever THEY want to, not where you want them to.

Hens will take a break from laying eggs in the winter months. Generally this is when they lose old feathers and grow new ones.  And when they do this (called molting) they will look like the saddest bunch of girls around.  The first hen I had molt, I thought she was dying.  So prepare yourself for that also. 
Hens need about 14 hours of daylight to lay eggs consistently. Although I have to say, my girls never stopped laying completely. They may have slowed down a bit, especially on the extremely cold days. But every single day this winter I got at least one egg.

Sometimes chickens get sick, and you will bring them inside.  We’ve experienced this from time to time.  The issue is once a chicken is sick, the other chickens will see them as weak.  They will pick on them and peck them.  The end result isn’t pretty.  I don’t have a garage, so when mine get sick they always make their way inside.  And nothing is more shocking than said chicken being a rooster, and hearing it crow inside your house the next morning.  That’s what was happening when I shot the video below.
Local veterinarians probably won’t be able to help you either, as very few of them are trained to understand poultry diseases. You will have to either read up on your own or find other more experienced chicken keepers who can advise you. What I would suggest is joining a group, like Backyard Chickens. There are also quite a few Facebook group specifically for chicken owners. You have no idea how many questions I ask them. Seriously y’all, I bet they are sick to death of me. BUT that is the perfect way to find out what is going on with your sick chicken.
Chickens do get sick and die. Good night, do I ever know this. We’ve lost a few from our flock in less than a year. I actually lost my very favorite super-sweet roo last winter.  He died in my house, laying beside me on the floor, surrounded by my family.  And I cried, bucketloads. 
Chickens can deal with cold weather far better than hot weather. The body temperature of a chicken typically hovers around 102 degrees. Because they are wearing a down coat all year round, they will need access to shade and cool water at all times. We placed our coop in a spot where all afternoon they have nice shade.
 


Chicken math is a real thing. You start out with 8 cute little chicks. Surely that’s enough, right? They grow up, move to the coup and start laying. Then Tractor Supply has chick days. And, I mean, you HAVE to go in there to get supplies. Hearing those sweet little chirps coming from the center isle. There is no possible way to walk past them without looking, unless you’re the scrooge and don’t have a heart! You see those little balls of fluff and instantly, you must. add. to. your. flock. At that point, it’s not even a question. Chicken math has already set in, and there isn’t any going back. Before you know it you have 16 in the coop, 4 in the smaller coop and be getting ready to place your Spring chicken order. Not that I’m speaking from experience or anything.

Chicken math may also branch out into other birds. Such as pigeons, as we found out last summer. We now have a pigeon named Tim living in our coop. Fairly sure he thinks he’s a chicken, he gets right in there and fights for food with those big girls. He also goes out and free-ranges with the chickens, goes for a big fly around the neighborhood and then comes back to the coop at dusk and settles into his bed for the night. And I have to admit, I think Tim may need a wife. I wonder if this is classified as pigeon math?

There will always be lots of poop. You just have to get use to it and not get skeeved out. One day I tended the chicks before rushing out the door to meet a friend for coffee. In all my rushing, I didn’t realize I somehow had poop on my jeans. Seriously, get ready for chicken poop for days. I’m still baffled at how one little bird can poop so much. Goodness.

Keep water and food bowls clean and free from funny-looking growth {and poop}. You have to clean their water container daily. And as soon as you clean it, they will scratch around and throw nonsense back in it. And usually some jokester will somehow poop in it as well. I’m nearly convinced they do this as a way to drive me insane. But seriously, keep everything clean in the brooder and the coop.

Chickens are nosy.  They will watch everything that happens in the yard.  And they will inspect everything within their reach.  If it’s in their coop, they will peck at it and inspect it. This will prompt all other birds to follow suit.  I’ve had girls pull insulation out of the walls and destroy a paper plate in minutes.  Keep this in mind when building your coop.  Make sure anything dangerous to them is well out of their reach.

And last but not least, you will talk to your chickens. You will name them and talk to them like they are human. You will have your morning coffee with them. Or wait, that might just be me. You will take selfies with them and Instagram them. You will notice their little personalities, and occasionally try to talk to non-chicken people about them. Those people have no desire to hear your chicken stores and will think you are crazy. These chickens will come running when they hear your voice, and your heart will flutter. They love me, they really love me ♡