Life has a funny way of leading us to unexpected passions. When our family faced the harrowing experience of discovering toxic mold in our home, it felt like our world was turned upside down. The mold journey was tough (Read our story here), but it taught us resilience and the importance of creating a safe, healthy space for our family. As we rebuilt our lives, we found solace and joy in an unexpected place: raising chickens.
Our homestead has become a sanctuary, not just for us, but for our feathery friends as well. The process of caring for our Silkies and Orpingtons has brought us closer together and added a new layer of purpose to our daily routines. From the excitement of welcoming new chicks to the joy of watching them thrive, chickens have become an integral part of our life here on Sunflower Isle.
In this post, I want to share our journey into the world of chicken keeping, the lessons we’ve learned, and the happiness these adorable creatures bring to our family. Whether you’re a seasoned chicken keeper or just starting out, we hope our experiences inspire you to embrace the joys of raising chickens.
Our Chick Arrival and Setting Up Their New Home
Our chick adventure officially began on June 26th when we welcomed our little feathered friends into our family. These adorable chicks, now four weeks old, quickly became the center of our homestead activities. Initially, they stayed in a brooder in our mudroom for the first two weeks. Despite our daughter Charlie Anne’s diligent efforts to clean the brooder daily, the chicks got stinky faster than we anticipated!
After two weeks, it was time for a move. We transitioned them to the 8×8 predator-proof coop we built, which has been a labor of love. Living in Southwest Florida, we decided to use construction sand mixed with shell for the coop floor, and our chicks absolutely love it! The texture is perfect for their tiny feet, and they enjoy scratching around and exploring their new environment.
We’ve added sticks for perching, giving them plenty of opportunities to practice their balancing skills. At night, we place them in a dog crate/brooder within the coop to keep them safe and secure. During the day, they have the freedom to explore the entire 8×8 space, which is more than enough room for them at this stage.
In about three weeks, we plan to have their predator-proof run completed. This will give them even more space to roam and explore safely. For now, they enjoy supervised free-ranging sessions, where they can experience the joys of the great outdoors under our watchful eyes.
Meet Wobbles: Our Special Silkie Chick
Among our flock, there’s one Silkie chick who truly stood out from the beginning – Wobbles. When Wobbles arrived, we quickly noticed she had a unique, unsteady gait, wobbling her head uncontrollably. We were pretty worried and weren’t sure what was wrong. Thankfully, a fantastic chicken group on Facebook came to the rescue. They suggested that Wobbles might have a vitamin deficiency.
Following their advice, we started giving Wobbles selenium and B6 supplements for seven days. The change was incredible. Her head wobbling stopped, and she began moving around confidently, just like her siblings. It was such a relief and a joy to see her thriving after such a simple yet effective treatment.
Wobbles has become a little symbol of resilience in our flock. Her journey taught us the importance of proper nutrition for our feathered friends and reminded us that sometimes, you need to reach out and ask for help. We’re so grateful for the support and knowledge from our chicken community – it made all the difference for Wobbles.
Training our golden retriever, Daisy, to coexist peacefully with the chicks has been quite the adventure. Daisy seems to think the chicks smell and look absolutely delicious! It’s been a challenge convincing her that these fluffy little creatures are friends, not dinner. With patience, treats, and a lot of supervision, we’re slowly making progress. Daisy is starting to understand that the chicks are part of our family too, even if they look like the tastiest snacks she’s ever seen.
We have a few favorite products that have made our chicken-keeping journey easier, and we’ll be sharing those soon. In the meantime, be sure to check out our Amazon storefront under the chicken essentials section for some of our top picks.
Blue skied and endless adventures,
Heather
Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/sunflowerisle_