A Smaller Flock, A Simpler Way
At our peak, in 2012, we had close to fifty birds. Different breeds, different personalities, constant motion. Feed buckets, fresh water, coop cleaning—it was part of the rhythm of the day. Busy, but in a good way.
Time has a way of shifting things.
Fourteen years later there are just four hens left from those early flocks. Old girls now, but still laying, still part of the daily routine. There’s something steady about that… a kind of quiet persistence.
As we’ve gotten older, we’ve found ourselves leaning toward simpler things. Less maintenance, less ground covered. Not stepping away from it—just easing into a better balance.
So this is the next chapter.
Our four hens won’t be laying much longer so we’ve decided to downsize. The plan is a flock of six. Small, manageable, and just right for our egg needs. We have also decided to have a new coop and yard close at hand, just out in the garden. With ideas from youtube I built a confortable 8 x 4 hen house with an attached 8 x 10 chicken run. Plenty for 6 hens.
Our first four chicks arrived today and the journey begins.
This page will be a running journal of the new transition. From these first new chicks, through their growth, their habits and their production
A smaller flock… but no less meaningful. Just a different pace.
This past March 2026 I finished the new coop and chicken yard and we actively started looking for new tenants.
February 12th 2026 – Begin work on the new Cove Coop
April 11th 2026 – Two weeks ago we put up the vacancy sign on the chicken coop. Donna has spent a lot of time looking around for the breeds of chicks we want and yesterday we found two of the breeds at Flocking Around Farms in Pomona Park…we came home with 3 Ameraucanas and one Wellsummer. Now we just need a Rhode Island Red and a Barred Rock…
April 13th 2026 – Purchased 4 Rhode Island Red pullets at Tractor Supply west of Silver Springs. They looked healthy and we added them to our existing chicks, thus completing this new flock.
The New Flock Gallery
CHICK TIMELINE — YOUR FLOCK (Start: April 11, 2026)
April 11–18
•Temp: 95°F
•Full brooder care
•Paper towels first 1–2 days
•Watch behavior closely
⸻
April 19–25
•Temp: 90°F
•Remove paper towels
•Daily clean + check eating/drinking
•Welsummer more advanced — normal
⸻
April 26–May 2
•Temp: 85–90°F
•Pin feathers showing
•Refresh bedding more often
⸻
May 3–9
•Temp: ~85°F
•Increase space if crowded
•Start light handling
⸻
May 10–16
•Temp: ~80°F
•Reduce heat during warm days
•Check feathering progress
⸻
May 17–23
•Minimal heat if nights warm
•Begin short daytime coop/outdoor exposure
⸻
May 24–30 (COOP MOVE)
Move if:
•Fully feathered (especially Ameraucanas)
•Nights above 65°F
Monitor closely first few days
⸻
June (GROWER STAGE)
•Switch to grower feed
•Coop becomes permanent home
⸻
Mid Aug–Late Sept (LAYING WINDOW)
•Watch for first eggs
•Then switch to layer feed or add calcium
⸻
DAILY BASICS
•Morning: water + feed + quick check
•Midday: behavior/heat check
•Evening: clean + settle
⸻
KEY RULE
Always manage heat and coop timing by the youngest (Ameraucanas)