Gettim Homestead

06/18/2026

06/18/2026

BCM babies hatched yesterday. I don't like heat lamps so I use the heat plates instead. It was SO hot in the sunroom last night that I was worried about putting them under the plates for fear of it being TOO hot. These littles spent the night without supplemental heat all thanks to a Texas sized mood swing in weather. (It's THERE and ON I just haven't shown them yet.) Everyone was up and moving this morning.

06/17/2026

Some of you might have noticed that the chicken yard now looks like a correctional facility at night. Got a few solar street lights so I don't have to gather eggs and put up chickens in the dark anymore. Getting tired of running into wild critters out there.

Also got a few for the inside of the coop (some are still in transit). My only complaint so far is that they aren't motion activated so they stay on all night. Because the switch is on the panel not the light itself, I have to go outside to turn them off so the birds can sleep. Not a total deal breaker if I can get those panels closer to the door. If not, I will either cut the lines and wire in a switch, or find another place to use them I'm sure.

Still have a few more I'd like to get to light the path from the house to the coops, but all in all I'm pretty happy with them.

At least now when the flashlight goes out in the farthest pen from the house, I'll have a bit of light to finish the job and get back home.

06/12/2026

New signs are up! What do y'all think?

It's about time for new lights but these are still hanging in there, for now. They're both so yellowed it shows on the white banners. The brighter one is being held together by zip ties and hope. It doesn't even have a stake anymore, now it's just draped over a piece of aluminum tubing.

I installed them a bit better this time around so maybe they'll last more than 2 years in this stupid wind.

I like having the lights out there, not just for people to see the signs but also so I can find my own driveway. 🤣

If you need a designer to get some of your own, I've got you! Diamond in the Ruff Design

06/02/2026

Someone was in the quail pen this morning working on eating an egg... Relocated to the trees down the alley.

06/01/2026

These BYM growouts are looking really promising. The one I hoped was a pullet is looking to be a roo though (second pic).

The roo in front (1st pic) is a Wyandotte x BCM cross. The guy in the second pic is likely a Barred OE x Wyandotte cross.

05/28/2026

This one had me cackling. I think I do this at the chicken pens! 🤣

05/04/2026

Day 20 - THE END!!!!

We're done. The Silkie/Satin flock has been moved in. I still have to do a nesting box and a net over the top because they're so exposed to hawks, but other than that, we are finally DONE!!!!

I am SO happy!! They seem really happy too. Just scratching and chatting with each other. Excuse the way they look. Mamba and Mystic like to pluck feathers.

Now onto the next project....

05/03/2026

What day are we on now? 19 I think?

Linseed oil has been applied. Supposed to do at least 4 coats. 1 coat took almost a whole gallon so one coat is probably all it'll get.

I'm so over this project y'all. I'm just ready to get it fenced in and get some birds over there at this point.

Also, we will be finding either a better method of application, or just foregoing waterproofing completely next time around. May be looking into lime plaster or something. All I know is, THIS SUCKED.

The rain washed away all my pretty mud work on the right side and I do not care. It got oiled anyway. I'll redo it another time.

This project is for the birds...
Literally and figuratively. 😂

But look how cute it is!

05/02/2026

I have been wanting to try shampoo and conditioner bars for awhile but never took the plunge.

I traded eggs with Heather at Fluffy Cluckers Farm a couple of weeks ago (amazing packaging - cannot WAIT until hatch day) and saw that she has a friend Good Witch Silkies & Apothecary who not only breeds silkies but makes all the bath and body goodies.

After seeing pics I was SOLD! Took me a couple of days to decide what fragrances I wanted but I finally placed the order. She got it mailed out really quick.

I absolutely stalked that tracking page. When it finally arrived, I could smell the contents before I even got it open! I have never wanted to take a shower so bad in my life, y'all.

Fast forward to getting to use them...

As I said, I had never used a shampoo bar before so wasn't entirely sure how to proceed. Once I figured it out and started scrubbing I was very quickly COVERED in a shocking amount of lather! I wasn't expecting a bunch of suds from a natural, chemical free shampoo, but that's exactly what I got.

She even included a sample of the Beach Bum shampoo.

So, if you want to try some AMAZING smelling bath and body products give these a go. She has oils and lotions in addition to soaps, and shampoo/conditioner bars.

Thanks to both of you!!