Down Home Blog Hop~Number 22

It is hard to believe that another week and another hop is here already!  I thoroughly enjoyed your posts this past week and love that we grow to have some new friends each week.  

Oyster Cracker and Sunshine are our big, golden, Buff Orpingtons and they are inseparable.  They have a very beautiful bond that they have shared since they were day old chicks.  I felt nostalgic today and sought out their baby picture.  My how they have grown.  It is so very hard to believe that they are almost three years old.

The kids too seem to be growing so quickly too.  I wonder why it is that the older we get the faster the years seem to pass?  Perhaps, it is that we finally come to some sort of realization how precious time can be.

So tell me what was on your mind this week!  Share your stories, crafts, cooking, baking, homemade creations, talents, animal keeping and the like and if you please, link back to the hop in your post so others can find and join the party. 

Photo Credit: Tilly's Nest

Frostbite and Backyard Chickens

Frostbitten wattles and comb

During the winter months, chickens can become prone to frostbite.  Frostbite can occur on combs, wattles and even their feet.  Chickens with larger combs and wattles often are the most susceptible.  Cold hardy breeds, such as Wyandottes, Orpingtons, Australorps, and Silkies tend to have smaller combs.  During colder weather, most chickens will poof out and poof up their head feathers and you will notice that their combs become almost entirely covered by their feathers.  Chickens will also naturally roost in the evening.  When roosting, the chicken's body will cover their feet and toes, keeping them warm from the cold winter air.  These are two ways that chickens' bodies help to prevent frostbite. Yet, sometimes breeds succumb to frostbite for other reasons.

Contributing Factors to Frostbite

Freezing Temperatures

No access to shelter

A coop allows water, rain and snow to leak inside

High humidity in coop from accumulations of droppings, not enough pine shavings

Inadequate ventilation

Large combs and wattles

Inadequate roosting space

Frostbite Prevention

Apply Vaseline/Petroleum Jelly/Bag Balm to their combs and wattles prior to roosting each evening.

Keep the coop dry and weatherproof.

Provide plenty of roosting space for evening use.

Clean the coop as necessary.  Keep the shavings dry and clean.

If using the deep little method, be sure to add plenty of pine shavings on a regular basis to the bedding.

Prevent chickens from spilling their drinking water inside the coop.

Some folks heat their coops, but again, it has do to with the humidity/moisture content of the air.  Plus this can be a fire hazard.

Frostbite Treatment

Depending on the severity of the frostbite, you may need to bring the chicken inside to assess the injury.

Frostbite can put a stress on the chicken's body, add some vitamins and electrolytes to their drinking water or poultry drench. Some say, roosters can even become infertile at this time!

Watch for other chickens pecking at the frostbitten areas.  If this occurs, you may need to create a hospital area for your chicken. Blu-Kote might also deter other chickens from pecking.

If left alone, the frostbitten wattles/combs should turn black, dry up, harden and fall off; leaving behind new skin.

Watch for any signs of infection at the areas of frostbite.  This includes any swelling, increased redness, discharge from the wound, odor and so forth.  If this occurs, try treating the frostbitten area with some Neosporin or Vetericyn.  If the infection appears to be severe, please consult with a veterinarian.

Clean the coop and replace all the shavings.

Re-evaluate the coop's ventilation.

Install spill proof waterers.

Click here to learn how to treat frostbitten feet.

Photo Credit:  Tilly's Nest

Winner: Chicken Sweatshirt

Thank you so much everyone for entering the chicken sweatshirt giveaway from Hobby Hill Farm.  It was so fun hearing from all of you what you would put on your wish lists and visiting with one another over on Facebook too!  One lucky winner was randomly selected.

Congratulations

Joely Pentlow

You are the winner!

Be sure to check your inbox. So that we can get that sweatshirt in the mail to you.

Photo Credit: Hobby Hill Farm

Buffalo Chicken Quiche

I must confess.  I am a buffalo chicken addict.  Last night I was craving buffalo wings, yet quiche was the dinner plan.  So I figured, why not combine the best of both worlds.  I created a buffalo chicken quiche and it came out so yummy!

Ingredients:

1 pie crust

4 large eggs

1/3 cup milk

1 cup cooked cubed chicken- you can boil a chicken breast as you prepare the rest of the recipe.

1/4 cup chopped scallions

1/3 cup finely diced mushrooms

1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese-I used Gorgonzola, double up the cheddar if you don't care for this.

1/2 cup cheddar cheese

1/4 cup Hidden Valley Ranch Salad Dressing-the secret ingredient

1/2 cup Frank's Hot Sauce-  I don't recommend substituting the  two brands mentioned.

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Spread the pie crust into the pie plate.

In a medium size bowl, combine the chicken, scallions, mushroom, both cheeses, Ranch Dressing and hot sauce.  Mix well.

In another larger bowl, whisk together the eggs and the milk.

Add the chicken mixture to the egg mixture and mix well.

Pour the egg and chicken mixture into the pie crust and bake for approximately 40 minutes until cooked through.

Photo Credit: Tilly's Nest

This post is linked up to the Clever Chick's Blog Hop.

A Chilly Reminder from the Chickens

One of our garden birdhouses iced over.

Yesterday, an arctic blast from Canada arrived on Cape Cod.  Typically, our winters are balmy due to the insulating effect of the ocean.  Yet yesterday, temperatures never reached double digits.  The waterers were frozen.  My lips became horribly chapped.  I could not bear to touch the predator proof locks with bare hands.  Everything seemed to be brittle, cold and frozen- yes, dare I say, even the chicken poop.

The past two evenings as I went to bed I thought about the girls. Surely, with temperatures like these their coop would be cold.  So, I feed them extra scratch to help keep them warm before bed.  I topped off their feeders and applied a thin coat of Vaseline to prevent frostbite on their combs and wattles.  Safely inside the coop for the night, they hunkered down in a family style snuggle on the roosts.  All seven of them together on a three foot roost.  One by one they alternated the way they were facing on the roost.  Their acrobatic skills and sense of problem solving never ceases to amaze me.

The chickens could care less about the cold.  They adapt and in fact they thrive.  These past two mornings, they have popped out of their coop like new freshly popped kernels of popcorn.  Their lust for life is undeniable.  They scurry around the run seeking out tasty cracked corn and they sip the warm soothing water from the dish.  With a song in their soul and a giddy skip and a hop, they are happy to be alive.  This got me thinking.  Sometimes, those chickens have a way of reminding us.

Very early this morning, I woke up with the puppy and took her outside.  As she was puttering around the snowy covered yard looking for the perfect place, I was looking up at the trees and skies.  The chickens were still sleeping.  Yet, the wild birds were singing songs of spring.  I could hear the trills of the Carolina Wren, the sing-song of the Black Capped Chickadees  and the chattering of the Gold Finches.  The sun was beginning to peek up from the cold earth. How beautiful this morning was turning out.

A bit later that morning, like clockwork, the chickens emerged from the coop and I was on to tossing scratch in the run and thawing waterers.  The only difference was that I was now embracing this wintry weather instead of loathing its inconveniences.  Soon enough, spring will arrive, but for now, I will try not to wish this chilly time of the year to pass.  It too is important in the circle of life.  Six eggs awaited me this morning in the nesting boxes.  Two were still warm.  New beginnings are just around the corner.

Photo Credit: Tilly's Nest

This post is linked up to the Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop and The Clever Chick's Blog Hop.

Down Home Blog Hop~Number 21 + A Visit to the Poultry Show

This past weekend, I attended the Northeastern Poultry Show.  I must say that I am never disappointed when I go.  There was so much to see and do!

I spent time visiting with children's author, Jan Brett, and her amazing, prize winning Polish hens and roos. Can I just tell you that her chickens just smell amazing!  As I was holding one of her hens, I could smell this wonderful aroma of eucalyptus, mint, and lavender wafting up to my nose.  I leaned over and smelled her chicken's poofy head, it was delightful!  Her sweet chicken, fell asleep in my arms while waiting for her beauty treatment.

Children's Author, Jan Brett, and myself

Jan's Polish chickens for sale

Soon enough, it was off to see my favorites, the Silkies.  I call this Silkie row.  This is just a portion of the white Silkies all competing for the winning ribbon.

There is even a showing division just for kids, called the junior division. Here they are sharing their chickens with the judges.

For most of the chickens, life goes on as usual.  They lay their eggs.

They fall asleep.

They have deep thoughtful moments.

For the past few years, I have looked forward to everything about the show-the chickens, the vendors, the folks who came to sell livestock and the overall energy of the entire event.  However, this year was different.  For me, it was about meeting up with the same group of ladies that I always meet up with at the shows.  It has become clear to me how important our friendships mean to one another and I could not wait to be together, chatting away like a bunch of cackling hens!  We met up at lunch time with one another.  In no time, we were surrounding a plate of freshly baked brownies, pumpkin bread, fresh fruit, cheese and crackers.  Even though I had not seen some of these ladies in person in over a year, it was just as if time had never passed.

Please feel free to check out my chicken friends' blogs.  You can visit Terry at Hencam.com or visit Lauren at Scratch and Peck and Wendy at Lessons Learned from the Flock.

Now onto our own party and meet up! Feel free to link up three links to this week's blog hop. You know that we love reading what you are up to over on your blogs! Share your stories, crafts, cooking, baking, homemade creations, talents, animal keeping and the like and if you please, link back to the hop in your post so others can find and join the party.


Photo Credits: Lauren Scheuer and Tilly's Nest

Giveaway: Chicken Sweatshirt

Are you a Farm Chick or a Farm Dude? Our sponsor, Hobby Hill Farm, is giving away one of their crew neck sweatshirts to one of our lucky friends.  Every sweatshirt is made to order and features custom embroidery work.  If you win, they will help you create your very own sweatshirt.  These sweatshirt are pre-shrunk and pill resistant. They feature a 1x1 ribbed spandex collar, cuffs & waistband, set-in sleeves, concealed seam on cuffs, and two-needle coverstitching throughout.

Hobby Hill Farm is located in Virginia. They are a great place to keep in mind when you are shopping for fellow animal lovers.  They have items for the kitchen, wonderful tote bags, gift items, flags and so much more.  Here are a few of my favorites.

I love this chicken rug! I think it would be so sweet greeting folks at the front door or near the kitchen sink.

I also just think these magnets would make a wonderful gift.

Finally, this rooster mug might help me be more of a morning person!

To see all of their available chicken items for sale, click here.

Enter to Win A Farm Chick/Farm Dude Sweatshirt

3 possible entries

1.  Become a fan of Hobby Hill Farm on Facebook. Tell them Tilly sent you.~1 entry

2.  Check out their fabulous website and tell me what you would put on your wishlist.~1 entry

3.  Follow Tilly's Nest (options are on the right.)~1 entry

4.  Be sure to leave a comment on this post sharing which entries you did.  Please leave an email or an alternative way to contact you.

The Fine Print: Contest ends 1/27/13 at 12 noon EST. Three possible entries per person/one comment only. One randomly selected winner will win. This item will ship to a US address only. 

Photo Credits:  Hobby Hill Farm

Winner: Brite Tap Combo Pack

Thank you to everyone for all of your amazing comments that you shared with us about the Brite Tap Waterer. I am so happy to hear that you are as excited about this ingenious new product as I am here at Tilly's Nest.  Your response was so overwhelming that chickenwaterer.com has decided that everyone should be a winner.  So, from now until February 3, 2013 anyone who places an order will receive 15% off their entire order!  Enter "Tilly" as shown below at check-out.

Congratulations

Pam from Violet Acres

You have won a Brite Tap Combo Pack!

Please email me at melissa@tillysnest.com to claim your prize.

Photo Credit: chickenwaterer

Meet Sara

Last Saturday, we picked up the newest addition to our family, a Miniature Schnauzer.  My son named her Sara.  She is such a love and is a very good little girl.  We are so happy to have a dog back in the house.  I am also looking forward to her getting to know Tilly and the girls come warmer weather.  For now, they have glanced at one another from a distance.  Initially, when the chickens would see her outside, they would sound the alarm.  Confused, jealous or a bit nervous, Tilly and the girls wanted me to know their feelings.  I am looking forward to training her to be sweet little guard dog for the chickens.  

Tomorrow I am headed to the biggest poultry show in New England, The Northeastern Poultry Congress.  I will be attending with a few other chicken friends. If you happen to be there, meet me near the mini-snack bar at lunch.  Be sure to introduce yourself!  I would love to meet you in person.

Photo Credit:  Tilly's Nest

Down Home Blog Hop~Number 20 and Suet Wreath

Well this week is about the birds again. I hope you don't mind!  We really have taken up backyard birding at the feeder.  We love feeding the birds a variety of things including sunflower seeds, thistle, suet and even oranges for the Orioles come springtime.  This week I shared over on HGTV Garden how to make a delicious suet wreath feeder for the wild birds in your very own kitchen.  It is easy and the birds just love it especially woodpeckers!  Click here to make your very own.

I'm off to Boston today for an appointment, but I can't wait to return to see what you all have been up to.  Feel free to link up three links to this week's blog hop.  You know that we love reading what you are up to over on your blogs!  Share your stories, crafts, cooking, baking, homemade creations, talents, animal keeping and the like and if you please, link back to the hop in your post so others can find and join the party.



Photo Credit: Tilly's Nest

Giveaway: A BriteTap Combo Pack

It is with great pleasure that I introduce to you our newest sponsor, chickenwaterer.com.  I have to tell you that their product has revolutionized my flocks' waterer.  No matter who I talk to, providing a clean water source for your chickens is one of the difficulties that chicken keepers face. No matter the flock size, somehow traditional waterers always seem to get a bit mucky by the end of the day.  The Brite Tap waterer is now available as a smart and viable option to keep your flock's water crystal clear and free from possible water borne illnesses. 

The Brite Tap waterer can be used with an array of various types of containers.  The possibilities are endless.  The Brite Tap Combo Pack, that we are giving away, comes with the red cooler and the BriteTap waterer.

Easily assembled, the waterer is filled and place at eye level with your flock.  Once introduced, it does not take long for the chickens to get the hang of it.  They seem to learn from one another quite quickly.

It took Tilly and the girls a few hours to figure out how to use this waterer.  In the Northeast, it has been cold and the waterer has worked nicely as long as we do not go into freezing conditions.  I fill the cooler with warm water in the morning and at the end of the day, I remove it from the coop and place it in the garage to prevent it from freezing.  There are other helpful techniques on the website too to help deal with freezing temperatures.   On days when I expect icy temperatures, I use the traditional waterers.  The girls do not mind interchanging. Yet, I do have to say that I am most looking forward to filling our Brite Tap Combo Pack with cool refreshing water in the summer.  I know the girls will appreciate drinking crystal clear, chilled water from the cooler that lasts the day during the summer heat!

Here is how you can enter 
to Win a Brite Tap Combo Pack
4 possible entries

1.  Leave a comment on this post below to enter.  Be sure to leave an email address or an alternative way to contact you.  (1 entry, mandatory)

2.  Say hello to chickenwaterer.com on Facebook.  Tell them Tilly sent you. (1 entry)

3.  Tell us why you think your flock would benefit from the Brite Tap waterer. (1 entry)

4.  Subscribe to our blog,  your options are on the right (1 entry)

The Fine Print: Contest ends 1/19/13 at 12 noon EST. Four possible entries per person/one comment only. One randomly selected winner will win a Brite Tap Combo Pack.  This item will ship to a US address only.  Disclosure:  I have received a complimentary Brite Tap Combo Pack from chickenwaterer.com to use with my own flock.  However, the opinions that I have shared in this post are all my own.

Photo/Video Credit:  chickenwaterer.com

A Peek at the Beehives in Winter

Last, week the hives were covered in snow.

Earlier this week I went to our monthly local beekeeper's meeting.  As always, it is so wonderful connecting with folks, checking in with them and hearing updates about their lives and the bees.  Over the course, of chatting, I quickly learned that many folks had already lost their hives and were busy ordering nucs and packages to replace their lost colonies in the spring.  As the temperatures were expected to warm up this week, I decided that I needed to take a peek into my hives sooner than later.

I knew that my bees were still alive.  I had seen them a few weeks ago buzzing around the blooming Heath in the yard.  In fact, they were even inside my house!  A contractor working one day left the front door ajar.  I guess the bees were curious.  It took me a while to realize what was flying inside my home.  I was happy to say that they left as quickly as they had arrived.

When keeping bees it is always recommended to start with two hives if finances permit.  This has several benefits.  You can always compare them to one another.  Sometimes, you can identify problems in the hive much quicker.  You can also do some manipulation between the hives to help an ailing or failing hive too.(but that is for another post all together)

Yesterday the temperature reached 46 degrees F and the sun was peeking out from the clouds.  I suited up. I then, with my hive tool in hand, headed over to the hives.  There was no activity to be seen at the entrances.  The hives were quiet.

First, I decided to open the hive closest to the house, the one I have called Briar.  I removed the outer cover and with the hive tool, pried the inner cover open.  I discovered that the bees had begun to eat the candy board that I had placed on the hive.  There were a few dead bees on the candy board but no signs of life.  Were they dead?  I quickly replaced both covers not wanting to chill the bees and then  I squatted on the ground near the hive.  I gave a gently tap on the side of the hive.  A buzz.  I heard lots of buzzing.  They were still alive.  This was a good sign.  They must just be deeper down in the hive utilizing their stored honey as fuel instead of the candy board at this time.

Inside Briar, no signs of activity

Next I opened the adjacent hive. This one is named Willow.  I removed the outer cover.  Through the inner cover's hole, I could see bees on the candy board.  I gently pried the inner cover off to reveal bees- lots of bees!  They had consumed almost half of this candy board.  These bees were not only hungry, their population was bustling!  I interpreted finding the bees on the candy board as one of two things.  First, the bees could just be clustering near the top of the hive and I happened to catch them there or second, the bee's population was so large that they have already depleted their stores in the hive and are now relying on the candy board for food.

Willow was buzzing with lots of active happy bees.

Both of the hives were nice and dry inside.  There was no evidence of condensation or moisture near the bees that I have read so much about from folks during the winter.  However, there was a tiny bit of green fuzzy mold on the top of the inner cover and the inside of the outer cover.  To increase the ventilation just a bit and curtail the mold, I placed a 6 inch long stick with a 1/2 inch diameter across the back of the inner cover's top and replaced the outer cover.  This should help get a bit more air inside the hive and allow any excess moisture to have an easier time escaping.

A bit of mold on the top of the inside cover.

A touch of mold inside one corner of the outer cover

So for now, I am leaving both hives alone and will recheck them in about a month.  I have a feeling that I am going to have to replete the candy board in February and I might just have to make a split from Willow come spring time.  I certainly do not want them to swarm because they have outgrown their home.

This post is linked up to Deborah Jean's Dandelion House and the Clever Chicks Blog Hop.

Photo Credit:  Tilly's Nest

Down Home Blog Hop Number 19 & Winter Robins

I have had a love for birds for as long as I can remember.  Our home is decorated with birds. We love feeding the wild birds and we keep chickens. We have tried to design our yard to attract birds in all seasons.  I guess I have a real connection with them.

During the winter time, the wild birds have a more difficult time foraging for food especially after a good snowfall.We had just a good snowfall this past week.  It rained, turned slushy, then snowy.  It melted a bit for a day and they we entered a deep freeze.  Everything is now coated in a layer of ice.   However, I was surprised to find some Canadian Robins in the most unexpected place.  They had migrated down from Canada to warmer weather. Much larger, than their American relatives, I could not believe my eyes!  Robins in January?!

For the holidays, a dear friend gave us a fresh holly wreath for our front door.  As I was walking down the stairs, I noticed that the wreath seemed to have some wildlife in it.  As I looked closer, the wreath was full of Robins!  At first it was only a few, then at one point there were over 10 Robins on the front door wreath.  As fast as they could they gobbled up the ripe red berries.  They were hungry.  I did not care that they were taking the berries from the wreath. I was just happy that I could provide them with a food source. This was a living wreath in every sense of the word.  It was created from living holly branches. It attracted wild life and also provided a food source for them to thrive in the cold.

The view from my staircase looking out.

A robin perched on the gutter waits for an in at the wreath.

Now it is your turn. Share with us your stories, crafts, cooking, baking, homemade creations, talents, animal keeping and the like. Feel free to share this hop with your friends and family because all are invited and with this hop, there can never be too many wonderful places to connect. Feel free to link up to three posts and please don't forget to link back to this hop in your post. Now, let's get hopping!

Winners: A Chicken Sign and Chicken Aprons

Good morning!  We have our winners. Randomly selected from all entries, I am so excited to announce the winners.  A huge thank you to www.chickenarmor.com for their generosity and sponsoring of such a fantastic giveaway.  Don't forget too, that there is a special discount code for our friends.  Enter LUVSTILLY1 at the checkout for 10% off your order.

Congratulations

1st Prize (a 12 x 18 inch sign and 20 aprons with eyes)

Maxuswong

2nd Prize (10 aprons with eyes)

The wOOly Owl

3rd Prize (10 aprons with eyes)

Annabanana

4th Prize (10 aprons with eyes)

Anne Kimball

5th Prize (10 aprons with eyes)

YolandaR

Photo Credit:  chickenarmor.com

The Story of Dolly our Bald Chicken

Dolly has no head feathers.  She has been bald above the eyes for a while now.  It all started in the spring, when she had one of her broody bouts; mind you she goes broody about every three weeks.  That is just how Dolly is.  It is a vicious cycle.  Two days ago, I noticed that Dolly's head feathers were finally returning again. Beautiful dark pin feathers were filling in the bald vacancies.  They were about a half an inch long.  Was she finally going to have some poofy Silkie feathers?  Alas it wasn't meant to be.

I walked out to the coop this morning and opened up the door, out they all popped one by one except for Dolly.  Just like clockwork, as her feathers begin to return, so does the broodiness.  There she was sitting upon two tiny Silkie eggs in the far right nesting box.  Her tiny head was plucked clean in the center.  Some of the pin feathers were missing. Over the next few days, the rest will be pecked clean when she refuses to give up her favorite box to an impatient chicken ready to lay an egg.

I don't think that her head feathers will ever return, unless I separate her out from the others.  It is a sad price to pay for vanity if you ask me.  She is happy.  She is healthy.  She loves her family and she loves being broody.  She doesn't have a mirror to glance into nor does she need one.  She is Dolly, no matter if she is donning head feathers or not and she is beautiful.   She is beautiful in so many ways.

Dolly has the most gentle soul that I have ever met.  She loves to snuggle.  She loves to love and be loved.  She is sweet to everyone in the flock.  She never takes the lead and she never minds giving way to the others.  She is compassionate to other chickens when they are not feeling well and she loves to share a dust bath with Oyster Cracker everyday in the late morning.  Often, I will peek out the window to spy on them to find her resting her chin on Oyster Cracker's wing, both completely boneless in dust bath heaven.

Feathers or no feathers, it does not matter in the world of chickens.  Whether you are covered in dirt, walking around with a messy bottom everyday, or haven fallen victim to dreaded lice and mites, you are still part of the flock, accepted for who you are.

Photo Credit: Tilly's Nest

Down Home Blog Hop Number 18 & Woodland Snowglobes

Good Morning friends! Happy New Year and Happy 2013 to all of you.  We are hopping again today and I hope you will join in on the fun and visit some new bloggers this week and make some new friends.  Today, I am sharing with you the woodland snowglobes that I made for HGTV Garden.  They are super easy to make, fun with the kids, and a great way to recycle those Mason Jars that you decorated your home with for the holidays.  Take a walk outside for some inspiration.  You can find the directions here.

Now it is your turn. This is a blog hop. Share with us your stories, crafts, cooking, baking, homemade creations, talents, animal keeping and the like. Feel free to share this hop with your friends and family because all are invited and with this hop, there can never be too many wonderful places to connect. Feel free to link up to three posts and please don't forget to link back to this hop in your post. Just as I love discovering new blogs, others do too!

P.S.  Don't forget to enter this week's giveaway for a chicken sign and hen aprons too!

Giveaway: A Chicken Sign and Chicken Aprons

I was contacted a few months ago by chickenarmor.com.  They wanted to share with me their website along with their products- chickens signs and aprons.  As many of you know, last year I was excited to even discover that things such as chicken aprons were on the market to keep my Silkies safe while they were broody in the nesting boxes.  After all, I credited the the design of the hen saver for saving Dolly's life. Since, then I have been a big fan and advocate of hen savers (also known as saddles and aprons).  They are fantastic to cover healing back wounds from feather pecking and over-amorous roosters.  They also are terrific as preventatives too. I always place hen savers on my Silkies when we are scheduled to go out of town because they are always going broody.

Predator eyes are affixed to the bases of the aprons.

Traditional hen savers are created from fabric, snaps and elastic bands.  The ones offered from chickenarmor.com are different.  They are no frills but all function and are incredibly cost effective for large flock owners. They are created from a puncture proof, weatherproof type of material that reminds me of oil cloth. They are absent of snaps and elastics and come in one piece.  With a bit of finessing, they slip on over the wings. They are not as easy as the other saddles to put on the chickens but I easily caught on in no time at all.  My favorite part of the hen aprons are the eyes that deter predators.  Finally, another viable option that would work to deter birds of prey when flocks free-range. These aprons could easily be applied to flocks that are out during free-ranging and removed during times when they are locked safe in the coop. They are made in Colorado and come in two sizes, bantam or standard.

Chickenarmor.com also hand crafts many chicken signs.  They are great fun and would add charm and whimsy to the side of your chicken coop or garden gate.  They are 12" x 18" or 18"x24", UV resistant and fully waterproof.  Some can even can be customized to your liking.

The Giveaway

1st Prize~ Your choice of a 12"x18" sign & 20 aprons with eyes.

2nd Prize~10 aprons with eyes

3rd Prize~10 aprons with eyes

4th Prize~ 10 aprons with eyes

5th Prize~ 10 aprons with eyes

Chickenarmor.com will ship internationally

Here is How To Enter
Three possible entries per person

1.  Visit chickenarmor.com and tell me what you would put on your wishlist (1 entry).

2.  Visit chickenarmor.com on Facebook and tell them Tilly sent you (1entry).

3.  Followers of this blog receive a bonus entry. Options are on the right.
4.  You must leave a comment on this post. Be sure to mention your wishlist item, if you said hello on Facebook and if you are a follower of our blog.  Be sure to leave an email or other way for me to contact you.

Special bonus-coupon code for 10% off your order.  Enter LUVSTILLY1 at checkout.

The Fine Print:  Contest ends 1/6/13 at 12 noon EST.  Three entries per person/one comment only. Items will ship to US and International addresses.  A total of five winners will be randomly selected.  As with the use of any aprons, be sure to check underneath as poultry mites and lice can congregate under the safety of all types of chicken saddles, aprons or hen savers no matter the company that manufactures them. There is no guarantee by chickenarmor.com that the predator proof eyes will prevent all attacks by predators from the sky and land.  They are to be used as a deterrent. Disclosure: I received complimentary aprons, but the opinions that I have expressed in this post are all my own.

Photo Credit:  chickenarmor.com and Tilly's Nest