Thanks for the perspective. A good night's rest and a reality check are exactly what I needed!! You are right - too much fuss is made over these birds! And yes I will get my child more involved!
My husband decided he would indulge my son's desire to have chickens. I knew I would be the one taking care of them. He built the coop and run, based on a youtube video with accompanying measurements. We did not collaborate on the design, nor did either of us think about what we wanted out of...