There is a lot of good advice packed into this short, easy read. The photos and illustrations are nicely done and supportive of the text. On a personal note, I'll add, "Even if your chickens never thank you for the additional coop height ... your BACK will!" :)
If you eat "American Cheese," you've had "government cheese," or at least as close as you can get to it, these days. Starting about WWII, the US government processed all different types of cheese and cheese bases into a single yellow style that was dubbed "American" cheese. They did the same...
If you decide to take the cockerels, do it under the condition that you get 4-6 hens, too. It will make the transition easier and give you a much better m/f ratio - a necessity if you want to keep the ladies safe and happy..
I'm convinced that the only thing "consistent" about chickens is how they consistently throw monkey-wrenches into whatever you're told or think you know about them. Zheesh!
Our Herman The House Rooster had a stuffie. Rather than write it all out again, you can read about Herman and his Mom-pom here, if you'd like:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/is-there-a-rooster-in-the-house.74089/
I have a hen who quit brooding as soon as her first two chicks - now two days old - hatched. The remaining eggs were too poop-covered to candle so figured they were dead and set them in a flower pot to await tossing into the woods. When I went to toss them yesterday evening, I heard faint...
I made ... a trip to my mother's for slow-cooked pot roast, real mashed potatoes with her homemade gravy, bean salad (from the garden), fresh corn-on-the-cob, fried green tomatoes and a candy-sweet watermelon for dessert.
I LOVE my Mommy!
Ah, but they DO! It's just SO remote that we chicken tenders have absolutely NO idea who pushed the "panic button" ... and even the chickens are always sure of the "why!"
Welcome back! You've got me curious. I'm sure I'm not the only chickeneer who'd love to see pics of your "fun, quirky side-projects!" ... Pretty Please? ...