So today I took the plunge.
Ever since I moved to our house in the beautiful countryside of the Bluegrass I have wanted a flock. Initially, I was looking to get guineas. I love that they control pests, particularly ticks, and having been raised in the city, I've always romanticized country life, and wanted to take my shot at living it. That was 5 years ago.
Though we still have the occasional tick that could use some eating, I decided against guineas. Not that they aren't beautiful, but I didn't want my neighbors to hate me from the racket they cause. We have some land, but not enough to mitigate the screeching and hollering guineas will get in to if the slightest thing seems wrong.
So I decided I wanted some chickens. We love country eggs, and I could have an activity I could get in to with my 2 young boys.
So after some heavy contemplation last year without making a move, I made the plunge this year. My coop is in the works right now, and I bought everything I needed for a brooder and got it up and running last right to make sure temps were good and all that.
Today I went and picked up my new flock from the TSC.
4 Production Reds and 4 Red Sex-links, and my oldest son (6) is already in love with them. He's named one (Stripey), and he struggles to stay away from them even though he knows that we need to leave them be for a few days.
I've bought a stock bin because I'm not satisfied that the rubbermaid-type box I'm using will be adequate for the entire time I need to keep them inside until it's time to get them outside in their coop and run.
I'm very much looking forward to this new activity with my kids, and anxiously awaiting that first egg in a few months time. I'm sure to be around a bunch, as I've so much to learn and this place has already been a wealth of good info for me.
Here are a couple of pics:
Ever since I moved to our house in the beautiful countryside of the Bluegrass I have wanted a flock. Initially, I was looking to get guineas. I love that they control pests, particularly ticks, and having been raised in the city, I've always romanticized country life, and wanted to take my shot at living it. That was 5 years ago.
Though we still have the occasional tick that could use some eating, I decided against guineas. Not that they aren't beautiful, but I didn't want my neighbors to hate me from the racket they cause. We have some land, but not enough to mitigate the screeching and hollering guineas will get in to if the slightest thing seems wrong.
So I decided I wanted some chickens. We love country eggs, and I could have an activity I could get in to with my 2 young boys.
So after some heavy contemplation last year without making a move, I made the plunge this year. My coop is in the works right now, and I bought everything I needed for a brooder and got it up and running last right to make sure temps were good and all that.
Today I went and picked up my new flock from the TSC.
4 Production Reds and 4 Red Sex-links, and my oldest son (6) is already in love with them. He's named one (Stripey), and he struggles to stay away from them even though he knows that we need to leave them be for a few days.
I've bought a stock bin because I'm not satisfied that the rubbermaid-type box I'm using will be adequate for the entire time I need to keep them inside until it's time to get them outside in their coop and run.
I'm very much looking forward to this new activity with my kids, and anxiously awaiting that first egg in a few months time. I'm sure to be around a bunch, as I've so much to learn and this place has already been a wealth of good info for me.
Here are a couple of pics:
