I finally did it. I could not hold back any longer, I ordered more pullets today. Late last winter I started thinking about chickens and perhaps getting some so I started reading on the web and come spring I decided I would do it. I live in a subdivision but I have about two acres of land. The rules say no out-buildings and no farm animals. Many people around here have broken the rules with no consequences suffered so I thought it was my turn. I started the coop and tried to make it look like a play-house so it would not be an eyesore to anyone. I researched chicken breeds and decided on Barred Rocks. I thought four would give me plenty of eggs for a family of four. I called a farm supply store and they had four left. They agreed to hold them for until the next morning when I could get there. Upon getting to the store and picking up the four Barred Rocks I impulsively added three red sex-links to the mix. Fast forward sixteen weeks I have no eggs yet three of the four Barred Rocks turned out to be roos and the forth one died unexpectedly at fourteen weeks. I was worried about the neighbors but have heard nothing but positive feedback even though I have Roosters crowing at 5:30 in the morning. The neighbor across the street told me that her husband stands out on the front porch to listen to the roosters crow. She said that she will roll down the window of her car when she leave for work so that she can hear them crow. There is another lady up the street who has lived there for seven years and has never spoken to me until last week. She baby-sits some children and they all go for an afternoon walk down the street in front my house I sometimes here they children trying to crow like a rooster. The other day I was out in the yard with all of my birds when the children came down the street I could here them crowing and saw them stop to try and see the chickens. So I walked out to the front and all of my birds followed close behind me. The kids were all excited when the chickens came walking up with me so I offered to let them feed them. I went and brought back a cup of chicken scratch. I told each of the kids to cup their hands and I would pour a little bit in so that they could feed them. Even if I never get an egg from these chickens it is worth it just watching these kids. They must have stayed of a half an hour and the whole time I was talking to the lady that never talked to me before. She kept on telling me how great she thinks it is that I ave chickens and that she could not see any reason why anyone would ever complain. She also thanked me numerous times for letting the kids see and feed the chickens.
You can see cats and dogs everywhere around here but you don't see chickens. My chickens have truly become pets. If I walk out in the yard and they see me they all come running. One rooster was in the middle of a big crow when he saw me. It sound like someone hit the record player as he screeched and came running to me. If they are out and I can't see them all I have to do is whistle and they all come running. Sometime I can't believe it myself how these chickens act towards me. My wife thinks I am crazy but she enjoys my crazyness and lets me indulge in this chicken thing. I have even gotten her into it as much as that she is looking at some breeds that she might want me to get. So today I ordered nine more chickens. Six Delaware's for me and three Appenzellar Spitzhauben for my wife. Even though my coop is big enough to accommodate the new chicks that I ordered I am still measuring for and planning an addition to it. Surprisingly enough my wife is very supportive of my new plans. She did not even ask how much this might cost. Either she is with me or she has just given up worrying about costs. Either way she is still a very good wife and has been very supportive and understanding of this chicken thing.
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You can see cats and dogs everywhere around here but you don't see chickens. My chickens have truly become pets. If I walk out in the yard and they see me they all come running. One rooster was in the middle of a big crow when he saw me. It sound like someone hit the record player as he screeched and came running to me. If they are out and I can't see them all I have to do is whistle and they all come running. Sometime I can't believe it myself how these chickens act towards me. My wife thinks I am crazy but she enjoys my crazyness and lets me indulge in this chicken thing. I have even gotten her into it as much as that she is looking at some breeds that she might want me to get. So today I ordered nine more chickens. Six Delaware's for me and three Appenzellar Spitzhauben for my wife. Even though my coop is big enough to accommodate the new chicks that I ordered I am still measuring for and planning an addition to it. Surprisingly enough my wife is very supportive of my new plans. She did not even ask how much this might cost. Either she is with me or she has just given up worrying about costs. Either way she is still a very good wife and has been very supportive and understanding of this chicken thing.
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