Yes, we entered into the world of Chickens this year… and from the looks of things, we’re not the only ones. For us, it’s more a matter of practical need than anything else. I’m not really new to the world of chickens, but I have to say, I’ve come a long way since a little girl on the farm… so, I guess it best to say, I’m renewing my vows? I hereby swear to “protect and defend” my new backyard additions from dog, cat, coons, fox, and of course the hawks.
First stop, chickens… I know, sort of backwards, the coop should have come first. But if I did that, the honey do list would never seem to get to the coop, if you know what I mean. Hubby is a bit of a city boy and was eager to try, if just a tad reticent. Having the babies around him at dinner was just the ticket to keep him motivated… what can I say, I didn’t stay married for the last 32 years without a little bit of push on my part…
So, we got the little girls before the building began… oh, I wish I could remember what we had when I was a child, alas, that was a bit ago and I just don’t remember their breeds. So we did the next best thing. We went to the feed store and bought 10 of what they had in the pullet box… Red-Sex Linked. Although, from the looks of things, we think a little boy snuck into the box somehow. We’ve had them 2 weeks and they’re already looking for a better home. Ok, I am looking for them, my kitchen is just not the place for a bunch of messy, chirping hens…
Of course we already started looking around the net for good outside homes, and what do ya know! Backyard Chickens kept coming up! The Wichita Coop is what we settled on given the time and money although we’ve enlarged it just a tad… our base is double that of the plan at 10’ x 20’. We finished the base today and are ready to begin building… just in time too, the babies are ready for a bit more leg room within the next week or so. Once the actual coop is completed, we will work on a larger run for the girls to forage in… with a creek just behind them, they have a lot of work to do besides making sure we eat well over the next couple of years of productive egg laying.
One thing is for sure, while our wonderful politicians play their power games on the Hill, I will be diverted from the misery on the news and happily involved with making my backyard a haven with these little girls and our garden.
First stop, chickens… I know, sort of backwards, the coop should have come first. But if I did that, the honey do list would never seem to get to the coop, if you know what I mean. Hubby is a bit of a city boy and was eager to try, if just a tad reticent. Having the babies around him at dinner was just the ticket to keep him motivated… what can I say, I didn’t stay married for the last 32 years without a little bit of push on my part…
So, we got the little girls before the building began… oh, I wish I could remember what we had when I was a child, alas, that was a bit ago and I just don’t remember their breeds. So we did the next best thing. We went to the feed store and bought 10 of what they had in the pullet box…
Red-Sex Linked. Although, from the looks of things, we think a little boy snuck into the box somehow. We’ve had them 2 weeks and they’re already looking for a better home. Ok, I am looking for them, my kitchen is just not the place for a bunch of messy, chirping hens… Of course we already started looking around the net for good outside homes, and what do ya know! Backyard Chickens kept coming up! The Wichita Coop is what we settled on given the time and money although we’ve enlarged it just a tad… our base is double that of the plan at 10’ x 20’. We finished the base today and are ready to begin building… just in time too, the babies are ready for a bit more leg room within the next week or so. Once the actual coop is completed, we will work on a larger run for the girls to forage in… with a creek just behind them, they have a lot of work to do besides making sure we eat well over the next couple of years of productive egg laying.
One thing is for sure, while our wonderful politicians play their power games on the Hill, I will be diverted from the misery on the news and happily involved with making my backyard a haven with these little girls and our garden.
