If feeding and watering is very convenient - Maybe we neglect this?

[giasmom]

I got into chickens as a way to spend some quality time with my elderly dad. He had a large coop that wasn't being used. Now we have a fairly large flock, and spend hours together enjoying our chickens, chicks & guineas. We are constantly working in the gardens & coming up with new ideas on how to improve, remodel and build new chicken things. We take our breaks under the pole shed out at the coops so we can sit watch & enjoy & interact with our flock. We feel this is our rewards for all our hard work !!!!! To us it is not a convience or inconvience thing , it is just some good ole quality time for father & daughter, no matter how hard the work or how hot the days.

 

[trilyn]

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Amen!

 

[tdkmom]

My son & I have "Chick Check" time at night. It's when we count them, make sure they look good, check the water & feed levels and then sit in a chair (me) and on a 5 gal. bucket (him) and let the chicks jump all over us or use us as a roost. I love it. It is so soothing and relieves all of my stress. Like muttering under my breath that hubby is never going to get their run finished in my lifetime!

He's taking forever!

 

[Autumn Mama]

Ahhh, a timely reminder! I guess this thread was here for me to read and now to reflect...my kids are homelearners, and we saw at the beginning of our chicken-keeping dream, what a wonderful way having our own flock would be to see biology in action, commune with our food producers, add beauty to our farm gardens and our lives. Since we picked up our wee day-olds back in March, we've been daily reminded how precious life is and how much fun chickens really are. My seven year old can recite many comical stories about our chook family to anyone interested in listening, and many listen attentively. To some, we seem to be living a dream life, a slowed down life, on a farm, growing food, keeping chickens, my kids home with me, life learning as we meander along through our days.

Some days, in our enthusiasm and zest for living in such freedom, we schedule too much. We drive, and explore, and play and visit too long, and come home to realize we barely said "hello" to our girls (and temporary boys). Today was like that. Rushed through feeding, rushed through watering, and now in the evening, a certain, almost intangible something is missing. Oh yeah, I didn't hug my chickens today.

I'm glad I get to start again tomorrow!

Thanks for sharing that, MIKE555444

 

[Monk]

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For me it's mornings when I let them out with a cup of coffee. The cool air, birds singing, a walk through the garden, very soothing...

 

[digitS']

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I now have 2 Barred Rocks and have had them before. They are a good choice for backyard hens.

Edna BR is a sweet chicken - spoiled, fat and self-indulgent. She's a good layer. She talks softly all the time and I can easily pick her up. Only once in the year that I have had her, have I heard her cackle. That was a difficult day and involved a black plastic bag, billowing in the wind

.

Spring BR is a good layer and not especially flighty but she is the noisiest chicken I've ever had

! The other hens seem to be as amazed at the racket she can make as I am. She cackles for them when they lay an egg.

I have to leave in a few moments and can't let them out in the yard to enjoy themselves. Spring is letting me know that she WANTS OUT! During a quiet moment, I stepped over where I could see what they were doing in the henhouse. They couldn't see me.

What they were doing was absolutely nothing. All the hens seemed to be moving in slow motion when they bothered to move at all. This is such a contrast to their boisterous activity when they are out of confinement. Spring Chicken is just bored.

They will have hours outdoors for fun and games this afternoon. Right now, they've got some scraps from the kitchen to keep them happy and I have to hurry on to other things. We can't always "be there" for our chickens but it really helps for us to have some idea of their physical and emotional needs.

Steve

 

[PAJerry]

My chickens and garden are my 'therapy' after a stressful day at work. I enjoy gathering weeds or other greens for my girls when I get home and like to stand and watch as they dig through it all for the good stuff. There is great peace to be found in the simple ways of all animals.

 

[MIKE555444]

My 6 yr old son and I spend alot of time together when we go water, feed and give treats. We found a loaf of wheat bread last night that had a mouse hole in it... Tonight they will be getting most of that loaf

I look forward to laying time when my son will get to help gather eggs with me..... I believe this will be a memorable time for him when he will think back and say to his children "I remember when".

 

[LaSombra]

hehe, before we ever had a remote, I was the remote! My brother would want the channel changed, "Jenny, change it to channel 4" etc

and I'd go to the TV and turn the dial...

I don't have any of those conveniences in my coop. Mine's a walk-in coop, though. I have to go through the run to get to the coop, which is fine by me. It's an extra barrier from predators. Anyway, I like to see them all curious as I sweep and such while out there. They like to crowd around me or peek around the corner and such

I like to take a book out to the run and just sit with my chickens

My family thinks I'm crazy, especially when I have 4+ girls roosting on me

I just like my chickens

As for the barred rocks, I have 2 BR pullets and they jump up on me when I'm in with them. They don't especially like me to pick them up. Rather, they like to be the ones to choose when to jump up... Same with the black sex links.

oh, and I LOVE to give them treats

Any chance I get to bring out their favorite things, I'm on it. I like to hold a cob of corn and let them attack it from my hand. LOL They're like piranhas!

 

[thebroodybunch]

I also have a walk-in coop. We converted a tool shed. We call it a baby barn. I love to spend time with my chicks. This is my first brood but I've just fallen in love with them. They're so friendly that they will fly into my lap soon after I sit down with them. We got chickens to promote family time and education for my kids. It's one of the best choices we've made. I was so happy with my chickens that I started a chicken blog so I could share our experience with our family and friends.