So, I want eggs laid in clean conditions with no salmonella. I want meat that's not full of antibiotics and steroids and glowing with radiation. GROW CHICKENS! That is the perfect answer. Takes me months to talk my husband into it. Finally convince him, but he is not really involved.
Choose Orpingtons as breed of choice, but get 4 Cochins and a few silkies because they're so pretty
Husband concerned because chicks are expensive at $5.00 each,. and he wants to keep costs as low as possible. Get several lectures from husband about keeping costs down.
Begin to build very low-cost chicken house.
Then husband discovers Jersey Giants. It is love at first site. We go to a poultry show and he sees one in "real life" and he is hooked. Bids on a huge JG roo in a silent auction. Stands over its cage all day long, intimidating possible bidders, and physically blocking the bid sheets with his body when needed, because he is absolutely smitten with this rooster. Mere seconds before bid closing he is forced to retreat by a 4 foot 10 amazon of a woman who is absolutely not going to be intimated by any 6'2" 250 lb. man coveting a rooster. She outbids him. He is devastated.
His very own Jersey Giants become the holy grail.
He discovers one of the top JG breeders in the U.S. and rushes to order 18 chicks from her at a price of almost $20 per chick. (Obviously, these are not expensive chicks like those $5 Orpingtons Wife wanted, these are the Gucci, the Prada of chickens, and at this price they are positively a bargain!)
Suddenly we have a massive replanning of the chicken house. Add lights, insulation, extra long roof overhangs for shade, a porch, and begin plans for a solar electrical system with battery backups. Start discussing area needed in coop for Jersey Giants. Husband is planning for massive expansion of the flock. Wife mentions that the size of the flock will probably not be expanding all that much because we'll be eating some of the birds. Husband is absolutely appalled. We are absolutely NOT eating his pet giant chickens! Wife points out that even pet chickens get old, and at that point, they'd be great for the stewpot, and that would not interfere with husband having a long and enjoyable relationship with his chickens.
Husband says, "When MY chickens die, I'm building little chicken coffins!!"
Choose Orpingtons as breed of choice, but get 4 Cochins and a few silkies because they're so pretty
Husband concerned because chicks are expensive at $5.00 each,. and he wants to keep costs as low as possible. Get several lectures from husband about keeping costs down.Begin to build very low-cost chicken house.
Then husband discovers Jersey Giants. It is love at first site. We go to a poultry show and he sees one in "real life" and he is hooked. Bids on a huge JG roo in a silent auction. Stands over its cage all day long, intimidating possible bidders, and physically blocking the bid sheets with his body when needed, because he is absolutely smitten with this rooster. Mere seconds before bid closing he is forced to retreat by a 4 foot 10 amazon of a woman who is absolutely not going to be intimated by any 6'2" 250 lb. man coveting a rooster. She outbids him. He is devastated.
His very own Jersey Giants become the holy grail.
He discovers one of the top JG breeders in the U.S. and rushes to order 18 chicks from her at a price of almost $20 per chick. (Obviously, these are not expensive chicks like those $5 Orpingtons Wife wanted, these are the Gucci, the Prada of chickens, and at this price they are positively a bargain!)
Suddenly we have a massive replanning of the chicken house. Add lights, insulation, extra long roof overhangs for shade, a porch, and begin plans for a solar electrical system with battery backups. Start discussing area needed in coop for Jersey Giants. Husband is planning for massive expansion of the flock. Wife mentions that the size of the flock will probably not be expanding all that much because we'll be eating some of the birds. Husband is absolutely appalled. We are absolutely NOT eating his pet giant chickens! Wife points out that even pet chickens get old, and at that point, they'd be great for the stewpot, and that would not interfere with husband having a long and enjoyable relationship with his chickens.
Husband says, "When MY chickens die, I'm building little chicken coffins!!"
