- May 3, 2011
- 11
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- 24
Let me start by saying that I grew up on a large cattle farm but it had been many years since I had done any agriculture/horticulture related activities. Now let me catch you up today's status. Basically, a few weeks ago I picked up 6 Golden Comet chicks from Tractor Supply; A hybrid that lays big beautiful brown eggs. The chick bug had once again bite me and immediately after picking them up I began to think to myself that I would love to find some Rhode Island Red as well. So I looked on all the advertisements for chicks and ultimately found what I thought was a good source on Craigslist. So I called and arranged to go take a look. When I got there the Rhode Island Red chicks looked good and I certainly wanted some. Here's the problem, they also had some wonderful looking Barred Plymouth Rock and Buff Orpington chicks as well. Since I knew the number of chickens I can keep in my town I knew I had to keep the number under the allowed number. What I ended up getting was 7 Barred Plymouth Rock (it is all they had), 6 Rhode Island Red, and 1 Buff Orpington. I was not really familiar with the Orpington so I thought I would use this sole chick as a guage for the future.
I used to live in the Ozark amongst the Tyson Chicken farms but our farm had only raised a small flock and the majority of them were actually guinea. I love them but they are not quiet to say the least. In fact, I would say they make better "guard dogs" than most dogs. So I knew that I would not want to raise them in a urban area but I knew there are a ton of "quiet" breeds that would be a welcome addition to my home. Maybe not necessarily welcomed by my neighbors but I made quite an effort to make sure it would be noninvasive as possible to my neighbors while still exercising my right to keep a small flock.
I took them home to the family and got many strange looks and even more questions about the why, how, and what I intended to do with them from my immediate family. However, since they all knew of my "farming" background they knew I had everything in control and then the adoration began. My two kids wanted to watch, pet, feed, or whatever they could do with the chicks for as long as I would allow them. Even the wife was facinated and mesmerized by the chicks and has been enjoying them as much as any of us.
Now, I am lucky if I get to do anything for them or spend any time with them without having to compete with the rest of the family to do so. So I guess we are now a happy hen house....
I used to live in the Ozark amongst the Tyson Chicken farms but our farm had only raised a small flock and the majority of them were actually guinea. I love them but they are not quiet to say the least. In fact, I would say they make better "guard dogs" than most dogs. So I knew that I would not want to raise them in a urban area but I knew there are a ton of "quiet" breeds that would be a welcome addition to my home. Maybe not necessarily welcomed by my neighbors but I made quite an effort to make sure it would be noninvasive as possible to my neighbors while still exercising my right to keep a small flock.
I took them home to the family and got many strange looks and even more questions about the why, how, and what I intended to do with them from my immediate family. However, since they all knew of my "farming" background they knew I had everything in control and then the adoration began. My two kids wanted to watch, pet, feed, or whatever they could do with the chicks for as long as I would allow them. Even the wife was facinated and mesmerized by the chicks and has been enjoying them as much as any of us.
Now, I am lucky if I get to do anything for them or spend any time with them without having to compete with the rest of the family to do so. So I guess we are now a happy hen house....
