Seeking "Chicken Encounter" for my Chick-a-Holic daughter, Pgh PA area

[Suellyn]

HAPPY ENDING!!!!

My Sami's "chicken party" was a SMASHING success...

Cardboard "coop" (refrigerator box, free from local appliance store, painted), surrounded by "fence" (metal/wire dog pen)... live friendly chickens from local BYCer!! Plus chick cupcakes, an eggdrop game (cushion it how you want, kids... cotton, boxes, bags, etc., and drop it off my upper deck onto concrete!), a who came (in) first game.. cheapie windup chicken & egg, pick a team & root for your guy (chicken? egg?) to cross the finish line first.. even a "birthday chick" T-shirt (fabric writers & cheapie shirt) and a "chicken fling"... toy slingshot chickens (found on Amazon dot com), fling them at the "coop doors" (painted box with holes in it) for maximal points.

Even my Mother-in-Law who was in deadly fear of a "chicken peck"

& thinks I'm nuts, walked out a laughing chicken convert.

And DH has accepted the inevitable fact that chickens will soon be a permanent part of his life...

It was TOOOOOOO much fun, and everyone, adults & children alike, were mesmerized by the chickens... in fact, I think the "grownups" did more petting & feeding than the kids!!!!

I have GOT to figure out how to upload photos

, and find the appropriate link to post on!!!!!!!!!!!! -Suellen

 

[coffeelady3]

Alrighty, I want to see chicken party pics! Here step-by-step instructions on how to post pics:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=504

Do you work at the Pittsburgh zoo? I know a couple of people who came out there from Pt. Defiance Zoo here in Tacoma!

 

[Suellyn]

Ok, my first attempt at posting pix...apologies to ALL if the end up huge and hog up the whole board!! CofeeLady3, thanx for the link, and yes I work at Pgh Zoo mammal department... mainly with Primates and African Wild Dogs.. No chickens!!! Have worked with SOME birds, mainly psittasines & raptors... again, not exactly chix!!!!!
Hope you all like my cardboard coop & chickie cupcakes!! Both the girls are mine, my oldest is about 6 1/2 yrs (pink shirt) and my chick-a-holic youngest just turned 4!! (white "Birthday Chick" shirt).

 

[coffeelady3]

That party looks AWESOME! My little girl loved looking at the pics this morning. You're going to be a chicken owner before you know it! (And I'm guessing those are going to be some mighty lucky girls!)

You guys have marine mammals at your zoo, right?

 

[chickenannie]

Your daughter is just about the right age to start "chicken chores" like feeding and watering. If I were you, I'd order 10 or so mixed hatchery chicks (hens) for her for Christmas, keep 'em in the house under a heat lamp for the next 2 months or so during the winter, you'all can watch "chicken tv"; then put them outside as they are fully feathered in the springtime, and you'll have eggs by June or July for you and your hubby. It only takes 10-20 minutes a day to take care of them; your daughter will have a blast; and youll have a regular breakfast. My only advice is DON'T GET ADDICTED. Because then, all of the above becomes insane.

 

[Suellyn]

Actually... I am getting an incubator and already have it picked out

(which is a discussion I've been having on another thread).... Sooooooo I guess I'll be watching "egg TV" HOPEFULLY followed by "chick TV" with my girls this winter!!

I've been trying to find someone within driving distance to get some Silkie and Buff Orpington eggs off of, and have a couple of "good leads" that will hopefully work out!

...and so it begins, huh?

I am VERY excited, haven't said anything to the girls yet... trying to figure out if there is a way to work this into a "Christmas Surprise" sorta thing...

CoffeeLady3, yes, we just built a new "Water's Edge" exhibit; polar bears, sea otter, HOPEFULLY walrus someday (sea lions for now, though)! My sister-in-law is actually "Lead Keeper" for that area!!

 

[mrsengeseth]

What a fantastic job you did with the party. They look so happy and the cardboard coop is cute as can be.

 

[coffeelady3]

Quote:
That's the area where the girls I know work, I think. (Randi and Jen) Small world!

 

[Suellyn]

I know Randi and Jen!!! Not super well, but have been out "socially" with Randi a couple times. We hired them for their marine mammal experience, they both seem really nice. Do you work at the Zoo, too? Really IS a small world!!!!

Thanks for all the compliments on the party everyone.. it really WAS a blast!! Maybe I will post on "Random Ramblings" or something for anyone who has a chick-a-holic child like I do, and wants ideas for games & gifts & stuff... ?? Other than the visiting chickens, the "egg drop" was the biggest smash hit (

pun intended!), found some unique party favors & chicken toys/games, too.

Or is there a more appropriate "topic section" to post under so people can find it?

Thanks!!

 

[coffeelady3]

I did the long time shuffle between volunteering and temping. Getting a full time job was tough since, for family reasons, I'm pretty much place bound. A year ago I started a full-time job, so for now I've let the volunteering go. I sure do miss those polar bears, though!

Next time you see them tell them Dena said hi, and that I turned into a crazy chicken lady!