to care for your chickens? I was thinking about this today and it's one of my clearest childhood memories.
I had FINALLY talked my mom into getting me a couple of chicks at the feed store when we were getting feed for my horse. Mind you, they were 25 cents each!! We got a black one and a red one... and luckily (how did THIS ever happen?) they both turned out to be hens. The black one was more friendly and would hop onto my lap, back, arm, head when I was outside. She would also follow me into the house when I called to her...... Mostly during the summer when mom and dad were at work, LOL!
They both started laying and all was well in the world. Then, one day a stray dog found its way into the backyard. It got ahold of the black one but we ran it off. Not much damage but lots of feathers pulled out of one wing, it was pretty much bald. It got kind of swollen and angry looking so I begged until mom agreed for us to drive her to the vet..... $13.00 later and we were on our way home, ROFL my dad had a cow when he found out we spent $13.00 on a 25 cent chicken but he was good natured about it. Well, that evening, I just couldn't let her spend the night outside so I rigged up a roost in my closet and put down newspapers. The next morning, I turned the light on while still laying in bed and began to call to her..... HAhaha, she answered and then came and jumped up on my bed. Made her way up to the pillow right beside my head and started scratching around..... Next thing I knew, I had a nice, fresh, warm egg rolling against my right temple! She was so pleased with herself and had no problem waking up the rest of the household to let them know that she was still on the job even though she was wounded
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I love this memory and will always cherish it. We had no coop, no run, I can remember in the winter feeding them warm mashed potatoes and rice and the feel of their crop when it was full of rice......Just great memories.
Let's hear yours!
I had FINALLY talked my mom into getting me a couple of chicks at the feed store when we were getting feed for my horse. Mind you, they were 25 cents each!! We got a black one and a red one... and luckily (how did THIS ever happen?) they both turned out to be hens. The black one was more friendly and would hop onto my lap, back, arm, head when I was outside. She would also follow me into the house when I called to her...... Mostly during the summer when mom and dad were at work, LOL!
They both started laying and all was well in the world. Then, one day a stray dog found its way into the backyard. It got ahold of the black one but we ran it off. Not much damage but lots of feathers pulled out of one wing, it was pretty much bald. It got kind of swollen and angry looking so I begged until mom agreed for us to drive her to the vet..... $13.00 later and we were on our way home, ROFL my dad had a cow when he found out we spent $13.00 on a 25 cent chicken but he was good natured about it. Well, that evening, I just couldn't let her spend the night outside so I rigged up a roost in my closet and put down newspapers. The next morning, I turned the light on while still laying in bed and began to call to her..... HAhaha, she answered and then came and jumped up on my bed. Made her way up to the pillow right beside my head and started scratching around..... Next thing I knew, I had a nice, fresh, warm egg rolling against my right temple! She was so pleased with herself and had no problem waking up the rest of the household to let them know that she was still on the job even though she was wounded

I love this memory and will always cherish it. We had no coop, no run, I can remember in the winter feeding them warm mashed potatoes and rice and the feel of their crop when it was full of rice......Just great memories.
Let's hear yours!