....And trying to take advantage of the things I've wanted to do that will have a positive impact on my family. So what exactly does that mean?
First of all we've acquired chickens. Yes, chickens. "The Girls" as my mom refers to them are a group of 8 somewhat talkative hens who supply us with fresh eggs and singing (Bragging!) just about every time they lay. I hope the neighbors are a bit deaf. This group is comprised of 2 Ameraucana's, a Plymouth Barred Rock, a Andalusian, a Australorp, a Production Red, a Buff Orpington, and finally a Red Sex Linked. Now, I know those names probably mean nothing to you, but if you continue to read this blog, you'll learn a little about each one and their given names. Out of all "the girls" we typically get about 7 eggs a day which range in color from white to tan/brown to green. Yep! We get an array of colors and the best tasting eggs around. Free range/all natural.
We got the hens in April of 2013. A friend of mine called and told me she had bought 3 Buff Orpington's to use at her school for learning, "How Things Grow", she's a librarian. So... I jumped up and took that opportunity to run and purchase 4 fluffy little chirping chicks, one for each of the kids. (I've wanted to have chickens for almost 10 years but at the old house we had predators to take into consideration.) Then another friend found out.... told both of us that we were both crazy.... then later called and asked if she could buy 3 chicks and raise them with the 4 chicks that I got. I told her yes and when she arrived there were 4 chicks! She felt that I also needed a chick to call my own. So entered "Spicey", a Ameraucana chicken, to bring the total number of chickens to 8. We were praying that there were no baby Roo's in this batch of 8, as Roosters are forbidden within the city limits. We got lucky.
So.... we're new to this game, but have discovered that I and the kids are really enjoying having the chickens. Olivia and Jolie sometimes complain when its time to clean the coop, but they do a great job and enjoy interacting with the chickens. Parker and Hunter have the responsibility of making sure "the girls" have food and water and that the coop is closed each evening. My job is to purchase the feed and other necessary supplies (straw for the nest boxes) and I also pitch in occasionally for cleaning duty. We all work together when its time to clip flight feathers. Everyone pitches in to catch a chicken. This can be a fun and funny adventure.
FYI - Most chickens will start laying eggs around 4 - 5 months of age. The Ameraucana's, of which we have two (my Spicey girl!) wait until about 7 months of age. But they lay light blue to Emerald green colored eggs!
Now that our flock is older and producing reliably, my intention is to start selling the extra eggs. Amazingly I already have a couple of people (one is a local coffee shop) that is interested and waiting to get the word on the production being stable enough to supply two families and the shop in fresh eggs. I'd love for our girls to pay for themselves. Frankly as cheap as chicken feed is and bales of straw, it wouldn't take much for that to happen.
We do have an unusual group of chickens, I think. They love nothing better than being allowed to free range in the yard and make a bee-line for the back door..... racing and flapping their wings all the way..... to see if it is open so they can run in the house and crowd around the food bowls for that favorite of snacks... dog food.
Suzanne
I, of course, want room to expand our interests. I envision some property where we can once again have chickens and possibly ducks, turkeys (Thanksgiving and Christmas is what we'd call them and Yes, we'd be eating them.) and maybe Button Quail. Then there is the fainting goats that David and I would love to have. I'm even thinking of my own Alpaca. Just imagine being able to spin from my own animal... Well...like I said this is just wishing.
