The Chickens are doing their job, finally!

One morning we heard this ridiculous chicken sound coming from the back yard.  We all ran to see what was causing all the commotion, apparently there was an "I laid an egg!" celebration going on.  We quickly joined in, FINALLY, an egg!!!

It was like that first chicken clued the others in, because the eggs started coming very quickly after that.  They are soooo loud when the are laying, it is our bell to run out and collect. 

Two of the chickens lay every day, three lay every other day, and one still hasn't figured it out...

Aren't they pretty?  Like already dyed easter eggs.  

Look at Butter holding her apron like a princess or something, lol, with a chicken inspecting her work.

We had no idea how much fun having chickens would be. Every one of us is really enjoying them and we can't wait to move out in the country with more land, so we can have a whole bunch more chickens!

"The ladies" all gather around the patio step every time we are at the table, almost like they are on stage or something.  It is so funny, and brings us so much entertainment.

Chicken is NOT on the menu!

We found a great home for Rhubarb.  I called someone who knew somebody and the problem was solved, just like that.  I love knowing people.  Country life is the place for me!


We took Rhubarb to a horse farm that also raises chickens, and though the farmer said he couldn't promise me the outcome of him when we talked on the phone, but he would let Butter say a happy farewell and we would'nt have to scar her for life.

We said our good-byes and loaded Rhubarb into the van.  

You know how certain smells can take you back in time?  Well, my van smelled like my grandma's chicken coop.  Not as nice as "Grandma's sweet apple pie" or something like that, but it  reminded me of my grandma, none the less...

The farmer was very kind and sensitive to a 4 year old's love for her rooster.  He explained that she needed to not worry over what was about to take place, Rhubarb was just going to establish his place in the pecking order of this flock.  We watched in nervous anticipation as we introduced him to the other birds.  Feathers were instantly flying and wings flapping, but wouldn't you know, he took over that hen house in a matter of minutes!  Seriously, he showed all the other roosters who was boss and won the farmer's heart.  The farmer's other roosters were hatched the same time as Rhubarb, but they were all very plain looking and much smaller.  He fell in love with Rhubarb's strut and was so pleased that he had some color to add to his farm. 

Rhubarb was top dog, er, rooster, and will have a long and happy life doing what roosters do.

Plus, we can visit Rhubarb any time we want. 

That is what I call a win, win!

(I am so relieved I don't have to eat my daughter's pet.)

Cock-a-Doodle-Do

Rhubarb moved into the garage after announcing to the entire neighborhood  that he was in fact a he.

At the mention of culling him (that is a nice word for eating) some of the kids started crying and even though I grew up with eating most of our food fresh, I never had to deal with my children's innocent eyes looking up at me as I mentioned eating their pet.

But, we feel it could offer many valuable lessons, so...

Being the kind and thoughtful parents that we are, Mr. Pilot and I put the kids to bed and started googling how to cull a chicken.  Truthfully, I could probably remember how to do it even thought it has been a long time since I have assisted with any sort of culling, but I might wimp out and my husband is a former city boy and wouldn't even know where to begin...   

There is an impressive amount of information about how to cull a chicken on the web.  We learned that even 11 year olds can run chicken processing businesses. 

We came across the whizbang chicken plucker  

and found it to be quite~uhm~interesting.  After several gasps and laughs and chicken-with-its-head-cut-off jokes, we decided on running an ad at the local farm supply store first, in hopes that someone might want him.  (yeah, I am a wimp) but we agreed to mentally prepare for another method since it wouldn't be right to keep him in the garage for long.  So, here is the add we posted: 

OOPS!

Rosemary Rhubarb needs a new home.

Our 12 week old Maran Cockerel (April 1^st)

was supposed to be a hen.

Please call if you are interested in giving Rhubarb a nice new home.

________________________________  

The Scoop on the Coop and Poop!

Pops insists the chickens new home is called a poop, no matter how much I try to convince him its a coop.  Oh well.

Since our ladies aren't producing eggs just yet, we have them earning their keep by turning the compost pile.  They are really good at it.  It's like they were made to work in a garden or something.

Isn't the coop charming?  I am so proud of Mr. Pilot! A job well done!  

I didn't take a picture from the other side, but they even have their own sky lights.

It is a tractor, so the chickens can poop all over the yard instead of just one spot.  Doesn't that sound exciting?

They absolutely love their home.  They are roosting here, and you can see their nesting boxes down behind them.  That is where they will lay their eggs, and that side lifts up too, so we can easily gather our breakfast.

Chickens are awesome.  They go to bed around 7 pm every night, all on their own. My children could learn something from them.  (The going to bed at 7 on their own, not the pooping all over the yard, lol) They just go right up the ladder and then we use a pulley to raise it up for the night so no predators can get in, and they sleep tight all night.

Chicken poop is actually really good for the garden, did you know that?  They even sell chicken manure on the side of the road here.  Well, not actually the side of the road, but in the little farms that put signs along the side of the road anyway.  Maybe we could sell some.  Like a lemonade stand and the end of the drive way, only a poop stand instead.  Alright! I am only joking.

We are absolutely loving our chickens.

We are pretty sure Rosemary however, is not a Rose or a Mary.  Butter had re-named her him Rhubarb.  Luckily we found someone willing to take her if she is in fact, a him, and not for culling either (that means eating for all you non-chicken folk) either. All the signs are there, save the "cock-a-doodle" that would get us busted for having a rooster in town.  I am still holding out the teensiest bit of hope that she is just a manly hen, but we are preparing Butter for what seems inevitable.
I wonder if I should buy her a guinea pig or something, to easy the disappointment.  I think that would work, right up until my cat gets a hold of it.  So, scratch that idea.  Butter says she wants a piglet if Rosemary is Rhubarb.  I just don't think pigs are allowed in town.

I'd Rather Be...

If the weather is "nice," you can pretty much bet that my house is a mess.  Somehow all the chores get set aside because we'd rather be outside, or at least running in and out tracking dirt all over the house.

I think it was in the upper 60's today.  I guess that is the new "nice." At least, everyone from around here says it is nice.
I would prefer 78, but it is sunny, so I can't complain much.  We have been doing much of our school work in the back yard this week, it is so nice to be in the fresh air!

The little chicks are getting big.

 This is Gretchen.  Isn't she lovely?  I didn't get a good picture of dad's chick today,  but she is lovely too.  Her name is Gylfie.

 and Socks is such a good dog.  She is going to help keep the chickens in the yard, I think.

and the big chicks are about ready to move into their coop.  They are 7 weeks tomorrow, and we were advised by the Farm Store that we could move them outside at 8 weeks.  They have been in their coop in the garage for about a week now, I thought they were getting too dusty to be in the living room!

We are trying to teach them to scratch, or till up the soil, for the garden areas.  They are sure fun to watch!

(That is called Chicken Hypnotism)

I really hope Rosemary is a girl....

I never would have imagined I'd need one of those signs for my wall, you know one that says "I'd rather be fishing"

except mine would say "I'd Rather be Chasing Chickens!"

You Blinked!

They are getting big, fast!  Though it will be a few more months before they are earning their keep by laying our breakfast, in just a few weeks the first set of chicks should have all their feathers and be ready to move outside.  Mr. Pilot, in-between learning to fly the super awesome Growler, has been building a chicken tractor for these ladies.  A chicken tractor is a coop on wheels, so we can move it all over the back yard so they can fertilize and de-bug the backyard without eating up the garden.  I can't wait to show you pictures. 

You're Bored, You Say?

What's that?  5 Chickens aren't enough?  Awwww, just get 2 more then. 

My husband has been waiting for these little Speckled Sussex to be hatched like a kid waiting for the Easter Bunny (who is that guy, anyway?) They were supposed to be ready the same time as the other chicks we got, but apparently they were delayed do to bad weather.  Every Friday (that is the day the local country store gets their new arrivals) my husband has been checking for these little guys.  Well, they were finally here this week, so he had me pick up two.  Never mind that the others are now too big to introduce these new little fluffy ladies.  That means two chick brooders in my living room.  Two feeders, two waterers, two more poopers, until these ladies are big enough to hold their own.
 TOO much fun!  Aren't they adorable!?

Here is what they are supposed to look like when full grown.

Chickens. All in a Row

  This is Dandy-Lion.

and Miss Muffet's Tuffet...

and all our chicks sleeping in a row.

Run For Your Tuffet!

Yikes!  Bucket (8 months) is super fast!

Thankfully, Miss Muffet only got her feathers ruffled.

When We Are Bored

We like to do things big around here, and we never like to be bored.  I guess we got bored.

Meet the newest members of our flock.

 This is Butter (4) with "Rosemary"

Sis (6) with "Dandy-Lion"

Boy (10) ((oh my goodness, he is TEN)) with "Soren"

Pops (2.5) with "Miss Muffet"

and Guys (11) with "Cinnamon"

Hopefully we can keep the other farm animals away from our new little chicks!

Don't you want about 10 of them for yourself?

Dad is in the process of building a chicken tractor for when they are old enough to move outside.

and I am still trying to convince Butter it is "just a little chicky poop"