My family had been consider getting chickens for a few years . It seemed like a good idea when it was in the remote future . Other family members and friends had backyard flocks , and I regularly buy eggs from some of them .
After a March sojourn to a local farm - supply storehouse to buy dog food , we ensure and go down in love with the little peeps for sale in the brooder tubs . After that , I threw myself into enquiry . I talked to multitude who had chickens , varying in sizing . I researched purchasing at hatcheries versus farm - supply stores , breeds — production , eggs colouring material , disposition and cold adaptability — and caparison . Come April , we had placed an lodge from an in - state hatchery .
We make up one’s mind on three Buff Orpingtons , two Barred Plymouth Rocks and three Welsummers . We beak those breeds because they all had docile or friendly temperament . That washugebecause we have young kid , and we want breeds that are not strong-growing or flighty . Another of import broker was that all these breeds are cold - hardy . There ’s no path we ’d go for a breed that does n’t distribute with cold weather ; we live in Western Pennsylvania , after all .
Also , because this enterprise had a use of impertinent eggs , we wanted breed that had solid yield rates . We were n’t looking for a marathon chicken , but we want a strain that produced at least three to five egg a week . Otherwise , the chickens would just be glorify ducky , and that was not our aim . Sara Jacobs
Here Come the Girls
Our little ladies make it the day before Good Friday . We allow our girl the honor of discover our new peeping friend . Our original order of magnitude was for eight chickens , and each was diagnose for a distaff fellow member of our family . My daughter declare this was the only thing that made sense . So we had : Thelma , Kelly , Sara , Shannon , Shay , Leah , Blake and Jameson .
I have to assure you : It became a comical subject of conversation in our crime syndicate . Everyone would take how her namesake was doing . The best was when we started to see the volaille ’ personality traits like to those of their human counterparts .
Our first spring and summer were a learning experience . We end up losing one of our chicks within 48 hours of arriving . One flew the fencing and fit a pawl . The third , we are still unsure of what happened .
Sara Jacobs
We really enjoyed watching the chicks turn into pullets and then hens . The kids love feed them and pile up the testicle . My girl loves to lease them free - ambit . They fascinate me and are a outstanding emphasis - reliever . My husband … well , he tolerates them . But I ’ve entrust for piece of work multiple times discover him in the Gallus gallus run pet several chickens while they flock around him for attention . Sara Jacobs
Chicken Expansion Plan
In August , we ordered four more girls , two Partridge Rocks and two Silver Laced Wyandottes , again name by my daughter . These girls were all named for Disney princess : Jasmine , Rapunzel , Merida and Moana .
I can frankly say that I savor raising dame in the tardy one-half of the summer . I find it easier to keep their brooder sporting , and they get to relish the warm weather condition outside sooner . The young hen , as well as the older I , also benefit from the yield of our summer garden . They even started laying over the winter , which made for a happy surprise .
The addition of the new girls show us we demand to increase their orbit , and so the “ Gallus gallus expansion plan ” got under way . We blow up our coop from a minor computer storage - bought envelopment to a large shed - turned - coop , to what my friend have nickname the “ Taj Ma - hencoop . ” We still have some house painting to stop , but it made wintertime easier to maneuver . The chicken have more way , and we slowly inaugurate two historic period of birds to become one great deal .
We project to add more level this twelvemonth . Our chickens have become such a huge part of our kinsperson ; each extremity enjoy them for different reasons . Our hen provide us hour of amusement and help teach our kids about responsibility . The poulet help with insect command and disposing of our garden spear carrier . We regain that we waste less food for thought , as we seek to verify the girls get all the estimable extras . And I ca n’t forgot the obvious : the eggs !
I ’m unforced to talk about our chickens every chance I can — how much playfulness they are , how ranking their eggs are and why everyone should have chickens . I have become the crazy volaille lady , but that ’s o.k. with me . I savor the form of address .
Chicken Chat is a regular feature inChickensmagazine where referee tell their own tarradiddle of how they became chicken - keepers . This story to begin with look in the July / August 2018 issue .
Sara Jacobs
