It was almost 2 years ago that I woke up on Easter morning to find a box of day old chicks on my kitchen counter.
I pretty much took it all in stride. You know. Acted real cool about it. I know I look a tiny bit "alarmed" in the picture here. It kind of looks as though I was thinking "Oh my GOD there are baby chickens in this box!!!!! What am I going to do with baby CHICKENS??!!!" But what I was really thinking was ...
"Hey, look at the cute chicks. OMG is that the last Diet Coke you're drinking?!"
I can see how you'd be confused though and think I'd lost my cool. I did not. In fact I didn't lose my cool until a good 30 seconds later when it sunk in that I had nowhere for these things to live. Also, I had no idea what to feed them, how to take care of them, if they needed medical shots, if they could fly away, attack me in the middle of the night, what kind of chickens they were and whether or not they came when you called them. Among other things.
I knew nothing more than you do. One laptop and 5 hours later I knew what to feed them and generally how long I had before they needed a house of their own. The rest I learned with each passing day as a chicken owner.
The most surprising thing I learned was how hilarious chickens are. And calming. For both of these reasons it's easy to spend hours just watching them. And for the first few months I did. I'd go into the potting shed where we were housing them until I built the coop, and I'd just watch them hop around. I couldn't get enough of watching the little fluff bums.
And neither could anyone else ...
Over the past 2 years they've gone from tiny chicks to gawky teens to what they are now, content hens settled into their routine of eating, pooping, scratching and egg laying.
There've only been 2 major bumps in the road. The first was Lucky. That's little Lucky in the picture above. Lucky only lasted a week or two. Lucky was a weak little chick and despite our best efforts, died. Poor little lucky.
The next stressor was Tuco.
We had our suspicions about Tuco from day one. They were confirmed on July 16th, 2011 at 6:00 a.m.
That's the thing about getting a box full of chicks. You don't know how many will live and you don't know how many will end up being roosters. Chickens are illegal where I live let alone screaming roosters. By 9:00 that morning I had found Tuco a nice home where he still resides to this day. His new owner has informed me Tuco has grown into a beautiful rooster with a bit of a mean streak.
The other 4 chickens, Norma ...
Cuddles ...
Walnut ...
and Cheez Whiz, live a ridiculously happy life.
If you've been toying with the idea of getting backyard chickens yourself but are a bit scared, or don't know what it involves, next week I'll have something that could interest you.
On Tuesday I'll be putting up a post outlining all of the basics of owning backyard chickens. From where to buy them, to how much their feed costs, to the every day tasks you'll have to perform if you own them.
That way you can decide whether this whole chicken keeping craze is worth what you get in exchange ... eggs. And chicken cuddles.
Julia at Home on 129 Acres
I'm looking forward to next week, Karen. We had chickens growing up, but now that I'm planning on getting my own (and I'll actually have to be the responsible adult) I'm realizing that there's still some things I have to learn. I'll be interested to hear about your daily/weekly/monthly/seasonal/annual routines. And of course the $$$. I don't think money will stop me in my quest for farm fresh eggs... and chicken cuddles... but I am a frugal person, so I like knowing what I'm getting into. It's part of the whole responsible adult thing.
Patti
It took me 4 yrs. to convince my husband to let me get chickens and he may not be as enthusiastic about them as I am, but he likes them! Just finished reading Once Upon A Flock, which I highly recommend for all, especially chicken owners. Kara, we have a 5 yr. old Golden and a 3 1/2 yr.old lab. We exposed the pups to the chicks as much as we could. Now a year later, I free range the girls and hope the dogs will want to stay outside with them to protect them from hawks etc. Our golden doesn't bother much with the girls, but our lab loves to follow them around the yard.
Rachel
We got 12 baby chicks last spring and ended up with nine roosters. NINE ROOSTERS! Your luck with a straight run was much better than mine ;)
Shauna
We also totally love our chickens and am happy to say that they are no longer illegal. When people ask about how much care they take, I usually say, "they're easier than indoor cats, but you do need someone to do a little light housekeeping for you when you go on holiday". We do the deep layer method and I truly am shocked how easy it is to keep hens. Yes, there is stuff you have to do daily, but if limited on time, it only takes about 5 minutes. The difficult part is leaving them in that amount of time because you'll just want to hang out with them.
Leslie
Reading your posts about building the chicken coop was one of the major inspirations for me getting chickens. A year later I have a flock of about 100 birds, including four ducks.
Karen Duke
Reading your blog inspired me to get 14 baby chicks 3 weeks ago. We were also taken in by the ducklings, so we've also got 6 of them. We're converting one stall of the barn for the new flock and installing an outdoor run for them to use until they're big enough to free range. I've researched every kind of coop design, chicken tractor, chunnel and more but haven't found as nice a chicken palace as yours anywhere!
Debbie
This has beeen a topic at our house for awhile. Myself pro,
Husband not so much. It helped that our neighbors went ahead and purchased some when I was looking into it and love them. I would get them just for the cuddles alone and no eggs. This is not over yet............
Nancy Blue Moon
We are still pondering doing this so I will be paying attention teacher..I will tell him that you posted pictures of some cute chicks to get his attention!
Kara
We have also been mulling over the option of to chicken or not to chicken, but we have the extra added difficulty of a wonderful, loving, snuggle-craving, furry-faced golden retriever. Who is awesome. But also a dog. Any tips/hints on how to deal with the chicken + dog combo? Our neighbour had chickens and dog-face would just sit and watch them, but I worry about a more long term living situation (and the inevitable pee breaks in the middle of winter when I'm just way too lazy/freezing cold to put on my jacket and boots and go outside with her.). Any ideas would be helpful! And I can't wait to read next week's post...
LeeAnne
Wow Karen, has it really been two years??? This post really took me back. I have really loved your posts, expecially the ones about the coop and the chickens. The video you did with them jumping to eat the plant was too funny. I sent it to a friend whose English is not so great. The next time we met he was howling at it so I send him all the chicken videos. He doesn't know who the Beatles are but sure loves your chickens!
Keep up the great posts!
[email protected]
The look on Walnut's face!! LOL
Jenna
Lol Cheese Whiz! What made you name her that?
Elizabeth
Hahaha - they're illegal!?! I love your brazenness in posting about them. You are too funny.
My cousin's had chickens a couple years ago, and I totally know what you mean. Watching them and laughing at their antics was one of my favorite things to do. You're right. It's very calming.
Susan U
I was just pondering your chickens and mine, wondering how you got it all going and good resources for info for the first-time chicken farmer. I have 12 3-week old chicks brooding in my living room. Getting ready to start on our coop. We live smack-dab in the middle of town but are lucky enough to have ordinances that allow city chicks. :-) Can't wait to read your posts next week. Thanks, Karen!
Stef
I love reading your posts about chickens and look forward to reading next week's post. I've been thinking about getting chickens for quite a while, but my husband & I have an ongoing argument about what will happen when they're too old to lay eggs. Do you believe in the concept of a chicken retirement home?
Pat Kichinko
Go here. Go here now. I thought of you immediately when I saw this. Go here. Go here now. Please.
http://www.bhg.com/decorating/decorating-style/flea-market/flea-market-chic-home-accents/?sssdmh=dm17.660628&esrc=nwdiy040313a#page=27
Emily
I would LOVE to have some chickens but live within the city limits... I am sure the neighbors will tell on me quick. But to have fresh eggss....awww. Tis a dream. How many eggs to do you average?
Emily
Karen
Emily - Chickens lay like crazy in their first year. 6 eggs a week from each chicken, so 24 a week from 4 hens. Now in their second year they've settled down to only 12-17 eggs a week. ~ karen!
Feral Turtle
I love chickens! Great post Karen!
Marti
You always make it look so wonderful and oddly, weirdly fulfilling. Alas, there's no room in my life for chickens, but I do love watching you and the Fella with yours. Congrats on two great years of fresh eggs!
By the way, how long is a typical chicken's "ridiculously happy" life? Not that Cuddles or Norma or the others is in any way.... typical.
Karen
Marti - Chickens can live to be 15 years old or more, or they can up and die one morning for what seems to be no apparent reason. Go figure. ~ karen
Ann
Karen,
I have had my oldest chickens about as long as you. And have had all the same issues. Had 1 rooster to rehome and lost a new chick at day 2. And I also love to just watch my cluckies. I still have 1 rooster and my birdies free range during the day, so I get to see how they all interact, how they forage, and get to enjoy the advantages of them going after bugs in the garden. After 3 seasons of getting new varieties of chicks, I now have hens laying blue, green, medium brown and tan eggs. This years babies should lay white, cream and very very dark brown eggs. So now when I give my eggs away to friends and family, they will be opening their cartons to a rainbow of eggs.
I also give raising chickens a 10 out of 10. But then again, I haven't gotten started yet with my ducks. The new ducklings will be arriving as soon as the new chicks get out of the brooder box!!! Lots of people say they are better at getting the bad bugs out of the garden and lay even better than chickens.