CHICKENS!
You thought I was going to say Cookie, didn’t you? ;o)
I have tweeted a little about it, and even tweeted a couple of pictures, but most of you probably don’t know that we became the owners of 4 chickens about three weeks ago.
My husband and boys spent about a month working really hard on a 4×6′ henhouse, and I searched Craigslist until we found someone local who had chickens that were definitely hens (important!!) but were young enough that they weren’t producing eggs yet. We wanted them to be young so they would get used to us and we could get used to them. Neither E nor I had ever really been around chickens before, but we want these:
- Credit: Stock XChange
So we got these girls.
- (c) 2011 The Momma Knows
Two Americaunas and two Leghorns. They are around 5 months old, are fairly mild mannered, and they’re really cute to listen to! They still sound like baby chicks (think peep, peep, peep) a lot of the time. The black and white Americauna is the dominant hen in this house. The bosses the others around and is the leader where ever they happen to go. We can definitely see what “pecking order” means!
They’ve taken over our garden area. Right now they just eat, poop, and hang out under the raspberry bushes. So far they haven’t gone over either the 4′ chain link fence or the 8′ vinyl fence. We’re hoping they are happy enough where they are that they won’t feel the need. They have our entire 15′x 90′ garden area to free range in, as well as their coop.
Chickens. Why? For eggs, free fertilizer for the garden, and yes, meat eventually. We’ll eat them when they are about done laying eggs. We’re told they will lay almost every day for close to two years, then they taper off. I’ve even thought of borrowing a rooster for a day and letting them hatch a few in the springtime. We could sell the chicks. We’ll see.
They boys have learned how to mix chicken feed, and soon they will also learn how to clean a chicken coop! They’re super excited about that last one, lemme tell ya. 
They are also learning how to get them to come when they are called (bring treats) and how to catch them (carefully and quickly!) The girls don’t especially like to be caught, held or petted, but we make them put up with it. I want them to be at least somewhat comfortable being handled.
So those are our new girls. They don’t have names yet, except the brown Americauna. Her name is Helga, (say it with your best Arnold Swarzenegger accent) named by our 17yo daughter. The boys will probably come up with names for the rest of them shortly.
Read past posts from the ABC’s of Homeschooling
Chickens is a good “C” for homeschooling. Teaching responsibility.
Seriously, though, fresh eggs are great! I certainly hope you are able to get them “tamed” before they start laying.
Naomi recently posted..ABCs of Homeschooling – “C” is for Constellation
I think they’ll be fine. We are out there with them about twice a day, just so they are used to us. I’m looking forward to having fresh eggs again!
I miss having chickens. We had over 40 at one time – all free range and rare/exotic breeds – and it was wonderful. Loved seeing them walk around the yard and pastures. The eggs are so much better than the ones in the store. You’ll have a colorful bunch of eggs each day which will be fun for your children to see. Enjoy!
Ann recently posted..Pet Therapy – 52 Weeks of Giving – Week 42
I can’t wait! We have bought farm eggs from some friends for the past few years, but they decided to cull their flock down to just enough egg producers for their family. That’s what caused us to look into getting chickens in the first place! I LOVE those tough, colorful shells and the eggs themselves look and taste so much better than store bought. Can’t wait.
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Oh, how I wish we could have chickens! They are a great learning experience, not to mention the girt of eggs.
A former neighbor of my aunt’s used to raise chickens. And pit bulls. Not sure how that worked out.
Head Ant recently posted..C is for Creativity
Ha! You’d be surprised how many in California have pit pulls and chickens!
Here in Washington, backyard chickens are legal in many areas, even in neighborhoods. You should check into the zoning in your area. 
We have .38 acre and can have up to 8 in our yard.
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Yay! Chickens!! I need to get some more chickens. =(
Amber ~ Classic Housewife recently posted..Abc’s of Homeschooling ~ C is for…
My husband would LOVE to have chickens! (I think I’d be afraid to pick them up, though. Kinda wimpy!)
Those eggs will be worth the work. Yum!
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I can’t wait to have chickens! Pretty sure we’ll need more than four though, if they only lay once a day or less. We eat a LOT of eggs. How many eggs do you have around on a good day/week?
Cindy recently posted..This Week on HCMS
Wow! So MANY of you linked up! I’ve been gone but I will visit your posts this week along with your D posts too. Thanks and God bless!
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