We got ourselves some chickies…
April 26, 2011
We’ve wanted to get chickens since we’ve moved to our new house, but my husband and I are VERY good (well a lot better than we used to be) about putting off projects until we can do them properly. Ok, so we’re not VERY good, but we’re getting better. We really wanted to get chickens for the summer, but with Quilt Market just weeks away, and other projects we want to do this summer, we decided to hold off.
Until….
Our Renaissance-man next door neighbor told us he’s been wanting to get chickens too, and offered to build the coop himself right between our two fences, and we’d just take turns tending to them. We both have been wanting to have our kids learn a little work, and so we told the neighbors that we’d be selling our extra eggs. We started out with 12 chicks, but once the neighbors found out ,they all wanted fresh eggs too. So now we have 18.
And they are all, as I type this, inside my living room sleeping all snuggled in a ball inside a clear bin. With fresh worms from our garden and a special stick from Ian so they have a toy to play with.
This one is called Lemon. Don’t be fooled, he actually likes being held like this, and is quite fond of Ian. He loves being snuggled next to his cheek, and will stay in his hands nice and calm, for minutes. Ian has taken to quite a few of them. He even named his favorite one ‘Sweetie’.
My husband and I have been learning how to care for the chickens, and lucky for us, our neighbor is quite the expert too. I hate to see them grow though….aren’t they just adorable? We’ve had them 4 days now, and they’ve already gotten so much bigger! By the end of the week, they’ll be able to fly out of the box we’ve made for them. But it’s still too cold to let them sleep outside, and frankly, my 3 kids are tickled to have 18 chickens sleeping over in the front room right now.
Just look how darling! And honestly? Constant entertainment.
And possibly my favorite photo of the weekend:
Growing babies, and growing birdies. And a growing garden. Heaven.
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Oh Sarah, this photos are lovely!
I would love to have some chikens too if our garden was a bit bigger! nothing like fresh home eggs!
and you are right, the last photo + your words= heaven! so beautiful and full of life!
The chicks are so cute! My husband and I have been talking about getting chickens but haven’t made the leap yet. We have so many other things to take care of every day that I’m a bit hesitant to tack on another chore. I think it’s great that you have a neighbor willing to help out.
How adorable. Both our grandchicks (gchildren) and the kind with feathers. Can’t wait to see you all next week.
SO cute! My parents just got a bunch of little chicks (and a cow). Makes me wish we lived closer to them so Soren can have fun with them. Good luck at your quilt market. I’m excited to see all your fabric debut.
My neighbor had some chickens, but the raccoons got them.
I don’t think she had a good coop.
Oh we just got chickens too! I hate to see them grow but I am looking forward to the eggs. Isn’t it amazing how the kids take to them, the best entertainment (and tear subduer). Hopefully this inspires some little chicks in a couple of your illustrations?
Ok now I have to show off our chicks…well from a year ago http://inevergrewup.net/raising-backyard-chickens/ they are fully grown now! With just having my 3rd baby I send them outside to play with the chickens, keeps them entertained for a long time! We have SO many eggs, our neighbors get some. I need to learn to cook more dishes that have more eggs in them…
Aww, way too cute!
I heard a story on the radio the other day that you can get salmonella from touching / holding chickens. Might want to look into it! Make sure they are washing their hands! (something about their droppings getting on their bodies and then transferring it to humans. Said ok to touch, but don’t kiss or snuggle. Wash hands and should be fine.
great pics of chickies and kidlets
a perfect activity for Spring!
My husband and I are new to urban chicken-keeping (we brought our hens home a couple weeks ago), and we absolutely love it. Besides eating the yummy fresh eggs, my favorite things about having chickens are: looking out the kitchen window and watching them strut around, opening the hutch door and finding a perfect little egg, and shutting the coop door at night, knowing they’re safe and cozy inside.
Their care has been surprisingly simple, and so far well worth it!
Oh, so sweet – & such beautiful photos.
My children would love some chickens – if only we had the space! x
Congratulations on your sweet new flock! Having chickens is so much fun – and of course the eggs taste wonderful. But those chicks do grow up too fast.
Best of luck (not that you’ll need it) at the Quilt Market. I bet everyone is going to love your designs!
oh my…they’re so so cute! and beautiful photos too!
We are just starting out with chicks too! We only have 7 though. We got them at 1 and 2 weeks old and they do not like to snuggle but we keep trying to handle them daily to get them use to us. Good luck with your chicken raising!