In the Begining

Let's step back a few days to the first day of being a "chicken farmer."  I am sure that is not a correct saying or title, but that's what I got.  So for Christmas my husband agreed to purchase a used coop for me.  

la Coop Huevos Rancheros

On Jan 2, 2012: I set out with my 5 year old daughter to buy some chickens. We returned home with 4 lovely Americana hens of varying color.  I had my first brave moment of holding them as they moved into the coop. The ladies were not too sure of the place and I really wanted to cluck at them, but we got them fed and watered and left them alone to peck about and roost.

Henny Penny 

Popcorn Chicken, the white little hen

Golden Fried Chicken aka Goldie

Gina! the beautiful rebel

January 3, 2012:  Things started out fine. I set out on my first morning to de-ice the water, check feed, etc.  After a bit of "playing" with them, I realized it was time to get the kids off to school.  I figured I would resume when I returned in about 10 minutes.

Upon return, I found my little terrier mix dogs had dug into the back yard and that I had NOT refastened the lock on the door to the coop.  You guessed it, little Goldie lay dead.  Wow-less than 24 hours as a chicken farmer and I am already down 1 hen.  GREAT! Any ideas on how to teach your dogs not to kill your chickens?

Well, I thought since it was my fault that sweet Goldie met her maker, I thought I should not waste the money I just spent on her and thus I set out to butcher her.  Well, what do I know about this you ask?  Heck, I have Google, thus I am an expert.  I bravely chopped off her head and then began to pluck some feathers.  I was doing good, but then her entire left breast skin came off (now I know where the dogs had attacked her).  At this point I couldn't do it any more.  Plus I got a glimpse at how tiny her breast meat was and thought, "really, I am going to do this for that?  Heck no!"  So I left her for my husband to deal with which meant a dumpster burial.

After school I told my kids.  They were kind of sad, but mostly just Laine wanted to know if I would dig up Goldie so she could see the dead chicken.  I explained that I couldn't as she was in a dumpster off of our property (that is what happens when you drive to town with a dead chicken in your truck-nearest dumpster becomes the burial grounds).  Sure enough, Laine wanted me to drive there to get her out.  No way girlfriend. 

January 4-5, 2012:  Things going better.  The hens have recovered and will venture out of the coop and I am doing a much better job keeping the dogs out.  The kids and I were able to sit near the coop and feed the ladies some scratch.  The did dare to get close to us, just not too close.

January 6, 2012:  No eggs yet.  They are 1-2 years old, so should be laying.  Fingers crosses.  I added some meal worms to the treat list and also got some oyster shell for them. 

Fingers Crossed for Eggs!
Your new favorite Chicken Farmer
Allison