Chicken Chaos

Yesterday as I was passing by my kitchen  window I saw a chicken fly by. Now I don't know about you but that is a rare sight. We've had this big stray dog roaming into our yard recently and so I thought, "oh dear did he finally get into the coop!" I went out in the yard with Jane and low and behold all the chickens were out and running about the yard.

We had cleaned their coop on Monday evening as our Family Home Evening activity and James had forgotten to close up the coop. So they were having a hey day being roam free chickens all over the yard. And man do they poop a lot! I had to walk about the whole yard scooping little chicken poops up. Jane was in second heaven chasing them and giggling away! Luckily Mister James pulled in right as we were wondering how to get them back into their coop.

He and Jane had a ball running around chasing and grabbing chickens. Jane seriously thinks they are so funny and has such adorable laughter as she runs after them! It was really cut watching daddy and daughter running about the yard trailing clucking chickens. It was a good work out to ;). I'm so happy that Jane can grow up in a "country" filled childhood. I love that she enjoys being outside, getting dirty, being active and how she loves animals.

It's so fun collecting eggs from our chickens. Hopefully they'll all still lay after this traumatic run around the yard :). Oh funny chickens!

Ps. We had a huge white egg one morning and when I cracked it it was a two yolker!!! So neat!!

EGGS!

So we have been wondering if we should pluck and cook these silly hens because they just haven't started producing eggs for so long. But we've been patient and feeding them and waiting and waiting. Well Monday when I was refilling food and checking in them I noticed 4 eggs!!!!!!! They were all at the bottom of the coop broken on the ground! At first I was elated and so excited, and then realized what a bummer it was we didn't get to enjoy them. 

We have neglected making them little nesting spots for quite some time and I think the poor ladies have just been waiting. So I finally poked Mister and told him we HAD to get that in for them. So yesterday we helped each other construct their little egg couch :) (that's what James called it). And this morning an EGG was in it!!!!!!! Our first (unbroken) egg.

I can't tell you how many childhood dreams came true as I opened the hatch and their was an egg! When I was young I always fantasized romantic things and egg collecting was definitely in the list of fantasies. There is a part in "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" where the girls mention egg collecting and I always loved that part! It's such a romantic idea to me, a thing of the olden days. So the Lady Hens are safe, I guess James will have to be content wh store bought rotisserie chickens for now ;). We are really excited to keep finding eggs throughout the summer and hope to keep these ladies comfy and happy to keep laying!! Hurray for home grown eggs!!

Chicken Coop Stages 2-3ish

A welcome door to the chicken coop!!!! I have not updated about our chickens little roost progress in some time!! We have sloooooowwly but surely been making progress on their new little home. The little ladies have been sleeping in it for over two weeks now but just with a tarp and heat lamp.

We got the egg laying section attached and are working on its drop door and roof, the door into the coop looks awesome (I love the silver handle!), the roosting perches, and today the main roof was the big project. Mister James has done so incredible building this awesome coop! He just pressed forward confidently and courageously :) even though he's never done something like this. He's pretty much awesome!

As you can tell chickens make a large mess!! Wheew! They are pooping machines! So we attempted to do a little bath in Janes tiny kiddie pool and it was a bit too cold. Poor Colonel was shivering, so James snuggled her up nice and warm. Guess we'll need to wait for a bit warmer weather for that ;).

Sure is looking awesome. I'm just the aesthetic designer and tool holder, Mister James is the real master of the coop! It's getting there!!

The Chicks

Our Hennery:

In honor of Colonol Saunders, James enjoyed this name a great deal. She is the leader of the roost.

LP is the biggest of the flock. She is beautiful and loves to be held.

In honor of the noise Jane makes for chicken Bach is the loudest of all the hens. She would sing and sing as a chick.

One of Carolyn's favorite birds of the Northwest and a family favorite name, chicka-dee-dee-dee. She is the smallest and most timid little lady.

The feistiest of the bunch! This little Priscilla is fast and spunky. Named after our spunky 91 old Grandma!

Chickies

Let the chicken journey begin!!! We have five pecking, chirping and adorable chickens currently residing at our abode in a plastic bin. They have won our hearts and we love all their funny personalities.

James is quite the chicken rooster ;). We've been holding them in hopes to have them "comfortable" with us. I think James secretly wants them to learn tricks and be circus chickens!

We've named them all already with the funny personalities and traits we've seen in them. It's so fun to see them cuddle for sleepy time and follow eachother around their home. I think we are going to like being the owners of chickens. Stay tuned to get their glamor shots and names.

Now we need to get cracking at building them their coop. We've drawn out plans and are trying to gather as much cheap wood as possible to make it as non costly as we can. We are excited for this fun adventure with chickens!