chicken love and an apron

It seems like we are constantly meeting people who want to know about our chickens or are thinking of raising their own. If you've been thinking about it, please, do yourself a favor and go get some chickens. The case for chickens: they are not at all stinky (some people worry about this) and are easy and fairly inexpensive to care for beyond the initial building/buying of the coop. My husband, who is brilliant and resourceful but not exactly a handy man, built our coop and it's perfect. We have the little door rigged right now so the kids can open and close the coop easily. In fact, Soren (7) is responsible for feeding, letting them in and out, and collecting eggs--a job he takes quite seriously.

You don't need to have a rooster to have eggs although I've read that hens lay better with a rooster. Since we got rid of Beyond our hens still lay once a day or every other day which is more than enough for us. As far as other critters, we live in a regular neighborhood but back up to a creek and it is very wooded so we have lots of raccoons, skunks, opossums, chachalacas (which are the Valley equivalent to fat loud buzzards), squirrels, and coyotes, not to mention stray cats and our dog. None of these pay much attention to the chickens during the day, but we do have to be very careful to always close them up in the coop at night. We have had raccoons jump the fence and attack the hens. If this happens and you don't have a rooster to defend them, then you won't have hens for very long. Don't ask me how I know this. Otherwise, keep them closed up safely at night and you shouldn't have a problem.

My favorite thing about having chickens, aside from the fresh eggs, is that they are surprisingly sweet and interesting pets. Picture me, the kids, the chickens, and the dog hanging out in the backyard in the afternoons welcoming a break from the now setting sun. When dad arrives home from work, it is the chicken who quickly runs to his side patiently waiting her turn for attention. She follows me around in the yard like a puppy and is usually quite content to settle in my arms and be held. But we've always made a point of holding the chicks as much as possible from the time they were babies. These are our newest babies. Apparently, getting chickens is addictive kind of like getting tattoos. It doesn't help that they are so small and stinkin cute.

John came home from work a few weeks ago with six new baby chicks. Little Yellow is our favorite and we fight over her/him daily. She's a banty and so tiny. About the size of a peep, but not as tasty. See those fuzzy feet? Stinkin cute, I tell you.

Speaking of yellow and chickens and getting back on the subject of making stuff: I made my mom an Emmeline apron for Mother's Day. I love the pattern and want to make one for myself now, but it will doubtless be much less coordinated and with color & trim everywhere.

Maybe an embroidered chicken would be nice.

Comments

[Debra]

Hi there,
Ahh those chickens DO look cute! I love the sound they make too. Your banner looks cool and that apron, (I thougt was a dress), is so lovely... I'd have to wear it as a dress!! :-)

[Mercedes]

I love it. Especially how you did the top

[Heather Thorp]

We had chickens growing up and I collected the eggs and fed them - sometimes cleaning out too. I loved how soft their feathers are. Our problem was not racoons but foxes - eek! Lovely apron too!

[Marci]

Hi Debra! I love chickens and am working on my hubby now to get a coop built. I love the apron, this would make a darling dress.

[jenny!]

BEAUTIFUL apron! i LOVE the baby chick pics! SOoooo cute. ^_^

[sara]

You are my new favorite blog! I think I've read the whole thing now, front and back. This is my dream chicken coop. In fact, I even just posted about it. :)

You have a beautiful life! Keep up the good work.
Sara