Friday, March 28

Running around like chickens...

We got chickens.
Well, real life teeny, tiny baby chicks to start.

I am in the kitchen, making Nana Muffins (French Breakfast Puffs), for Ellie for the umpteenth time in her little life, and while breaking the egg to stir in the batter, the shell shatters. I mean a million-pieces-shatters. I say some very unladylike words and begin to pull the shards out of the batter.

Meanwhile, Matt is listening. And thinking, as he is often wont to do.

...

A long time ago, I had briefly mentioned the idea of having chickens. A coworker has some, numerous families I know raise their own meat and eggs, and it seems almost that our city suggests it. The Springs animal ordinance allows for ten (10!!) pullets, but no roosters.

So, after hearing my rant about the brittle eggs ruining my batter, Matt comes to me with an idea. What if - I mean, what IF we got chickens.

I am certain the look of utter surprise at this suggestion coming from my husband almost turned him off the idea. Matt has many a great idea, but generally, raising livestock is not one of them.

...

After some intensive research, pricing out coop-building supplies at Lowes vs. purchasing a coop from Costco, and... well, really, just diving in. We checked what the city ordinance allowed, and what to expect from raising chickens. Other than that, we really just threw caution to the wind and went for it. Which isn't really like us. I'm very methodical about my purchases: Checking prices, variety, ideologies, pedagogues, theologies before I make a firm decision.

We found a wholesale chick supplier on Craigslist with a great reputation. She ordered chicks as they are requested, and after researching the breeds she has, we chose two Cinnamon Queens (Ruby and Henrietta) and a Blue Cochin (Buffalo). We paid $6 a piece for the two-day-old chicks, and brought them home in a plastic box three days ago.

Good golly, are they ever cute. And LOUD. LOUD LOUD LOUD. The first thing we did when we got home was to put Ellie in the bathtub with them. They had a lot to say about that event, and the nature of our bathroom lends itself to a magnifying of the noise.



We bought a pretty standard, albeit adorable, coop from Costco as the cost of a ready-made coop was on par with the supplies we would have bought from Lowes without instructions. We dropped off at Circle R and picked up some feed. At Petco we got some cedar bedding, a cat water bottle, and a heat lamp.

All told, this is a pretty expensive venture - $180 (plus tax) for the coop, $18 for the chicks, $50 for miscellaneous supplies. But, the excitement on Ellie's face and the intense interest June gives the chicks is proving to be worth it!