The boys each picked their favorite and gave them a name: Boom, Boom, Buckbeak and Dottie. Don and I named the last, fourth one Minerva (Minnie).
Don designed and built this beautiful coop.
And the chicks began turning into chickens...
A lover of animals and budding naturalist, Charlie was a natural with them from the beginning.
They imprinted with me and I was a goner.
They've been a source of entertainment...
And education... Here's Charlie in the coop waiting to see Dottie lay one of her first few eggs.
They've provided food and the unique experience of knowing our food source; as well as the work and responsibilities involved in maintaining that...
They've tested our intellect, ingenuity and skills by pooping all over our deck and glorious backyard. Because once you have chicken poop all over your yard you'll stop at nothing to contain it! We feel cautiously hopeful about our latest solution, which includes a completely enclosed extra 25 feet of "chicken run"...
They've flown the coop many times to the neighbor's who don't mind at all. The neighbors get a kick out of watching them, but we "apologize" with eggs anyway. The family with young kids behind us love watching them over the fence. The other evening they were peeking over the fence and giggling about the chickens for what seemed like an hour. In this time in our culture, where we tend relegate ourselves to life as very busy, nuclear families, these darn chickens have fostered a sense of community with our neighbors.
Our goals when we set out to have chickens were vague and varied. Suffice to say, they've lived up to our expectations, and provided very much more than expected in very many ways.
It's been a fun, enlightening, first year with our feathery kids!
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