Our most recent foray into backyard chickens led us to someone who was moving and needed to reduce the number of chickens in his flock. Chicken George, as we refer to him to this day, treated his chickens to microwave popcorn on many afternoons. He personally drove over the three hens we picked out and placed them on the roost one at a time while re-assuring them everything was going to be fine.
The hens, which we promptly named Miss Marple, Jessica Fletcher and Nancy Drew, provided eggs for our consumption and tilled the yard for theirs. We enjoyed the cooing, clucking and cackling of the girls. Their egg production slowed with their age, but they continued to produce more than we consumed.
It was a good relationship, but like all good things it came to an end. Jessica met the fate of the minor guest star on "Murder, She Wrote", as she contracted an avian illness of some type and we draw the line at taking chickens to the veterinarian. We will be moving from this house in the relatively near future, and the perimeter of the yard, which belonged to the chickens, needs to be landscaped; Miss Marple and Nancy were re-homed yesterday to someone who already had chickens, as well as lambs, ducks and bees (and that was just in the front yard).
The chicken tractor will be next to go. The coop purchased with this set of chickens was transformed into a tractor so it could be wheeled around the yard and the chickens moved from one place to another, allowing time to scratch and peck while eating the grass and looking for bugs. Now vacant, we spent some time making a few repairs and it is ready for the next owner.
Chickens are relatively low-maintenance animals, produce better eggs than you can find in the grocery store, and provide chicken poop, which is great for the garden. Ever let a chicken loose in the yard so they can look around and curiously explore every nook and cranny? It's pretty entertaining.
Someday we will have chickens again, of that I am sure. Until then, I will till the soil myself and thank the hens for starting it for me.
The hens, which we promptly named Miss Marple, Jessica Fletcher and Nancy Drew, provided eggs for our consumption and tilled the yard for theirs. We enjoyed the cooing, clucking and cackling of the girls. Their egg production slowed with their age, but they continued to produce more than we consumed.
It was a good relationship, but like all good things it came to an end. Jessica met the fate of the minor guest star on "Murder, She Wrote", as she contracted an avian illness of some type and we draw the line at taking chickens to the veterinarian. We will be moving from this house in the relatively near future, and the perimeter of the yard, which belonged to the chickens, needs to be landscaped; Miss Marple and Nancy were re-homed yesterday to someone who already had chickens, as well as lambs, ducks and bees (and that was just in the front yard).
The chicken tractor will be next to go. The coop purchased with this set of chickens was transformed into a tractor so it could be wheeled around the yard and the chickens moved from one place to another, allowing time to scratch and peck while eating the grass and looking for bugs. Now vacant, we spent some time making a few repairs and it is ready for the next owner.
Chickens are relatively low-maintenance animals, produce better eggs than you can find in the grocery store, and provide chicken poop, which is great for the garden. Ever let a chicken loose in the yard so they can look around and curiously explore every nook and cranny? It's pretty entertaining.
Someday we will have chickens again, of that I am sure. Until then, I will till the soil myself and thank the hens for starting it for me.
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