Chickies!

5:30 AM

Meet Joni, Carly, and Grace. (Yes we stuck with our musical theme). Two Buff Orpingtons and an Ameraucana.

I may have jumped the gun on the whole chicken thing. My inner voice has run the course of "I am out of my mind" to "I can totally do this." They are a week old now and are living in a tub in the spare bedroom under a heat lamp. We have no outside housing for them yet. Nor do we have any idea of what sort of housing to build them. I was thinking a chicken tractor. Bryan was thinking something more permanent and stable. He's afraid that a predator will get them and then I'll be a basket case (and there is probably something to that). Of course I don't want anything to happen to them. The cats are curious. Henley is oblivious. And Buffett wants in that room so badly he can almost taste them through the door!

I have no idea about raising chickens. While I did grow up on a cattle ranch in Kansas until I was eight we never had chickens. I guess I'm sort of expecting to learn as I go. My dad has a friend who has said I can call on him if I need and there is always the internet. I was relieved that they made it through the first night in our house. I just don't want anything to happen to these little fuzz balls that will make me doubt my chicken raising abilities. And I don't want my peeps to say "I told you so."

Right now all I can say is bring on the chicken adventures!

flyingjen

12 comments

Tracey ~ CloverMarch 19, 2013 at 5:34 AM
Now we both have babies in our tubs, although mine are out of here today. Love the names you gave them.
Chickens are easy, really.
Check out Keeping Chickens by Ashley English, it might help you.
If you need an SOS just ask okay?
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AnonymousMarch 19, 2013 at 6:01 AM
Good for you! I would love to keep chickens - maybe one day. Their names are perfect!!
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Optimistic ExistentialistMarch 19, 2013 at 6:47 AM
There is a blog called "Our Neck of the Woods" and it's this woman who raises lots of chickens and blogs about it all the time! If you inbox me I'll be happy to find you the link and send it to you!
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karenMarch 19, 2013 at 7:44 AM
how exciting!!! I'm sure you will be learning very quickly :)
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UnknownMarch 19, 2013 at 8:46 AM
Chickens!!!! I would LOVE to get chickens but we can't have them in our city :-( And even if we could my husband would be afraid to get them....he knows I'd be more then a basket case if a predator got to them!!
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PumpkinMarch 19, 2013 at 9:57 AM
You grew up in Kansas? I had no idea! Do you miss it? I don't, not yet. You already did something right by picking out the best chicken breeds ever! Buffs are super friendly, especially if you feed them out of your hand when they are little and let them get used to you. Ameraucanas are a little more wild, they aren't as domesticated, but their eggs are gorgeous. I can't tell for sure, but I'm guess your little guy is going to lay blue eggs, as they get older you can tell by the color of their feathers and by their little ears.
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tessMarch 19, 2013 at 8:47 PM
Oh my gosh, I'm so jealous! :) Can't wait to see these little chicks grow up - so excited for you!
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cassieMarch 23, 2013 at 7:41 AM
congrats on your babies! before we got our hens two years ago i bought ashley english's book Keeping Chickens. it has lots of great info, even plans to build a small chicken tractor. we have a buff orpington and an amraucana. such beautiful and delicious eggs.
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KarinMay 10, 2013 at 7:40 AM
How wonderful is that! I am new and just got my 1st 3 hens this week.
http://openbeauty.blogspot.com/2013/05/mothers-day-sewing-and-few-chickens.html
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