Shunning the well meant advice of a friend, I called the Craig's List add and asked if we could come look at their chickens. Ordering the peeps we wanted meant we wouldn't be getting them until the beginning of September. And we (particularly B.) REALLY wanted Buckeyes.
My sister who is working on replacing their flock came along, so armed with a Standard of Perfection list I printed off the 'net to aid me in determining the gender, we were off.
The rooster that greeted us at the farm was BEAUTIFUL. I hope we don't have one, they're too pretty to butcher.
The list didn't help me a lick.
I picked out 6 that I thought looked the most like they could be hens, handed over our (uh my sisters. We didn't have the right cash) $18 for the lot and headed home.
We still don't know what we have. Nobodies started crowing so I guess that's good.
The 2 that Anna took home haven't either.
The kids say we have 2 hens and 2 roosters because "Two of them are huger."
There were 2 age groups in the pen together when we picked them out.
The names vary by the day, but right now I think they're Ellie, Thelma Lou, Charlene Darling and Opie. (that one's Beanses.)
Yes, we're big Andy Griffith fans. But those names are also switched up with the girls from 7 Brides for 7 Brothers. The kids favorite movie, pretty much ever. (Beans picking a song the other morning before Bible: "We sthing Besth Yoh Bufill Hie?")
They come running when they see the kids (and have since their first morning here) and are picky eaters. Won't touch fruit, can't get enough broccoli.
They should start laying around the end of August and we'll add more to the flock (different breed though) in the spring.
And B.'s already talking meat birds, a turkey, pigs and goats.
~*~ Yes ~*~
8 comments:
Why have I never seen Seven Brides for Seven Brothers?! I guess I should remedy this.
Glad to see Half-Pint Farm getting into full swing!
After you first commented on my blog a million years ago (it seems like it, anyway), and I hopped over the ocean to see who Bonnie was (groan), I've peeked in from time to time. I am a rotten person, though, and NEVER COMMENTED. Forgive me, please.
All in a fell swoop:
I love your haying apron and think someone should paint you in it and am impressed by your mansion of a coop (holy cow!) and admire the new chicks to fill it with manure and eggs (we bought straight-run chicks from a local farmer a few years back, and it ended well), and, most importantly, I am trying my darnedest to ignore your pictures of strawberry jam because I've convinced myself there's a Big Long Rest before canning begins again. We've got months and months of a Big Long Rest, right?
Haha! Love the big hat! What a cutie! Wow, that seems like a great deal on chickens... I've gotten some great deals off of craigslist. Just have to use common sense and be wary.
Sarah- You know my feelings on 7 Brides : D
Abigail- I cropped my face out for a reason (It could throw Picasso off his oats), but thank-you for the sentiment and the manure wishes. And you have pa-lenty of time before canning begins. Again.
Elisha- The best deal of all being your hoosier! I'm still jealous. (And chuckle at your story...)
Welp. Chicks, as you know because I think I told you, have been on the to-buy list here too and I have been given daily reminders to do so from my Farmer-boy. When I read this post I said, TODAY IS THE DAY because I was skeered after you mention WEEKS of waiting. Sure enough- it will be weeks of waiting. So yeah. Not sure what to do about that- there is an Amish auction every other Saturday around here and I have seen chickens there. Maybe I will see chicks too. If not, I maybe just maybe will check craigslist too. OR, we will have FALL chickies which will stink.
And ALL OF THIS because I am the WORLDS WORST PROCRASTINATOR!
(Happy chicken day! and YAY about the other someday animals that your hubby is contemplating. Animals are like Pringles (which are oh-so-yummy)- once you pop, you can't stop.
Mrs. Bonnie, I wanted to "like" your post. Then I realized that this isn't facebook! That's one cute lil' farmer boy! Anyway, just wanted to let you know that even tho I'm not commenting, I'm still lurking ;)
So I thought you should know that one-- ONE-- mere day after your well-meant but false assurances, I am in the kitchen waiting an interminable amount of time for a cannerload of sour cherries to reach a boil while I pit cherries for a second cannerload. And jam. And it's already eleven o'clock.
Whatever did our canning great-grandmothers do without blogs to comment on at such times as these? I bet they had nervous breakdowns, that's what.
Durn near had one myself today, canning raspberries that took me 1 1/2 hours to pick and only gave me enough for ONE lousy batch. One. May your canning minutes pass swiftly and all of your jars seal. (Hey, I think I just wrote my own canning blessing.)
I'm sewing 4th of July dresses for my girls. Didn't do Christmas dresses, nor Easter, so 4th of Joo-ly 'tis. And they aren't even R.W.and B. They're Gray and yellow. And not going to sew themselves so I should get moving...
Post a Comment