Never in a million years would I have ever imagined that
we would be raising chickens but as I sit here and think about the 43 little
fuzzy bodies that are cozily sleeping downstairs, I must say I’m ESTATIC! I feel like a new mom again, checking to make
sure everyone’s breathing, not too cold, and not too hot!! They are absolutely amazing and a blast to
watch. I seriously think the girls would
sleep with them if they could!
You are probably
thinking, who is this crazy, chick obsessed woman? I’m just a regular person trying to do what
is best for my family. My name is
Jessica and I have been married for 9 ½ years to my husband, Chad. We have been blessed with 3 beautiful girls,
Eliza (8), Aurora (7), and Jorja (4).
They are the main reason that we have decided to embark on a little bit
of homesteading. Amazingly they love the
fact that they know where their food comes from so why not embrace it.
Our first project of
the year is chickens. I have poured over
magazines and the internet for months while the girls have looked over my
shoulder. My husband would say “so you
have a breed picked out?” and I would answer “yes, definitely this one for
sure,” only to change my mind the next week!!
Luckily, Chick Days finally arrived at Tractor Supply and Southern
States making the decision making process a little less difficult. Our flock will include 12 Barred Rocks, 12
Red Sex-Links, 5 Speckled Sussex, 2 Rhode Island Reds, and 12 Cornish X
broilers. Funny how I originally planned
on having 12 layers and 12 broilers!
So in last 24 hours
I have learned that they sell those convenient feeders and waterers for a
reason. Rowdy little chicks quickly make
a mess of open containers of food and water.
I have also learned that no amount of reading prepares you for having
the real thing! In another bout of
unpreparedness we need to build another brooder for the broilers. The next major project here on the “farm” is
expanding the shed into a barn and coop.
Until next time!!
