Adding to the Flock

Our chickens by the numbers:

Total ever owned: 51

Total roosters we've had to give away: 15 (So far. This new batch of chicks has roosters yet to be unveiled, so to speak.)

Total chickens who have passed through the veil of death: 17 (including two teeny chicks we couldn't get to thrive this year - rest in peace, Tiptoe and Wobble.)

Total current chickens in our flock: 19

And for the record, 19 is really more than we can handle. Our 11 new chicks are already very teenagery in their appearance and behavior and are practically bursting out of their brooder in the garage. We need to get them out into the actual chicken coop and run, getting acclimated to the old chickens, and figuring out which ones get to stay (the gals) and which ones will have to go (sorry guys).

Here's the tough part. It's almost time to send some of our old lady chickens to a retirement home. And no, that isn't a euphemism for killing them. I can't bring myself to do that! Which proves that I'm just not ever going to be a true farmer. I found an ACTUAL farm that takes old chickens and lets them roam free to eat bugs and weeds. I'm pretty sad about letting them go....in fact I haven't done it yet. But also we do actually want eggs from our flock. So I guess this is the way it goes.

Welcome to the family Ripley, Sigourney, Uma, Prim, Ibbie, Fifi, Jane, Lizzie, Edelweiss, Wisteria, and Diana. (Try guessing who named who.)

We are trying a couple of new breeds this time around - D'uccles, which we have had before but weren't able to raise to be adults, and a couple of non-bantam breeds; Easter Eggers and Americanas. Apparently they are both known for being incredibly sweet. So far I do think these chicks are a lot more calm and willing to be held. It's been a couple of years since we have had chicks and it's been super fun to have them around again! We actually kept them in the living room for their first 10 days or so - mostly because we didn't clear out a space for them in the garage right away. But also because we decided it was delightful to have them close by to keep an eye on them and enjoy their little cheep cheeps.

Here is my teen girl with one of my teen chickens, Jane:

 

And for whomever was trying to guess on the names:

Troy - Diana, after his favorite singer, Diana Krall

Rachel - Jane and Lizzie, after the Bennett sisters from Pride and Prejudice, and Ripley after Ellen Ripley in the Alien movies. (Troy and I picked that name a long time ago.)

Chase & Romney - Prim (Primordial), Fifi (Colossus the Fire Dragon), Ibbie (Cannibal), all named after roller coasters at Lagoon. Sigourney and Uma after the actresses.

Emma - Edelweiss and Wysteria. I think we are going to call them Edo (Ay-doh) and Wisty. 

Names will stick if we are able to tell any of them apart!