The chicks arrived a week ago. My first opportunity to take pictures came on Friday, when the chicks graduated to being pullets. I had some old kale in the garden that was infested with caterpillars, so I cut and gave it to my pullets as a graduation present. They loved it.
Okay, gals, it's time for your group shot.
Group shot? Wait, where are we?
Watching the birds has been a hoot (should I make that a cluck?). I learned, for example, that even hens fly at each other and chest bump. I was most surprised to discover that a little pullet can pick up half a corn cob and run with it some distance. How far we may never know, because the other pullets grabbed hold.
I’ve also been amazed at the behavior of our cats, Tucker and Ms. C. (last picture). I was out of town when the chicks arrived, but Mr. Homestead read both cats the riot act (without shouting, he says), and now I can’t get them to get close enough to take a picture of them together. Of course, yesterday when I had the pullets free-ranging in the garden with just a little chicken wire encircling them, Tucker went into stealth mode, and we had to shut him in the house until we were done with our tractor modifications (removing the chicken wire on the bottom).
We are raising the chickens in a chicken tractor, a moveable coop and run. That way, they have fresh forage every day, to supplement their organic feed, and never sit in their own muck. They get all of the health benefits of free ranging without the danger. We are raising them primarily for eggs, but I keep reminding myself that some day, when their laying days are done, all five are destined for a stew pot. It’s not easy to think that way when they are so adorable, with so much personality. Deep sigh. Did our grandmothers feel this way?
No. My grandmother did not feel that way. Growing up I remember when my hens disappeared I was told that they got old enough to fly. Having been raised with chickens, my grandmother really was efficient at the whole process.
Well, it’ll be a long time before anything other than eggs happen here, maybe forever. Still, I do think if I’m going to eat animal protein, I should feel some guilt for not being able to, um, do the deed.
(By the way, I lost a subscriber with this post. Don’t worry vegetarians, I promise I’ll not make this corner of the blog universe gruesome.)
How cool! I would love to raise chickens at some point. And I love that you are using the moveable coop technique. It makes so much sense. Enjoy!
By the way, there’s a great chapter in Barbara Kingsolver’s “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle” titled “You can’t run away on harvest day,” which talks about her philosophy on eating animals she has raised. It’s very touching and real, as is book itself.
It’s an amazing book, isn’t it? I will probably revisit as we get closer to the end of their laying days. Maybe it will become a giveaway then.
They are getting used to their world moving every morning!
You are doing what I can only dream of. They are adorable. Chickens give back too!! Ha, Char
Wow–to be doing what someone else dreams of! Did I mention that I dream of doing what the blogger in “What Did She Do Today?” does? She has a cow now!