Got this from Landlady this morning…
The Honeymoon is Over: Chicken Honesty
When we finally got our first flock of chicks, each fluff-ball was socialized daily, fed from hand and given a special name best suited to his/her personality. Special treats were lovingly offered each day, and every egg was a celebrated as a victory.
Fast forward three years later and we are so over that now. We currently have chickens that we’ve had for close to a year that don’t even have a name. And since we haven’t socialized them properly they get all Benny Hill theme music on us (forward to the 1:07 mark) when we try to get close. Bitches.
Don’t get me wrong – I don’t believe we loath having chickens. It’s just now that all the gilt has worn off and I can be 100% honest with you about it all. To keep it organized, here are 5 truths about raising chickens that any experienced and honest chicken owner can tell you:
Every word that follows is true, as I attest from experience.
Speaking of annoying birds…
Sorry, couldn’t get a better pic. Every time I stepped outside they all flew away. But the Lair was visited by a migrating flock of dozens of robins this morning. They took particular interest in this patch of ice that has formed in the gray water trench, in the shadow of the woodshed. Beginning to think it’ll be there till March or April.
In Michigan I enjoyed the robins when they came back in April or May. There was a particular male that always staked out my neighbor’s television antenna (kids, ask your parents) and sang his heart out first thing in the morning. I called him Lonesome Larry, and after a couple of mornings he stopped being my favorite thing. But at least when he came home and started hollering, Spring was definitely in progress.
Then there’s this disheartening sight, also a sign of winter…
Second morning in a row the Big Chickenhouse has provided zero eggs. The four hens in the Fortress of Attitude are still giving me an egg or two most days, but Landlady’s nine have dried up entirely. Not surprising when you look at them, they’re moulting themselves bald at the moment. A hen can make eggs or feathers, but not both. So ironically, ol’ chicken farmer Joel will be buying eggs at the dollar store for a few months. Makes you begrudge every scoop of chicken pellets, to be honest.
And though not birds, here’s a gift from another annoying animal in the Gulch…
Local rodents, particularly packrats, like to chew pieces off prickly pears and bring them to their nests. Whether this is for moisture or defense, I’ve never been sure; packrats fill their nests with all sorts of things including rocks and dog turds. I only mind when I have to clean out a nest and one other time…
…when they drop the damned things in the middle of the road. The Jeep’s tires are less than a year old and could probably survive running over this, but a year ago the tires were paper-thin and these were landmines left for me by the rats. Even now I take no chances; when I see a chunk of prickly pear in the road I have to stop everything and go get it out of the way.
Part of the joys of desert life, I guess…
Ah the joys of country life. I know all about the chicken issues from my neighbor who raises a dozen or so. Every now and then we will sit and have a libation or two and he will unload all the pent up frustrations about his flock. BTW one of the cool things he has is a chicken plucking machine. It kinda looks like a washer but damned if it don’t work.
You have pack rats and we have mice. Up until recently I have had to catch and release because of my wife’s attitude about animals. After the last incident I’ve said the hell with it, now I trap them with traps that also end them. As for my wife I look her right in the eye and say “Yes dear I caught and released the poor little thing.” I know there’s a special ring of hell for people like me who lie to their wives but I’m tired of the destruction the little bastards do.
Joel: Funny stuff. You’ve pretty much convinced me I don’t wanna raise no darn chickens.
Mike: you’ve released the poor little thing’s spirit, benevolently freeing it from the surly bonds of earthly existence. Yeah, that’ll work… 🙂 Me, I just stomp on ’em and try to not feel sick.
The wisdom of Zelda – The only good rodent is a dead rodent. They are destructive disease vectors. I only care that they die quickly.
Chickens – 3 or 4 hens is about all I want to deal with at any one time. To be honest I’d rather deal with ducks, less fragile, less temperamental, better mothers and less noisy…Duck eggs are great for baking, the only reason to keep chickens is for fried eggs and deviled. Plus, it’s fun to watch the drakes chase the rooster around and kick his butt.