It’s official. We own chickens. Four of them. Meet the girls:
Saturday morning I woke up and thought to myself, “We are going to buy some chickens today.” And so we did.
There is a feed store about 40 minutes away that sells young hens that are already laying eggs. Most of the other stores I contacted only sell baby chicks, and well, considering I already have two baby chicks (and a husband) to take care of, the thought of mothering four baby chicks sort of put me over the edge. It also takes chicks about seven months to start laying eggs, and considering the fact that I don’t even like waiting for the laundry to dry, I decided to go for instant gratification.
It was a totally surreal experience- buying the chickens. We just drove to the feed store, asked for four hens, the clerk put them in a box, and then we drove away. The entire transaction lasted about ten minutes. I couldn’t help but think it was about as anti-climactic as losing your virginity. I kept trying to ask the clerk questions and engage him in conversation, but he was totally over me. I even felt compelled to give him my email address in case he wanted to keep in touch or see how the chickens were doing down the road. I felt bonded to this poor guy and he couldn’t wait to get me out of his store so he could take a smoke break.
I’m sure you are all wondering about the names. Emma wanted to name one of the hens “Kitty”. Ok- no problem. I wanted to name one “Lulu”, after a character in one of Emma’s favorite books Goodnight Lulu. Whitney was set on “Dagny”, one of the main characters in Atlas Shrugged. He actually wanted to give that name to the baby before she was born (he got a big hell-to-the-no from me on that one), so I conceded and let him give the name to one of the chickens. All things considered, that was very generous of me. Don’t you think?
We couldn’t really settle on a fourth name. Emma wanted to name the fourth chicken “Emma”, but since there is a good chance we might eat these chickens one day, I just couldn’t get on board with that. Whitney didn’t really care, so I named the fourth one “Sunny” after my great-aunt. I’m sure you are all asking yourselves, “What is with “Gnocchi” then?” Oh, I am too my friends. You see, Emma is stuck on watching this Curious George cartoon and one of the cats in the show is named “Gnocchi.” Despite explaining to her over and over that the fourth chicken is named “Sunny”, she insists on calling it “Gnocchi”. It seems that the fourth hen is destined to be named after Italian dumplings, so “Gnocchi” it is.
Once we decided on the names, it took a few days for us to assign them to the hens. I have to admit- they are hard to tell apart. Gnocchi has more white feathers than the others, Lulu has a lighter neck, Kitty has a redder neck, and Dagne is lighter all around. I’m glad I’ll have this post and the photo collage as a reference for later. It’s all a bit much to keep track of.
I could go on and on about what life is like at The Little Hen House right now, but I know you guys are all busy. If you want to keep tabs on the hens I’ve dedicated a page on the blog to them. You can find it here- The Literal Hen House. I’ll periodically update it with ramblings about poop, feral cats, broken eggs, and my various misadventures in urban farming. Don’t worry- I won’t be offended if you don’t read it. It’s not for everyone.
Well, enough about my weekend. What did you all do?
36 comments
Oh that is really cool! I like thier different names, when we bought our puppy from the animal shelter, I keep trying to get information from the clerk, or even make small talk about the dog and she was all like, here's your reciept you can leave anytime. It was strange, I guess I've always thought people who sell animals might actually want to know about them once they are to thier new homes!
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The Little Hen House Reply:
February 22nd, 2011 at 1:00 pm
That is EXACTLY how it was! Here I was, making a huge decision, and he was so casual about it.
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The Little Hen House Reply:
February 22nd, 2011 at 1:00 pm
That is EXACTLY how it was! Here I was, making a huge decision, and he was so casual about it.
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I totally felt the same way when I got my hens… IT'S CHICKEN DAY!!! And then, Oh. Okay. They're here.
I still mark chicken day on the calendar though so we can celebrate the anniversary. Weird?
You'll be totally obsessed with them for the first four or five months then the novelty fades. Then you'll have the most fertile garden in town from all the poo. It's garden gold dust. I think I like the poo more than the eggs now.
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Carri Reply:
February 21st, 2011 at 11:51 pm
OMG You have chickens, too? I LOVE CHICKENS. Yes, I'm sober and I still love chickens. That's a little weirder than celebrating a chicken anniversary, right?
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The Little Hen House Reply:
February 22nd, 2011 at 1:02 pm
The poo is already accumulating. My dad is coming over tomorrow to compost it for me.
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Carri Reply:
February 21st, 2011 at 11:51 pm
OMG You have chickens, too? I LOVE CHICKENS. Yes, I'm sober and I still love chickens. That's a little weirder than celebrating a chicken anniversary, right?
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The Little Hen House Reply:
February 22nd, 2011 at 1:02 pm
The poo is already accumulating. My dad is coming over tomorrow to compost it for me.
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Hi pretty ladies!!
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The Little Hen House Reply:
February 22nd, 2011 at 1:02 pm
Aren't they gorgeous?!
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The Little Hen House Reply:
February 22nd, 2011 at 1:02 pm
Aren't they gorgeous?!
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Can't believe you really did it?! Can I put on TV with this whole experience?
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The Little Hen House Reply:
February 22nd, 2011 at 1:03 pm
It's totally surreal. I nearly had a panic attack on the way to get them. The anxiety about all the unknown was killing me. And yes- you can put it on TV. For a price.
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The Little Hen House Reply:
February 22nd, 2011 at 1:03 pm
It's totally surreal. I nearly had a panic attack on the way to get them. The anxiety about all the unknown was killing me. And yes- you can put it on TV. For a price.
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Wow. You going to get a rooster next? You know, just to make things, um, colorful? Hee.
Maddy's sitter has hens and roosters and Mad gets a kick out of feeding them. I'd get a kick out of a few free eggs but they aren't that generous. Buggers.
Happy belated Chicken day!
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The Little Hen House Reply:
February 22nd, 2011 at 1:04 pm
Oh, of course you had to go there. Only you. You come visit me and I'll give you eggs!
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The Little Hen House Reply:
February 22nd, 2011 at 1:04 pm
Oh, of course you had to go there. Only you. You come visit me and I'll give you eggs!
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i want chickens!! i do, i do! but i'm scared to make the jump into OWNING CHICKENS FOR REAL. i will live vicariously through you for now.
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The Little Hen House Reply:
February 22nd, 2011 at 1:05 pm
I'm not going to lie- it's a little scary. It's like having a second baby- you can talk yourself out of it really easily, but at some point you just have to take a leap of faith and hope it all works out. DO IT!
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The Little Hen House Reply:
February 22nd, 2011 at 1:05 pm
I'm not going to lie- it's a little scary. It's like having a second baby- you can talk yourself out of it really easily, but at some point you just have to take a leap of faith and hope it all works out. DO IT!
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You did it, you really did it!! Love the names.
The next time I see you, I expect eggs.
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The Little Hen House Reply:
February 22nd, 2011 at 1:06 pm
You can totally have some eggs.
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The Little Hen House Reply:
February 22nd, 2011 at 1:06 pm
You can totally have some eggs.
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Good for you!! I like the babies. If you get babies, I still want to come hold them.
(I've had this post open for about two hours to comment, but was continually distracted. And that's the extent of the comment I kept trying to leave.)
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The Little Hen House Reply:
February 22nd, 2011 at 1:07 pm
Thanks for leaving a comment busy lady!
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The Little Hen House Reply:
February 22nd, 2011 at 1:07 pm
Thanks for leaving a comment busy lady!
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Hooray Morgan! This from the old farm girl, Bobbi Jordan. The US Agriculture dept will send you lots of "How To Manuals" on raising chickens. Yours look like Rhode Island Reds – very good layers! If you are near a canyon, you may have foxes too, so be sure they cannot dig under any enclosure.
A pet hen is a real treat! Very gentle, won't peck you if that is what you are afraid of. But be careful of favoring one too much; the others will start pecking it out of jealousy. Don't worry about the scraps; eventually they will start eating them. Lettuce is good and so are tomatoes. Be sure they are in pieces. You will also start to notice which are their favorite treats and just throw that into the enclosure. I'm a bit confused as to why there is brick in the enclosure; chickens love dirt and love to roll in it to dust their feathers.
Good luck! Don't give up!
What did I do this weekend? I sold my house! a miracle!
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The Little Hen House Reply:
February 22nd, 2011 at 1:10 pm
We are so far from anything resembling a canyon, so that's good. Thanks for the tip about not favoring one over the other. We have them on brick because the one area we have with dirt is not a suitable place for the coop. It doesn't get any sunlight and is very damp. I've heard that a hard surface is preferable over a dark damp one. I'm planning on putting some pea gravel and sand down for them once the weather clears. Congrats on your house! California misses you! xo
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The Little Hen House Reply:
February 22nd, 2011 at 1:10 pm
We are so far from anything resembling a canyon, so that's good. Thanks for the tip about not favoring one over the other. We have them on brick because the one area we have with dirt is not a suitable place for the coop. It doesn't get any sunlight and is very damp. I've heard that a hard surface is preferable over a dark damp one. I'm planning on putting some pea gravel and sand down for them once the weather clears. Congrats on your house! California misses you! xo
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can hens wear like hen collars? you could make them some with their names so you won't forget. lol.
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The Little Hen House Reply:
February 22nd, 2011 at 1:11 pm
I'm totally going to get them gold plated necklaces with their names on it. What do you think?
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The Little Hen House Reply:
February 22nd, 2011 at 1:11 pm
I'm totally going to get them gold plated necklaces with their names on it. What do you think?
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This is fantastic. Completely.
And I think naming one of the chickens after a food item is smart – seeing as how you may end up eating them.
(Can you imagine doing that, someday? I wonder how far urban farming will take you…)
Good luck, mama.
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The Little Hen House Reply:
February 22nd, 2011 at 1:12 pm
It's a strange thought- eating the pets. Chickens only lay for about three years, but they live for around 8. I can't imagine keeping them if they aren't laying. I could never butcher them myself, but I might be able to send them out for it. Ack! Not ready to think about that part just yet.
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The Little Hen House Reply:
February 22nd, 2011 at 1:12 pm
It's a strange thought- eating the pets. Chickens only lay for about three years, but they live for around 8. I can't imagine keeping them if they aren't laying. I could never butcher them myself, but I might be able to send them out for it. Ack! Not ready to think about that part just yet.
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So cute! I love the names. A neighbor has a pet chicken. They bought it to feed to their boa constrictor but then couldn't bring themselves to give it to the snake.
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The Little Hen House Reply:
February 22nd, 2011 at 1:13 pm
What kind of neighbor is this? Does he wear heavy metal band t-shirts and have a black light in his bedroom?
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The Little Hen House Reply:
February 22nd, 2011 at 1:13 pm
What kind of neighbor is this? Does he wear heavy metal band t-shirts and have a black light in his bedroom?
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YOU are KILLING me! I seriously HAVE to follow this adventure! I do love their names though!
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The Little Hen House Reply:
February 22nd, 2011 at 1:14 pm
Thanks Jules!
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The Little Hen House Reply:
February 22nd, 2011 at 1:14 pm
Thanks Jules!
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So, did I miss a post on why you bought chickens?
Are you hoping for eggs, really fresh chicken sandwiches or just nice pets?
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The Little Hen House Reply:
February 22nd, 2011 at 1:14 pm
Eggs, adventure, manure, blog material… The list goes on and on. And yes, there might be some chicken sandwiches down the road.
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The Little Hen House Reply:
February 22nd, 2011 at 1:14 pm
Eggs, adventure, manure, blog material… The list goes on and on. And yes, there might be some chicken sandwiches down the road.
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Um….I love Gnocchi! I was wondering what you named them.
I also am putting money on you NOT eating them in the end. Just sayin'
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The Little Hen House Reply:
February 22nd, 2011 at 1:44 pm
Don't say that! I mean, you're probably right, but can't I at least act like I might do it?
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The Little Hen House Reply:
February 22nd, 2011 at 1:44 pm
Don't say that! I mean, you're probably right, but can't I at least act like I might do it?
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The other issue with buying 3 day old chicks (which are commonly sold at feed stores) is that sometimes you end up with an accidental cock in your coop. Or in my case, two cocks and one hen. Oops.
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Sam Reply:
February 22nd, 2011 at 2:18 pm
Also, we bought a "used" hen and she has since stopped laying. There is no way we'd eat the old girl. It would be like eating someone's grandma.
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Sam Reply:
February 22nd, 2011 at 2:18 pm
Also, we bought a "used" hen and she has since stopped laying. There is no way we'd eat the old girl. It would be like eating someone's grandma.
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