Monthly Archives: February 2012

Looking forward to Monday?

Date: Sun, 26 Feb 2012 04:04:17 -0600 From: cis1@mcmurrayhatchery.com Subject: McMurray Hatchery Chick Shipment Order MMH-894014-OI {2VPVP6JA}
McMurray Hatchery Order 892413–::

Dear MICHELLE ,

Your chick order has been hand-filled and mailed by US Post Office Priority mail. Your delivery confirmation number is 5159690156. You can expect your chicks to arrive anytime from Sunday through Tuesday If you have not already done so you may want to call your local post office and let them know you are expecting a chick order and have them call you as soon as the order arrives.

The power of anticipation -even to get me through a Monday.

It’s Nice to be Chosen

Moving into the city from a still, green valley south of Denver a gentleman posted an ad on cragislist looking to sell his fifty chickens. Travis and I identified our favorite six and with the tall owner of few words, set out to cull each from the flock. One by one we rounded up our six chickens cornering them between old tractors, fence posts, water tanks and our three sets of legs. When we cornered Buffy the owner picked her up, nuzzling her softly and said, “she’s my favorite.”

First to the Rodeo

First to the Rodeo

Buffy startled me out of my morning haze this morning while I did the dishes in the kitchen sink. Third or so dish done and in the drainer, I looked out the window to see her, head cocked sideways, staring in at me from the other side of the glass. I’m really not sure whose quality of life is improving here -hers or mine.

(meet buffy)

Spreadin’ the Love

My house mate’s boyfriend came over for dinner this evening. The first thing out of his mouth as he walked through the door was an accusatory, “I guess I have you to thank for me having to build Jill a chicken coop?”  I laughed. “Really, she’s going to take some of the little chicks? That’s awesome.” He spent the remainder of the evening looking at my chicken coop building book on my shelf. First comes love, then comes marriage then come chicks from the post office.

 

3 Chickens and a Doll House

I looked a long while before choosing my coop. Backyardchickens.com has some good design ideas from people who’ve made their own. I thought I would make my own but just ended up with a lot of odds and ends from recycled old windows from houses being flipped in my neighborhood to a variety of reclaimed wood I’d found around my yard. An old junk yard turned garden nursery had an old doll house that ended up working for me. Equipped with red painted fireplace and hearth inside, a ladder to get to the second story, and an actual ceiling light that can be plugged in, I ended up with pretty much a no hassle solution.  All I had to do was get it home -on the scooter I’d rode in on. 

Sunday Sleep-In Cut Short

My bedroom is on the opposite side of the house from the backyard that Buffy, Pitkin and Drama call home. Lots of clucking and commotion woke me up early this morning. Compelled to make sure no predators lurked by the fence, I plodded barefoot to the kitchen for a look out the window. The three of them frolicked about, sparing no clucks as they went. If the three of them woke me up and deprived me of a Sunday morning sleep-in I can only hope they did not do the same for my neighbors.  Considering the noise and my neighbors, admittedly I wonder about the wisdom of bringing more chicks into the fold.