For over nine months now, I have been planning, plotting and researching my entry into the world of chicken ownership. I have purchased books online, interviewed other hen owners, dropped money at Portland's famous
Powell's Books, and visited multiple suburban libraries to further my chicken knowledge. I have become obsessed with chickens. My home is filled with various references to, and knick knacks of, these fun birds. Some have referred to my future birds as "poultry". To me, this implies that I plan on eating them. Quite the opposite is true. In my mind, I have already begun thinking of them as "the girls", a sweet endearment that I have heard other chicken-rearing people use who consider their feathered friends to be family pets.
Here's a photo of my current stack of chicken literature. Do not be distracted by the furry canine in the center. As is always the case, Roxy placed herself smack in the heart of my activity the minute I began to lay out the books. Accustomed to being the center of attention, she just knew that what I really wanted was a picture of her. You'll notice she didn't mind a bit when I continued to place the books around her.
One more thing: Here's a picture of where I think we will build our hen house and coop in the new year. This is on the new property we're moving to. I don't know the property well enough yet to make a final decision on the suitability of this location, but this spot just feels good to me.
That looks like a great spot for chickens. It is beautiful. I know you must be excited. A good chicken catalog we had was murphy's.
ReplyDeleteand her Mom said,
ReplyDeleteRoxy is totally adorable! You do have a lot of books on chickens. We don't have chickens at the moment because, like you, I think of them as family and not eating material.
Your setting on your new property looks beautiful!
Thank you for your visit and comment on my blog.
ReplyDeleteYour project, moving to the country sounds very interesting to me and I will come back to see what's happening.
Have a nice weekend, Monika
you'll love having chickens. they're a riot. do you plan to order from a hatchery? i was shocked at how easily they arrived, every single one alive and ready for some munchie. as I'm sure you've noticed, I write a lot about my chickens on my blog. How do you think your dog will do with them? They're pretty tempting for a doggie... as you probably saw, a 6 month old puppy almost annihilated my flock. There must be some sort of system to introducing dogs to poultry, but I obviously did not figure it out.
ReplyDeleteHi DeconstructingVenus,
ReplyDeleteMy plan is to try a local feedstore first this Spring to see if I can get my chicks there - I feel really nervous ordering chicks from the hatcheries that all seem so far away from Oregon.
We shall see how Roxy, my pup, does with the hens - she had better behave! With that terrier temperament, though, it may be a challenge! NHT will be the farm acronym: No Hen Terrorizing! :-)
Nice chicken book collection! Are you ordering chicks for the Spring, or are you still in the planning stages? What kind are you going to get? I can't wait until we can get a few more chickens...I'm seriously getting excited to experience new chicks vicariously through your blog.
ReplyDeleteHi, I just found your blog. I've been planning and dreaming for a move to a farm for well over a year. I've been chicken obsessed for around a year. We still have no move in sight, but I'm excited for you that it is happening! I look forward to following your adventures as you move and get your farm set up.
ReplyDelete