Desperately seeking baby chickens
It's strange just how different things feel around here without the the chicken people. It's as if someone has taken away the loki trickster spirit of the land and left us with a flat seriousness and vacant boarded up birdhouses marked FLOWN SOUTH FOR THE WINTER. It's just as raw and beautiful among my trees and whispering grasses, but I miss the chicken people's silliness and all their chatter and noises. No more cocka doodle doo's at 4am. No more squaking over bugs or who gets to squeeze their fat butt first through the coop door. No more clanking noises as they trip over the gutters straining to get my attention from the window sill. I miss them most when I first get home from work because that was always our time for goodies and bug hunting stories.
Strange how I was only mother to chickens for a few months, and I'm already so hooked. I looked online the other day at poultry breeders and was surprised to find out just how expensive mail order can be. Unless I order 25 (minimum order) day old chicks, shipping costs for more mature birds are astronomical. I had 5 17-week old pullets in my "shopping cart" for 6 dollars each. *insert zip code for shipping estimate* But it costs between 68 and 90 dollars (depending on website) to ship them. Aye carumba! I mean I understand why, but at this point I can't justify spending 80 bucks to ship a 6 dollar bird. As far as getting babies, 25 is too many for my size coop and chicks that young need special heating lamps and equipment to keep warm and raise... no easy feat with winter just around the corner.
As a proud subscriber to Backyard Poultry Magazine, I discovered that there is a "buy, sell, or swap" chicken meet being held this weekend approximately an hour's drive away. I plan on going... rain or shine, and hopefully coming home with some new babies. I might be lucky and find a fancy one for sale too, like perhaps a polish or frizzle to add to the flock. The sensible side of me warns not to get too attached this time, but how can I not? I can't bear to be chickenless until spring :(
How could you NOT smile and feel good watching an exotic and silly creature that looks like THIS strutting around?
Strange how I was only mother to chickens for a few months, and I'm already so hooked. I looked online the other day at poultry breeders and was surprised to find out just how expensive mail order can be. Unless I order 25 (minimum order) day old chicks, shipping costs for more mature birds are astronomical. I had 5 17-week old pullets in my "shopping cart" for 6 dollars each. *insert zip code for shipping estimate* But it costs between 68 and 90 dollars (depending on website) to ship them. Aye carumba! I mean I understand why, but at this point I can't justify spending 80 bucks to ship a 6 dollar bird. As far as getting babies, 25 is too many for my size coop and chicks that young need special heating lamps and equipment to keep warm and raise... no easy feat with winter just around the corner.
As a proud subscriber to Backyard Poultry Magazine, I discovered that there is a "buy, sell, or swap" chicken meet being held this weekend approximately an hour's drive away. I plan on going... rain or shine, and hopefully coming home with some new babies. I might be lucky and find a fancy one for sale too, like perhaps a polish or frizzle to add to the flock. The sensible side of me warns not to get too attached this time, but how can I not? I can't bear to be chickenless until spring :(
How could you NOT smile and feel good watching an exotic and silly creature that looks like THIS strutting around?
