Backyard Chickens

It's been 18 weeks, a short journey: building the coop, raising chicks, heating the nest. Yesterday, the reason for this undertaking came to fruition. Maybe, not a sign of affection to its owners, but nonetheless treats to behold: finally our first egg! Two more eggs followed today... a never ending supply. MaeMae and Elias are delighted to check for eggs each day. They are small, brown, delicate, and tasty. I affectionately ask Elias, "Did the chicken lay a golden egg?"

Raising chickens has been fun--among my most memorable birthday gifts. This year, Caleb and Philip gave me a chicken coop for my birthday. With some help from my friend Steve, we designed and built the coop on the side of our house. The little chicks, warmed by a light bulb, first lived in our kitchen, then our garage. At 6 weeks old, they braved the elements in their new home.

Of the six, one was a rooster and woke us up each day. So we brought it to Dad, who slaughtered it. MaeMae and Elias seemed okay seeing Dad remove the feathers in near boiling water.

Next, I tinkered with perches, stairs, and nesting boxes. I watched the chickens eat all the greens in the area. I learned how to use chickens to turn compost. Finally, the eggs came. It's been a fun journey for all of us.