Tuesday, September 20, 2011

A Chicken Post


It has been awhile since I wrote about chickens.
Among the things I have always loved, I have loved chickens.
When my grandparents bought this land that I now live on and
call home, and we moved here I was 4 years old. My first chicken
was a red hen, named Berkyboy. My cat was also called Kittycotty,
I don't know if that was the sounds I made up for them but that was
the names and they were my best friends. So became my love for
chickens, cats and dogs and I could go on and on. Animals have always
been apart of my life and I can't imagine ever being without one or 10 or 20.


My reason for not having a chicken post is this whole fiasco with the mites.
I of course blame the rat and the sparrows. The hens are on the mend now
but they still look so bedraggled. Feathers missing and feathers going
backwards and sideways and every which way.
One of the authors I love is a lady named Elisabeth Enright and I always love
her passages of description. This is from her book" Gone Away Lake."

"Near these two houses, on the grass, white chickens were sprinkled like grains of salt."

Then this passage I loved too. "The hens gave a squawk when they saw the children
and skedaddled out of the way. The duck took matters calmly, warping herself
sideways, like a little ferryboat, to the shelter of a large dock-leaf. There she folded
her flat feet under her and settled comfortably, looking more like a boat than ever."


I think my Silkie looks a bit like a boat sitting and calmly dreaming
of chicks. I was going to get some silkie chicks this fall. Then after
the mites I have decided to wait. I have almost made up my mind
to relocate the chicken house and build a new one in the spring. Well,
not me of course, but my husband who puts up with my ideas. I even
bought a Building a Chicken Coop for Dummies book. I think I am about
ready to take a chance with the wild life out back. I noticed the other morning
that there has been a fox around. I just hope he eats the skunk.

Here are my girls looking very disappointed because I have
a camera and not a loaf of bread. Do you know my kids get really
pushed out of shape when I take a half of a loaf of bread outside
for snack time for the girls?
I can never figure that out.

I hope you are enjoying your Tuesday.
I think I am going to take some of my sewing and go outside
and have a little bit of time with my girls. They do make my
mind rest. I hope you have a lovely day.

~Kim~

20 comments:

Kim said...

I'm glad your hens are on the mend. I recently saw someone's blog who got a hot new coop. If I find it again I will send you the link. I don't know alot about coops but hers looked deluxe.
Now I am imagining the look on the face of that fox if it does eat the skunk......ewww

Tami AKA My Kid's Mom said...

I don't think you have to worry about the fox eating the skunk but I'd be a bit worried about your hens if I were you.

TexWisGirl said...

i always like when you sit with your chickens. i just feel the love and peace you have with them. :)

camp and cottage living said...

Kim
I'm sure wishing I had chickens to lovingly gaze upon. Your ladies don't look too bad from here.I'm glad they made it through all the perils they've had coming their way.Just wondering,is your bread homemade? Maybe that's why the children don't want to share with the chickens.Enjoy your time with your girls.

Gail said...

We had a run in with mites this year, too. I would like to know their purpose in the grand scheme of things. I, for one, could do with out any more mites.

Debbie said...

i like this....a post about sitting & sewing. i hope you enjoyed your day!!!

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

They do look quite disappointed that you don't have a 'treat' for 'em this time. Maybe you have 'em just a tad spoiled! Heeehehehe!

I do hope you enjoyed your Tuesday to the max sweetie.

God bless ya and have a most wonderful evenin' 'round your beautiful flock.

Pom Pom said...

Hi, Kim!
Yes, I admit I got a case of the shivers when you shared about the mites. I'm so happy to hear the girls have recovered.
I LOVED Gone Away Lake!

Samantha said...

Love the posts about your girls..I miss having chickens!

Julia said...

I'm glad that your girls are starting to feel better, the poor things.
I think I know the site about the deluxe chicken coop that Kim is talking about because I saw it too. Here is the the site.
www.thefancyfarmgirl.com/heres-the-coop

I can picture your girls in that fancy setting. JB

Julia said...

Kim I forgot to add the slash at the end.

www.thefancyfarmgirl.com/heres-the-coop/

myletterstoemily said...

your chickens are beautiful. will you be my
friend now? :)

no, i mean it, especially the silkie one!!

~Sue~ said...

Sorry I didn't get by yesterday Kim, but i read your post and am loving all your pumpkins, I like the way you laid them on the railings. And there is a shortage because of the drought and of Irene around here, ours sure took a hit, we went looking for some in another county Saturday, but could not find one pumpkin field.
I got my love of chickens from my grandmother, and wouldn't be without them, even though they ate all 300 of our collards plants last week. lol When I cracked the eggs for breakfast the yolks were the richest color, so I guess you might say, I got my collards.lol

I have always wanted some silkies and am thinking about getting some, I truly am sorry you have had this mite problem, so far (knock on wood) we have been okay. Yours look beautiful too.
As always a joy to visit.
Sue

Sue said...

Okay Kim, have your figured out yet who jo is? Well. It's just little ole' me, I was checked in on another google account where I do my practicing of backgrounds and stuff.

Miss Debbie said...

You really do have some lovely ladies. It's sweet that you enjoy them so much.My son and DIL have chickens...one is white and fluffy and her name is Dixie. She sends on the back porch rail and waits for them to come out and pick her up. She loves to be carried..that's funny to me :-)

Kessie said...

Oh good, I'm glad they're on the mend. By spring, they'll all be fat and gorgeous again. I like those quotes. They're so descriptive. :-)

Debbie said...

I love your chicken posts....glad your girls are doing better. Hope you enjoyed your day yesterday! HUGS

Cathy Kennedy said...

My grandparents had chickens when I was young. I loved chasing the diddies around the yard. I never could catch one of those little downy things. Oh I would have squelled with delight, if I had.

Chatting On A Farmhouse Porch with ya,
Cathy

DWTS Season 13 & Chats on A Farmhouse Porch

Empty Nester said...

As always a lovely post! I absolutely love the names you had for your hen and your cat! My great grandparents had chickens and I always loved going there and feeding them.

From Beyond My Kitchen Window said...

Mites, missing feathers, or no feathers. I think your girls are beautiful. I might have to go out and buy that book as a gift for my husbands birthday. Do you think he'll get the hint.