Day Fifty Six

I was missing my fat chicken so much we decided to look around and see if we could "replace" her, though no chicken could ever replace her. We found these Golden Comets a few miles away for $12 a piece. Having seen how big the coop was assembled we decided we could go with four and so got two more chickens. These ladies are six months old and already laying.

I don't like them. They are mean. They are twice the size of my beautiful birds who you see below hiding in the background. Nasty vicious things. Apparently there will be about two weeks of hen pecking and then they will all be used to each other. These birds may be bigger but my babies haven't had their beaks clipped yet so watch out.

Things I have learned:

• My baby chickens are nicer than big mean chickens.
• $12 is a lot to pay for Fox food so I better be nice to the big fat chickens.
• It's a huge rush reaching in and finding a fresh egg.
• I can't adopt!

Day Fifty One

This morning Husby took Toby out to see the chickens. Toby pointed to the coop and said "Two Chickens!". Well that's great, except we have three chickens. I guess we HAD three chickens. 

 You see this fortress? A fox tried to dig into it and couldn't. He managed to grasp a chicken who was sleeping against the chicken wire and pull her through piece by piece. There was nothing left but feathers. Nasty Fox.

now I'm sad, not only because we lost a chicken but now we only have two chickens after raising six of the darn things! Next year our friends can do the raising and we'll just take the chickens when they're grown. Anyone know where I can get a full grown layer?

Things I have learned:

1. Chickens are silly, they need to be shut in their box every night even when you think they are sleeping there anyway.
2. Always close them away at night.
3. I need a shotgun to kill that fox.
4. Chickens don't get lonely or traumatized, the other girls seem fine.
5. I hate foxes!

Thirty

 Well here it is. Thirty. 3-0. I'm quite happy with it, I think 30 suits me. In fact I think I'll stay 30 for a few years it suits me that much!

What's on the cards? Thai Food at work, monster cookout tonight (in terms of the size of the Scallops we're grilling, not in terms of people) and a viewing of Grease with friends, then tomorrow the creme de la creme. For my birthday from Husby I get a blow out shopping trip at the outlets of North Conway, the likes of which have not been seen since the pre-Toby days. This will be followed by dinner at Delaney's. Mmmm Yummmy.

But first, I have a stinky diaper to change!

Day Forty Four

Well they spent their first night outside and came through unscathed. Food was eaten, water was drunk, and there were no scratch marks around the pen. Toby was rather amused to see where his chickens had gone.

We bought the hutch for $100 from Tractor Supply Company, sometimes money saves time. It took Husby probably 12 hours to build the run, but it was free. Leftover chicken wire from the garden, finish nails from a friend and plenty of pallet wood!

For two weeks this will be their only wandering place. At night we will shut them in the hutch to make sure the birds stay warm, during the way they can roam the pen. In two weeks time we will let them into the garden, but not while we're at work, that's just asking for trouble!

Things I have learned:

1. I have a very clever, resourceful Husby, who will do anything to make my thoughts a reality.
2. My son would like to live with the chickens
3. Chickens get stupider the more fresh air they get - they haven't quite figured out that they can go between the ground and the hutch yet.
4. They were dehydrating under the heat lamp in the house and are drinking less water now they are outside in a moister climate
5. They love being outside. They walk around, they cluck, they peck the ground. They are very happy birds.

Strange things are happening to me

Well I finally did it, after years of wondering, speculating and being talked out of it, I got my perm. So here's the before shot...

And here's the after...

I can't wash it yet so we'll see how I feel once I've dealt with it myself - right now - I LOVE IT!

Day Forty Two

It's moving day - today we had to separate the chickens into two sets of three. Our chicken coop only houses three chickens comfortably but Maine state law requires that they be sold in quantities of six. Our friends' house had a chicken coop already there when they bought it so our extra three chickens becomes a live housewarming present.

To thin the flock we pulled them all out and let them wander around the hallway. Toby had a lot of fun playing with them, he even managed to pick one up slightly, he was very gentle, he has grown so much. We have raised remarkably well behaved chickens, they were very comfortable in the hallway and did not peck or charge.

It was really hard to pick, I think I managed to pick Priscilla (the runt who I loved) as she has grown into a beautiful bird.
When we put three into the travel box and took them away, Toby lost it. He screamed and stamped his feet and just went absolutely nuts. He was happier once he found out they'd be coming in the car with him.

Tomorrow, our chicken run gets built and the remaining three move outside!

Things I have learned:

1. Chickens are resilient. Food, water, shelter, they don't require much human interference to be happy.
2. Shock prevents them from pooping everywhere, there was no poop in my hallway after this episode.
3. Children become very attached to things that live in their house, no matter the size!

We think the dust raised by the presence of chickens has been causing respiratory problems for Toby and I. Hopefully I'll get time to clean this week and we'll return to normal.

The Band Perry

Is it mad that I want to see The Band Perry in concert but won't buy Tim McGraw tickets just to see them. I don't really like Tim McGraw, I really just want to see his opening act and then go home, but that's foolish money right?

My Garden

Okay so here it is, the garden in it's early stages.

There is a row of Marigolds on either side that are shortly to be dug up to plant my remaining Broccoli and Brussel Sprouts - note for future - do not plant Marigolds first, they take up valuable real estate!
Make sure you have enough tomato planters. I doubled up on one planter and still have three seedlings to put into the ground. I'm also informed by Husby that I put them in upside down, his way makes much more sense. We'll turn them in a few weeks when they need them more.
Make shift baby gate - like the chickens I give thanks to my Dad for breaking so many baby gates, they are very useful. Husby is working on an actual gate. Here you see three different kinds of lettice, Celery and Cucumber plants.
Here we have Cauliflower (which failed miserably last year) and zucchini way at the back. I must admit I really enjoyed the mound method of planting.
Harkening back to the allotment days with my Grandad and Great Uncle I stole some old planks from Husby to walk on/
And that's my garden. These pictures are a week old, we have seen a little growth and a little death. The tomato plants have flower, the cauliflowers are dying. The Marigolds are still in, the sprouts and broccoli remain on the front stoop dying and waiting to be planted!

Vera Bradley

On the drive back from Phily we took two scheduled, slightly off track, pit stops. One of them was for the Vera Bradley outlet store in Wrentham Mass. My birthday is coming up - the big 3-0 and so I was eager for some treats. It was Memorial Day so 25 % off the special sale day pricing meant I scored big time.

My wonderful home away from home mom (my best friend's mom) got me a case for my netbook....

At only $6 I couldn't resist these flip flops - Toby is now obsessed with the patent flower...
A mini coin purse for days when a Camera Bag is all I carry! I have come off the fence about this particular design - I LOVE it!
And the creme de la creme - My own Little Betsy. Ever since I bought one for a friend's 30th I have craved this bag. Husby helped pick the colour (the outlet has very little variety of pattern i this bag) and I am very happy with it.

What's your favourite Vera?

Day 33

It's moving day in this Maine home. Upon returning from Philadelphia to chickens it was obvious they needed a new home for their last few weeks in the house. Luckily Pepere stopped by with a big box and Toby's Pottery Barn chair arrived in a big box so we had plenty of choices

They are much happier now and actually choosing to sleep out from under the heat lamp, which is a sign they are readier for the cooler temps outside.

I had to use two pieces of broken baby gate for this box - thanks Dad!
The new box invades a little more of the hallway than I like but it's only temporary.
My free Rich Navy paint from Glidden just arrived so I am anxious to paint the hallway which means the chickens need to be gone. Too much fluff and feathers for wet paint.

Things I have learned:

1. The last chicken you remove from the box will assume you are an aggressor and assume a defensive posture
2. The first chicken you remove from the box will roost wherever she can as soon as she can
3. They are less prone to fly away as they mature, whereas when they first could fly they took every chance they could to get away.