CHICKENS!

Our goal - EGGS

Yes, we have ventured into the world of laying hens, co-parenting with our friends Susan and Jay.  Since they have a large lot, the hen home (rest of the world would call this a coop) is at their property.
Mark was the main construction guy and he bravely built the home to the joint specs of everyone. Somehow a nice coop came out of that process.

Starting with a piece of wood

Turk built the frame alone - a bit of balancing required

on-site construction continues

A small NYC apartment?

Jay helps with window and walls

Raise the roof

Susan supervises

The turk got himself into this!

Now that we had a chicken home, we needed chickens!  The Chicken Lady lives in Largo on a farm that is now surrounded by subdivisions.  It is interesting to imagine how this area looked not long ago - rural with barns and animals.

The Chicken Lady was patient as we pointed to each young chicken that we wanted her to catch.  Our criteria in picking the hens? They had to look nice and not be mean-acting.

We want THAT one please.

Chicken Lady catches it for us

We have chickens!  They are growing daily and acting more and more like hens. We lost one from being pecked on by the others. At that point we created a pen for them to get out and stretch their legs, and get their favorite dust baths.  They love pecking for bugs.

Christmas lights, double paned window  -but no paint

Pretty chickens

Pecking at the kale