Critters of Gredemmer II
One of the things I remember from my childhood is chickens. We had them (bantams) in at least 2 places where we lived. They were easy pets, and could be left on their own with occasional throwing out of a handful of food. We didn’t have them for eggs - just as lawn decorations, I think. So when we got the farm, I was certain I wanted chickens. But Prince Farming is a light sleeper, and he didn’t want a rooster. That was the one thing I did want - I mean, how quaint is it to be woken up in the morning by the crowing of a rooster. But that was not meant to be. Until recently. A nearby farmer had a rooster. He thought the rooster was lonely, so he brought over a hen. The hen laid eggs. The eggs hatched. Then all of a sudden he had a family of chickens, and he didn’t want them around his horses. One day I came home, and Prince Farming and our son were in the barn fixing up a place for this little family.
In this area there are wild dogs and other predators (racoons etc.) that make a chicken’s life slightly vulnerable. So we were quite skeptical about their longevity. Wild critters can get inside a chicken coop very easily. Based on the time we had and the resources immediately available, Prince Farming rigged a really nice little coop. Except not nice enough.
The next day the family was down by a few chicks. So it continued (despite renewed effort for their safety) until it was just one rooster and one chick. One day we went down to the barn to take some food and we heard the rooster, but couldn’t find him. Finally we looked up - and there he was in the rafter of the barn.
We also heard a chick (still really little - unable to fly) but couldn’t find the little guy ANYwhere. It was the craziest thing. Our daughter climbed up on some hay to look around - and she found the chick. It was sitting on the rooster’s back up on the rafters.
How totally cool is that? The only way for it to have gotten there would have been for it to climb on the rooster’s back before the rooster flew up. Because there was no hay anywhere close by where they could have done it in small steps. I just totally marvel at nature sometimes. I know hens are nurturing and will guard their chicks to the death, but this rooster took on the care of that chick and did it well. BTW - Our daughter took all these pictures - budding photographer that she is.
Anyway - the rooster does crow. People who take walks along the road have heard him. We don’t hear him from the house because the barn is down the hill and a small distance from here. That works for Prince Charming. But now he’s caught the chicken bug. The rooster is all that’s left, and he wants more. He brought home a catalog of all sorts of critters and the stuff one needs to keep them safe. So I’m sure there will be more chickens in our future. And they might even move up the hill to be closer to us - who knows? But these chickens will be our local egg delivery as well as pets - Prince Farming LOVES farm fresh eggs - brown ones with bright yellow yolks. Now THAT’S nutrition!
Tags: bantam, barn, chickens, chicks, gredemeer, rooster
August 21st, 2008 at 7:25 pm
Can you send me some of those eggs?
Tell Prince Charming to make sure the coming chickens can’t get eaten by other things. I would have a hard time with that myself. (But then I have bird feeders, and I sometimes feel like the only thing I’m doing is luring them in for my cat.)
Anyway, yes, it’s quaint to wake up to a rooster. AND A DONKEY!! Maybe if you get one the same way, it will grow on him. And DONKEYS WILL CHASE AWAY THE WILD DOGS!!!
August 21st, 2008 at 7:30 pm
Eggs come from the store, not a chicken.
August 22nd, 2008 at 3:55 pm
If you had a donkey (the farmers security system) you would still have chickens. I’m just sayin.
August 22nd, 2008 at 5:19 pm
Louise - you have to come eat eggs in my kitchen. That’s the rules. I have problems with animal suffering too. And cannibalism. So I think Prince Farming is researching a better/more secure option.
P. Charming - you must have grown up in some crazy god-forsaken place like the Dakota’s or something. Did you know in Germany the marketers of chocolate do such a good job that kids going in to school (in the city) color cows in purple? That’s what must have happened to you too. Eggs from stores. Poor child.
Angel - I always knew you’d be on my side.
October 3rd, 2008 at 10:17 am
[...] the way - for those who were concerned about our first family of chicks (the ones we got unexpectedly and so weren’t totally prepared for), Prince Farming and I were [...]