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Monday, 8 September 2008

Chick, chick, chick,chick, chicken.......



lay a little egg for me!

Eldest son, in his boredom of having a broken leg and nothing to do, has bought three chickens hoping to become self sufficient in new laid, organic eggs.

He purchased a henhouse and run, plus three hens, which were delivered last week.   However the henhouse is only about a metre square and the run wasn't much bigger so he built a nesting box and enlisted the help of his BIL (on promise of free eggs) to build a proper home for the hens.  



When the neighbours saw the new henhouse they wanted to know if it was an extension to the house - ha ha very funny!

The children have each adopted a chicken.   Sam's is called Clucky, Harry's is called Bob, we told him they were all girls but he insisted he wanted to call her Bob, and Gracie's is called Dora.



None of the children have held the chickens yet, that pleasure is left to their Mum, who also has to clean them out, but the children like feeding the chickens through the wire mesh.



Here's the family watching the children enjoying the new additions.
Latest news:  Son has had plaster off his leg and can now try walking on it.  The hens have produced 2 small eggs!

41 comments:

Dumdad said...

Everyone (well, several) in the blogosphere have gone chicken mad! I have to say it does look like a lot of fun (for the children); the hard work bit is left to the adults, no doubt.

Flowerpot said...

a great friend of mine has just got chickens and she loves them now - she goes inand talks to them and they flutter all around her and she is so happy!!!

TopChamp said...

Good news about his leg - and as to the chickens, well I LOVE them. Fresh eggs would be sooooo cool.

Unknown said...

I’m glad the little ones are taking to the chickens. When I was small my uncle had small—“banny” or “bandy” I think they were called—chickens and they terrified me! Hope you have omelets for all soon!

Elaine Denning said...

More chickens? Goodness! I bet a nice, warm egg in the morning is wonderful though.
I'm glad your son is plasterless now. Let's hope he can put the whole nasty thing behind him. x

buffalodick said...

That's really becoming popular in your country!

G-Man said...

My Father-in-law had chickens for years...Fresh eggs taste the very best!!!
Have a great week...G xo

Linda said...

My grandfather used to raise chickens and I liked them when they were baby chicks but once they got older ... not so much!

Good luck to your son in his self-sufficiency!

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

oh how cute! and i don't imagine they will be hitting the stew pot any time soon! ha ha ha

smiles, bee
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Anndi said...

Eggcellent news about his leg (sorry, couldn't help it)!

How well do the chickens cope with your winters? (I know, how Canadian of me for askin that...)

Anonymous said...

What color eggs do those lay, brown? I had a friend who used to have a bunch of laying hens who produced green and blue eggs!

Dianne said...

get well quick to your son! I (literally) feel his pain!

I love the name 'Bob' for a chicken!

Great photos, everyone is so cute.

Akelamalu said...

I've read quite a few blogs where they've got chickens Dumdad and yes the hard work is left to DIL although it was son's idea!

My DIL has really taken to the hens Flowerpot, happen a good job as she's the one that feeds them and cleans out the coop!

Yes he's doing well on the leg Topchamp though not enough to get back to work yet. I've put my order in for eggs!

The Nick, they're not frightened and we are all looking forward to nice fresh eggs. :)

Everyone seems to be getting chickens now Miss U! Nick is recovering well but we've had bad news this week about the case, I'll be posting about it soon.

Yes it is Buff and lots of folk are growing veggies too!

My MIL use to help her Dad keep chickens when she was young too G-man

I like listenening to them clucking but I'm not sure I'd want any of my own Linda.

Nick said they would be if they didn't lay Bee :(

LOL I wondered who'd be the first with the Egg joke Anndi! I think chickens cope OK in winter like the rest of us that live here - we're used to it!

I never thought to ask him what colour the eggs are Citizen, I'll check and let you know.

I know you understand about the pain Dianne, I hope yours is subsiding! xx

storyteller said...

Let’s hear it for new adventures! Reminds me of a High School friend whose family kept chickens (and a rooster) in their back yard. Neighbors weren’t thrilled at the morning ‘wake up’ crowing. LOL ... I'm glad your son is on the mend.

I’ve shared the contents of my purse and a few other things) at Small Reflections this morning … enjoy!
Hugs and blessings,

CG said...

Oh I'm jealous; I'd love to keep both chickens and bees but phil he say NO!

Kaylia Metcalfe said...

Looks like a lot of fun... and a fair bit of work.

The photos are adorable!

Kaylia Metcalfe said...

Looks like a lot of fun... and a fair bit of work.

The photos are adorable!

aims said...

Does indeed look like a fair bit of work.

I remember well having to clean out the chicken coop. Ugh....that smell.....I can still remember it all these years later!

nitebyrd said...

Maybe he'll get a golden egg! No, wait ... that was a goose. Well, at least the children are enjoying them!

Akelamalu said...

They've no plans to get a cock, I don't think the neighbours would appreciate it Storyteller.

Oh bad Phil CG, he's mean! ;)

Hard work yes, Kay, thankfully DIL isn't workshy!

Oh you had chickens too Aims :)

Deb said...

Celebrate the removal of the plaster! He'll be running around in no time ~ chasing kids and chickens. But I have to agree with
'Aims' - I can't stand the smell of chicken poop, I'd refuse to clean the coop! ;)

Akelamalu said...

A golden egg nitebyrd? Now that would be something!

He can't wait to get back to work Deb!

RiverPoet said...

Very cool! I wish your son well in his new venture!

Peace - D

Ron said...

OMG, Akelamalu...this is FABULOUS!!

I love chickens!

Especially when they're little.

This post reminded me of one of my favorite I Love Lucy episodes, when she and Ethel bought 200 baby chicks and brought them into the house (in boxes). They ended up getting loose...and were ALL OVER the place! It was so funny!

Anyway...what I great idea your son had, really!

Love these photos. The children look adorable!

Travis Cody said...

That's good news that your son is healing.

Cath said...

Mine are sunny side up or scrambled!

Glad son's leg is on the mend.

g-man said...

Is it soup yet?

San said...

What a beautiful family! And that goes for the chickens too. I love their dwelling. AND the fact you have two small eggs already.

Good to hear that the leg is mending well. I wonder if he'll take over the chicken janitorial duties now.

:-D

John said...

Chickens rock! We love ours.

Akelamalu said...

Thankyou Riverpoet x

I remember that episode of ILL myself Ron hilarious! Son's chickens have had the run of the garden now, thankfully they managed to get them back in the coop!

Yes it is Trav, thanks hon. x

I like my eggs sunny side up too Cath :)

No, no, they're laying good now g-man so they're not being made into soup! Yet!

Thankyou San, they've had an egg every day now, but only one hen laying at the moment. I don't think Nick will take over looking after the hens he'll be too busy working once he's back on his feet properly. :)

You have chickens too Ernest? How many?

Real Live Lesbian said...

I had chickens growing up. I LOVE chickens!!!! What a cute shot of them feeding the hens!

I'd help for free eggs! Congrats on the lay! hahahahah ;)

Mother of Invention said...

The little one is so cute feeding the chickens! And now that they've adopted them, they can NEVER be eaten!

Akelamalu said...

It seems everyone had chickens except me RLL! LOL

That's exactly what I said to my son MOI!

david mcmahon said...

Egg-xactly!!

Robin said...

often i stop by just for some motown, but motown, hens and eggs? excellent! (i wanted to say eggscellent but someone beat me to it)

so glad to hear nick is on the mend!

Akelamalu said...

I was waiting for that David! :)

If you want to say eggscellent Robin you say it hon! So please you like the music. :)

Marshall Family said...

oh I love chickens :) I wish I had the time to have my own (tho if I did there wouldn't be much room for anythign else in my garden ;) )

Akelamalu said...

What a shame you haven't got the room Emmie.

MarmiteToasty said...

Thinking I might of started something with everyone getting chickens...... Janet has a lot to answer for lol.......

Janet and Mabel as I typed are standing in the kitchen having a hunt around under our kitchen pew lol and Cedric is pecking at the dried cat food LOL

I LOVE that your lad has got himselve some hens :)

x

Akelamalu said...

Yes you're to blame Marmie! You now have a chicken called Cedric??? I didn't know that!

Jo Beaufoix said...

Hooray on the leg and the eggs. And your grandkids are sooo cute. :D