"Easter Chicks"

"If at first you don't succeed, try, try again." Last spring we had the great idea to try having chickens. I loved the idea of having our own organic eggs, wasting less food since the chickens could eat most scraps, then there is the added bonus of the compost to mix in with the garden. Chickens provide their own eco system; I was pumped. Plus they seem so low maintenance and fun for the kids. What a great "science" project or life lesson, if you will. To watch chicks grow up and have to take care of them.

So with the help of Isaac's parents, Walter and Sarah,

we set forth on the making of the coop. What a great family project. The boys did most of the building while us girls painted. Fortunately Sarah and Walter have had many years of experience keeping chickens and gave us great pointers on the best kind of coop to build.

Then May came along and we decided to add a black lab puppy to the mix. Moses was so cute and one our heart immediately. Then the day came when he got one of the chicks. He didn't kill her, in fact Kelsey nursed her back to perfect health. As they say though, once a dog gets the taste of chicken... watch out. Sure enough, over the three months of summer Moe had three more attacks on our girls. Eventually killing all but one. It was a devastating day here at the Tolpin house, but a good lesson. So after decided to "save" the last girl from Moe we took her to the feed store to find a safer home.

We decided to take some time off, prepare a better coop. One that was Moses proof and to work on training him better. As for the training, I don't know... but the kids have told me they will help daddy fix the coop as my mother's day gift. I am so excited!!!!

So today was the big day, bringing home our new baby chicks. What fun! I originally thought about waiting and just getting hens that were already laying. Then after contemplating it over I thought, it would be fun for the kids to raise them that way the chickens are used to being picked up. Plus Megan is three now, Austin is four and they both remember a little about the chickens we had, but not a lot. This will be an adventure for them too now.

This time we got 12 chicks. Double what we had last year. Also we decided on getting standard sized breeds this year instead of bantams. Something different, just for fun! We brought home 3 Bardrocks, 2 New Hampshire Reds, 3 Silverlaced Buttercups, 2 Lakenvelders, and 2 Delawares. I am really excited about the variety of birds. They are all gong to be beautiful and have very different and distinctive markings. I would love to have some Araucanas also, but maybe in future.

The kids are so excited, Kelsey can hardly sleep. She has come down three times tonight to check on her chicks. Today the kids spent about 2 and a half hours cleaning out the chicken coop, by themselves. They were determined to show me how "ready" they were to have chickens. I am already lovin' this!

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