Flock!

[godfry n. glad]

We got it.

Well, we just paid for it. It'll be delievered Sunday evening, after the closing of the poultry exhibit at the Clack County Fair. Three pullets, advertised as "good layers". One is a barred Plymouth Rock, one is a Rhode Island Red, and the third is a golden Sex-determined Cross. So, we'll be getting três chicas malas, three bad girls...at least as far as Hobbes will be concerned; his backyard will be taken over by three birds, each as large as he. I'm curious as to how the initial exchange shall go.

So...three females; a blonde, a red, and a salt and pepper. All need names.

Hmmm...

[livius drusus]

OMG OMG OMG!!! Do you have a coop ready? Are they going to be free rangin' around on insect patrol?

[godfry n. glad]

Originally Posted by livius drusus

OMG OMG OMG!!! Do you have a coop ready? Are they going to be free rangin' around on insect patrol?

The bunny hutch is to be retrofitted (& moved) for the três chicas malas. The mozaic ("paved" with broken concrete walk) has been cleared of invasive ranunculus weeds, and I had forgotten how much I'd left "unpaved", so there will be a decent dusting spot. They must be hutched at night, but allowed insect run for long spells. The back can be closed off, but if they wanted, an easy escape can be made over the side gate. The SO says she doesn't think it will be of much interest to them; that they'll be happy in the back yard. She's done this before...only on five acres.

I'm more concerned about Hobbes. I think he's suffering the disgrace as the aging boss cat...indeed, I'd say he got displaced in his own neighborhood quite recently. This will be nothing but another indignity forced upon the long suffering overlord.

[livius drusus]

Poor Hobbes. Mebbe he'll strike up an unlikely friendship with them. Stranger things have happened.

[Ensign Steve]

[godfry n. glad]

Originally Posted by livius drusus

Poor Hobbes. Mebbe he'll strike up an unlikely friendship with them. Stranger things have happened.

Yeah...and as a street-cat, he's pretty wise in the ways of the world. Plus, the source for this invasion is his biggest patsy, my feline-besot SO.

I'm sure we'll adapt as we go along, both Hobbes and I.

Of course, we've told the neighbors (that matter) and one, in back of us, is open to adding to the flock with her own. Since we're talking about replacing the decrepit fence between our properties with a fence with a double-swing gate, this is a good thing. The other neighbor is happy we're not getting a cock. I don't think the city will let us have a cock, actually. Too much noise at the wrong time of day.

[livius drusus]

Ya, roosters definitely bump against zoning regs in urban environments, although much to my amazement, my (entirely intown) county allows them. Not that I'd get one, mind you. They're just not neighborly, and they can be seriously aggressive.

[ChuckF]

We used to have the meanest rooster. It especially hated red shoes. It would usually attack, spurs first, anyone that got out of a car. But red shoes sent it into a special frenzy.

When can we get pics for the naming, godfry?

[godfry n. glad]

Originally Posted by ChuckF

When can we get pics for the naming, godfry?

I didn't even think to take my camera with me to the county fair today. Pix will have to wait until they are delivered. Sunday night...so probably sometime Monday morn, PDT.

[Angakuk]

Originally Posted by godfry n. glad

Three pullets, advertised as "good layers".

How can they advertise pullets as good layers. A bird less than a year old doesn't have a track record yet.

[Plant Woman]

Congrats on the flock! Need photos please.

Rhode Island Reds are good layers, I had them years ago, but the locals around here say Buff Orpington chickens are the best. My favorite was an Araucana that layed blue eggs. I can't remember if she was a good layer, just that her eggs were colorful.

I want to have chickens again. We just need night shelter. We have a 6x6 foot chain link pen we can cover the top with wire (too many eagles and hawks in the neighborhood) and place it around in different parts of the garden. Fresh eggs would be cool and aged poop for the garden even better.

[Angakuk]

I believe that is Araucana, PW, not Anaconda. Anacondas eat Araucanas, if they get the chance.

[Qingdai]

Congratulations on your flock.
I've had all three of these breeds of chickens. They are breeds that are good layers. Look forward to about three eggs a day when they aren't molting. The eggs get larger as they get older too.
Arcuanas are good layers as well. They lay pink, yellow and blue/green eggs. I am looking forward to having chickens again when we get a real house instead of an apartment.
In the city, racoons and opossums are a good reason to hutch them.

[Plant Woman]

Originally Posted by Angakuk

I believe that is Araucana, PW, not Anaconda. Anacondas eat Araucanas, if they get the chance.

Well it's been a few years, and silly me can't tell the difference between a slither and clucker.

[viscousmemories]

[godfry n. glad]

Originally Posted by Angakuk

How can they advertise pullets as good layers. A bird less than a year old doesn't have a track record yet.

Good genes.

[biochemgirl]

Mmmmm.....chickens...

erm...yeah the eggs are good too.

[godfry n. glad]

There is that, too. My SO knows a real good bird butcher, so we're set there. But, she also says that the older hens, that lay the larger eggs, aren't all that good a'eatin'. She intends to gift them to the local homeless kitchen for soup, or whatnot.

[biochemgirl]

Yup, they'd be great for soup.

Seriously though, there is nothing like fresh chicken eggs. My mom usually sends me home with six or seven dozen every time I go home. She had ducks for awhile which the eggs are good for pasta making but it's not quite the same as chicken eggs in other capacities.

[Pinecone]

You can name them Lucy, Ethel and Fred!

The blonde can be Fred because...well...ya know....blondes they aren't quite right anyway.

[livius drusus]

Just in case you love them so much you can't help but keep them in the house with you: the chickensuit.

I'm partial to the Wookie model, myself.

[godfry n. glad]

Uh...wait...the SO said that they would be "outside" hens. No stomping around on us in bed, pushing to crawl under the covers and snuggle. We already have a totally spoiled feline that does all that. She has it figured that Hobbes will soon figure out that he has premier status because the henpeckers in the backyard don't get to snuggle in bed at night with his human staff like he does. She doesn't really even want them in the house...she doesn't clean anything but cat barf off the floor, so she's not going to want to add chickenshit. She wants that in the yard/garden, where it can do some good.

[livius drusus]

Ah, but the beauty of the chickensuit is that it keeps floors clean as a whistle.

[godfry n. glad]

Ewww...who'd want their floors all covered with spit?

[wildernesse]

One of my favorite pictures from my parents' newlywed days is my dad sitting in their house by the Christmas tree. It always takes a second to realize that he is holding a chicken on his knee. Eventually, they did get a dog.

My brother had a flock of Rhode Island Reds for a while, and it was fun finding eggs. Then he got lazy about putting them up at night. . .and, well, we eventually didn't have any more chickens.