Backyard Chickens

I recently acquired three chickens that live in our backyard.  We converted my son's playhouse into a chicken coop.  I was introduced to the idea when a friend brought over a carton of fresh eggs that tasted so amazing, like a completely different food than the store bought version.  When I first approached my husband with the idea it went like this;

Lisa:  "I think it would be fun to raise a few chickens and have fresh eggs."

Husband:  "Who is going to feed them?"

Lisa:  "I will."

Husband: "Who is going to build them a coop?"

Lisa: "I will help"

Husband: "Who is going to get them water?"

Lisa: "I will."

Husband: "Who is going to clean out the coop?"

Lisa: Silence, followed by the sound of footsteps stomping off.

Needless to say we now have chickens. They are Ameraucana's and they lay bluish eggs and sometimes speckled. They also have greenish grey feet.  I am not sure if they are pure Ameraucana's, I bought them from a lady off of craigslist. I will save that story for another day. My husband points out that each egg costs around $8.50 in supplies, food and labor. Of course it goes down with every tasty one he eats.

12 Things I now know about chickens:

1.  Chickens fly, really. 

2.  Chickens pant when they are hot. They tolerate the cold much better than the heat. 

3.  Chickens are easy to train to eat out of your hand and will follow you...resist the urge.

4. Chickens will come in the house if you leave the back door open, see number 3.

5.  Chicken will not eat the nightcrawler worms used for fishing. 

6.  Chickens love mealworms dried or the live kind for fishing and can be used to train them...resist the urge.

7.  Dogs and chickens can co-exist in the same backyard.

8.  Chickens make alot of noise.

9.  When the sun comes up, chickens will beg to be let out of the coop, see number 8.

10. Chickens do not like to be picked up or petted. They are not pets.

11. Chickens dig up your backyard.   

12. Chickens poop everywhere.