The Chickapades - Lauren's Hens

I have a new friend Lauren, she is helping me along my chicken adventure. Lauren sent me this hilarious quick synopsis from her own Chickapades, I just had to share. I am soooo looking forward to the adventure, but I will tell you now... I ain't baggin' no chicken!

" I had a d'UCCLE Mille Fleur, she was SUPER sweet and mellow, just like the silkies, and my kids could hold her easily… however I let them loose in my yard once a week to run around and get exercise, and my son had accidentally stepped on her. At that time she seemed fine and for the next few days she seemed fine… then we went on a small vacation and I got a call from my father in law saying she was dead. So I assume my son must have stepped on her harder than I though… I felt so terrible….

We started with 10 bantams… 4 silkies, 2 spitzhaubens, 2 japaneese black tails, the d'UCCLE Mille Fleur, and one more I forgot the name… however, we lost the d'UCCLE Mille Fleur, 2 of my silkies turned out to be roosters that I managed to find good homes for, one of my spitzhaubens I had to bag and put in the trash because the raccoons managed to dig under my coop and sntach her and drag her out… she was still alive, but one leg was missing and she couldn’t move… so I couldn’t leave her like that… I felt terrible… and one of them I think got picked up by a hawk when I had them loose in the yard!!!! So that’s why I am getting more…"

Thanks Lauren for the laughs...

Step One-Chicks are on the way

Step one: Order Chicks...
Here are the ladies that will be joining us soon. ( or what they are suppose to look like)

Cochin
Cochins are known the world over for being big friendly balls of fluff and feathers. They don't lay well but are very popular because of their sweet personality and fantastic mothering qualities. Cochins became famous in the 1800s when this Chinese breed was given as a gift to Queen Victoria of England, who absolutely adored them.


Silkie Bantam
Of all the ornamental chicken breeds, the Silkie Bantam is one of the most popular and beloved, and certainly one of the most entertaining to watch. Can't you tell why? They're the lap kitty of the chicken world, complete with hair-like plumage and an incredibly sweet temperament. We have heard it said that Silkies are like a "flock" of kittens... but unlike your other pets, your chickens can actually provide your breakfast! Silkies originated in the Far East, where they are still kept (and eaten) today. They have black skin and bones and 5 toes instead of the normal 4. In addition, Silkie hens make wonderful brooders and mothers, and are even known to adopt baby ducks if given the chance!



Plymouth Rock
Barred Plymouth Rocks or "Barred Rocks", as they're called, are one of the most popular dual-purpose chickens on small farms today. Their heritage is unclear with reports of different crosses, but what is clear is that they're very friendly, great layers of large brown eggs and able to withstand cold weather quite nicely. Though they tolerate confinement, they're most happy when they get to range freely. All varieties of Plymouth Rock aside from the Barred and White varieties are relatively rare.

Belgian Bearded d'Uccle Bantam
The Mille Fleur variety is the most popular breed of Belgian Bearded d'Uccles - so much so that people commonly refer to all Beglains as "Millies" or "Mille Fleurs"! The only difference between this breed and the Booted Bantams is the presence of a beard.


Easter Eggers
Easter Eggers are not a breed per se, but a variety of chicken that does not conform to any breed standard but lays large to extra large eggs that vary in shade from blue to green to olive to aqua and sometimes even pinkish. Easter Eggers vary widely in color and conformation, and are exceptionally friendly and hardy. Since they are usually quite friendly to children and humans in general, they are a great choice for a family flock. Most hatcheries mistakenly label their Easter Eggers as Ameraucanas or Araucanas (or various misspellings thereof). True Ameraucanas and Araucanas are currently only available through breeders. Eater Eggers do not qualify to be shown, since they do not conform to a breed standard.


On to step 2, preparation for our babies...

Chickens = LOVE

All I got for my anniversary was a Tiffany's necklace... So we took it back to get an Eglu!
YAY! Oh the 9 year wait is over people, I got the green light to get some chickens ( thanks honey).
Yes, chickens. My very own backyard chickens...

That very awesome chicken pod above is an Eglu, a chicken coop for urban backyards. The design is so awesome I just had to have one, in orange of course.
I am still deciding on which breeds and how many. Lissa over at My Pet Chicken is helping me out a bunch! We have one narrowed down for sure, the Silkie...


So cute and funny, almost a Muppet/Dr. Seuss type character. The other ladies are yet to be determined. Stay tuned for updates to our chicken adventure.