Farming?!

This past Friday we received a shipment of 104 Barred Rock chicks. They were desposited into our brooder house and now they are running around investigating their pen as they hop from feeder to waterer.

We purchases a straight run and we intend to butcher all but a couple of the rooster and to attempt to keep the hens to see if we can a get a few eggs. We wouldn't mind seeing the hens set on some of the eggs to sustain our floc, but since we are rather new to raising birds, I suppose time will reveal how successful and industrious we are.

The kids, of course, are rather infatuated with them. A few days into the project and we have had already had to compile a consitituion and a bill of rights. We have had only two birds die thus far, but perhaps their biggest challenge will be surviving the love that kids can offer! We also will need to see if we can afford the feed at the rate the kids get it spilled all over the place!

We are grateful that the kids have an opportunity to be around some animals. Rachel and I have always desired to raise kids out in the country where they can play in the dirt and learn how to enjoy the fruits of an agrarian lifestyle. The kids are already efficient little laborers...they have carried and stacked several loads of firewood and sometimes I am amazed at what they can done. Of course, sometimes I am amazed at how desparate they are to try to get out of it as well!