More is Better. Right?

Since we had been done building Castle Coop for a whole two weeks, we apparently felt we needed more to do with our lives because the weekend we went and bought seven more chickens.  Well, were not actually that crazy, the state is.  The state is banning the sale of chickens starting August 15th so we decided we'd better get some more before that takes effect.

This time we our criteria wasn't pets to learn with but more practical.  We wanted the best egg layers we could find, that weren't aggressive or broody.  The kids and I went on a recon mission Friday, July 10th to see what chicks were available from Urban Chicken.  I sent Chris pics and we almost left with all of the them, they were so cute.  However, reason won the day and Chris told me to come home and we would go back this weekend after doing our research.

Part of the research involved deciding if we had enough room.  The conclusion was that the castle/house inside Castle Coop would need to be expanded but the coop would suffice for up to 14 chickens.

So back we went on Sunday to pick up 4 more chickens.  We chose the Sexlink/Golden Comets for their temperament, and industrial egg production (They basically lay one extra large egg a day for three years and die.)  We explained to the boys these are our working chickens and not our pets.

We left with seven chicks, why not right and they were quickly named Monday - Sunday.  We never got into "Chicken TV" with the Brahmas but these chicks have had everyone out on the porch throughout the day watching them ever since they arrived.

UPDATE:  The guinea pig cage we bought to house them in for the first four weeks till they were old enough to join the flock, was outgrown in two weeks.  So to avoid the $60 egg we decided to re-purpose Sarge's cage.

I've started calling them our velociraptors.  The other day I caught a robber fly in a clay pot while they were free ranging.  I had Lance bring one over, we lifted the pot so she could see and she quickly stabbed in once in the pot, it flew a few feet and she finished it off in the grass.  Then began the game of "chicken football".  It's so much fun to give them a choice treat and watch them run around trying to keep it to themselves/away from their flock mates.

To expand the house we've decided to add two wings, turn the perches 90 degrees allowing room for two more perches and a side door into the house.  We have just enough left over lumber and paint to complete the job, now we just need time to do it before they out grow Sarge's cage.