A Kid’s Guide to Chickens
Submitted By: Emily Carr (5th grader at Burton Valley).

Challenge

Well, it started as a dream, in early January 2009. I love animals. Especially farm animals like cows, goats, horses, and chickens. I wanted a farm but I don’t have the land or the time. Wake up at five, milk the cows, feed the horses and all that work. My dad is an eco-fanatic so that’s what started it of. He told me about what he does, how he does it, and how it benefits the earth.  I thought it was awesome so I looked it up a bit. Then I got an idea. If they’re doing a farmers’ market in Lafayette, then what if I could sell eggs? And then I got my diary and drew up plan. I planned the coop, the kind of chickens I wanted, and it all came together. Since I mentioned it helps the earth, my dad said yes.

Solution Details

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We started the coop in late march, so it would be finished by Easter. We made it by making our old play-set into a chicken coop so it would have a 2nd story and a 1st story twice the size of the second that would be the chicken run. My dad and I made it.

Easter Day we got the chickens. I thought in bed as I woke up. Wait, day to get the chickens? I got to get ready! I threw on my clothes and made myself eggs. Well, soon I'm gonna have fresh organic eggs I thought. I sat down and started eating. Looked out the window and my dad was getting a box for the chicks. Could this get any better? I thought. I ran to my dad, long braids following behind me and said, “when can we go?” He said that we can go after he has a cup of coffee, uhhhh. I thought. He takes forever to drink his coffee so I sat in bed thinking of how great it will be when I actually get chickens. After 5 minutes I was getting impatient. What? I’m a little girl wanting chickens and had to wait 4 months in fact longer, to get them! I hopped out of bed and skipped outside, done yet dad? He chugged the last bit and ok, lets go. I ran to the car and put my seat belt on and of course, he was still walking to the car. He put in the key and we were off to Alamo Hay and Feed. The start to a new beginning.
 
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When we got there I was smiling from ear to ear. I ran inside and looked right to left. There were the chicks. I went over to the tub and looked in. I picked up a little fluffy yellow chick. I’m going to name you Sol. My sister got a yellow and black chick and named her Swanya (sw-ain-ya), and we both picked Morena.  We were going to get 2 more Rhode Island Reds but they didn’t have any so a week later we came again and those were named Rose and Paloma.

Having chickens is both good for the earth and a good activity outside of work or school! Egg laying must be really had work because they eat a TON of food. You need to give them fresh water every day also.  They eat food scraps too, which comes out the other end into POO! My dad collects it and puts it in the compost pile or puts it in the soil to feed our roses. But all in all taking care of chickens isn’t that much work, you just need to put in a family effort.

Prologue

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Well, Soul and Paloma  still walk this earth we live on, but, Swanya, Morena, and Rose are in heaven. Thanks to my stupid dog. So we got some more chicks. Dot, Emerald, and Charlie. My sister named her Charlie because she thought she looked like a Charlie because she had puffy cheeks. We got jinxed. Charlie and Morena turned out to be roosters. They are in a better place too. Thanks, Lauren. But we are happy with them and are going to fix up their coop in the summer of 2010. I’m in the process of getting my dad to get a pig, and goat.
 
Now, for you guys, who are reading this because you want chickens, do your research. Are these the right pets for me? Do I have the space? Does my stupid dog eat chickens? Those are some of the things you need to think about. And do I have the time to take care of these fluffy, little, cute balls of devil? Or will I just get bored of them? Really think about that question because I’ve seen a lot of that happen. And plan, plan, plan! Don’t just go out there and buy them thinking they will stay in a box in enough time for you to build a coop because they grow FAST.  If you have any questions please email me at emily.polarbear@gmail.com!

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Informational Links

Learn How to Raise Chickens - Workshops by Papa John Kiefer
Alamo Hay & Grain



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