A sibling gave me a chicken catalog. I've been looking through it for over a month; page after page of chickens to choose from. Since I only have Meredith left, I thought it was time to get more chicks to raise. Last time I ordered chickens my main objective in getting chickens was to be closer to my egg source. Now my objective in getting chickens in two fold - eggs and entertainment. I've had more fun than I ever expected watching chickens and being a part of their daily drama. So I knew I wanted chickens but I had trouble making a decision. I want five females. I think this chicken catalog brought out the ADD (attention deficit disorder) in me. I would look at a page, admire the chickens, turn the page, admire those chickens, start looking at the swans, the geese, the peacocks, the ducks and the quail. Every page had something fascinating on it. I could look through the catalog for 15 minutes and put it down being no closer to a decision than I was before I picked it up. Do I want a Polish chicken with the fancy hairdo or will their feathers obstruct their view and make them more vulnerable to predators? Well, Polish are only available in a mixed run (male and female) so that is out. How about a Cochin with the feathery legs? Choosing a chicken that can be sorted by sex and is cold hardy narrowed down my choices. How about getting a beautiful all white peacock? Wouldn't that be awesome? Stop! No peacocks. Be sensible. Finally, this last Saturday, I came to a decision. I'm getting Orpingtons, buff Orpingtons. In this case, buff does not mean well muscled but a color (orangy tan). Orpingtons are larger chickens. Females weight about 8 pounds. I thought a larger chicken would be nice because they could stay warmer together in the coop and might be less likely to be picked off by a fox or a cat or a dog. Orpingtons are named after a town in England. These chickens are known for their fluffy feathers, soft appearance and gentle contours. They are large and therefore don't fly much. Orpingtons are calm and easily tamed. I can hardly wait to get my new family of chickens. I hope Meredith is accepting of her new companions. New chicks! I'm so excited!!!!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment