adding to the brood

And here they are. Two Barred Rock chickens, now on our farm (can we officially call it a farm now?), to add to the brood of children, dogs and horses. It wasn't entirely intentional. Yes, we've been talking about chickens for some time now, and then my dear old dad thought it would be cute (and it kind of was) to buy Andy two chickens for Father's Day.

We went to Dad's yesterday for a cookout and found two chickens scratching around his fenced in dog yard (he lives in town). He was well prepared, having gotten a small cage, chicken waterer and a 50# bag of feed. He knew we wouldn't be able to leave them. So, later that evening, off we went in the Subaru with the chickens. At one point in the drive we were treated to the screams of two over-tired kids with the soft contented clucking of chickens in the background.

First order of business this morning: the chicken tractor

Helping papa build the chicken tractor.

Of course, they'll need a ladder to get up to their roosting box.

5:30 PM. Finally the tractor is done. The moment we've been waiting for: the chicken release. Iris: "Can the chickens go in yet, can the chickens go in yet, can the chickens go in yet?"....

Note the little wheels on the back so we can pull it around the yard, orchard or garden. Dogs can't get in, chickens can't get out. Everything chickens need, grass, bugs, roosting box is all there. Pretty sweet.

Someone can't take her eyes off her new friends.

Ah. Home sweet home.