Ups and downs of raising chickens

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June 2, 2012

Ups and downs of raising chickens

By Wanda Callagy Contributing Writer The Daily Star Sat Jun 02, 2012, 03:30 AM EDT

I raise chickens.

Yup ... in the village. It has been a trial-and-error experience.

They have become pets.

I make a great quiche and give away eggs.

I will allow the chickens to grow old and give them hospice care.

Several years ago, I lived in Michigan on an organic farm _ and they had chickens.

I would watch Lee and Linda Purdy with their animals and general farming adventures and decided I would like to have a few chickens one day.

So, I researched it and ordered 25 laying hens from a large company in the Midwest.

The day they arrived I got a call from Dennis Marsh at the Stamford post office to come and get my noisy peepers.

My pup, Annie, and kitten, Dahlia, spent long nights of vigil watching the little ones in the big dog kennel under the lamp, and as I divided them up with friends, I took photos of all their changes.

My friend Mark built a chicken house out of old supplies and cut bleach bottles for nesting boxes. The girls loved their home.

Now, I have an adolescent silkie rooster named Charlie and "the triplets," three pullets.

Unfortunately, part of having chickens is to be around nature, and I am sure the beautiful fox I saw last week had my three old hens for dinner the other evening _ a very disappointing way to make sure one reinforces fencing as even being in the village, wildlife abounds.

Being pro-active is a key in keeping animals safe.

As disheartened as I felt, I know the day before, my girls were dusting themselves in the sun, and had a treat of watermelon.

My neighbors and the local feed store, the Stamford Farmer's Co-op, and friends have been helpful moving fences and patient with my adventures.

I can often be found sitting and watching my chicks. They run to and fro, chasing blackbirds from their seed; at times it seems they are playing "tag." They have a beautiful barn in the yard, built by Frank Albano, but like children, right now, they prefer playing in the doghouse.

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