A few months ago we moved. This move gave us the opportunity to take a big step we’ve been hoping for–the chance to be true homesteaders and develop methods of self sustainment for our family. Now, instead of a partial acre, we are sitting on several acres that give us the freedom to do for ourselves a lot more. Of course we had a few chickens before, but in the city where we previously lived only 2 chickens were allowed per quarter acre. Now that’s just crazy pants. We had just under that amount of land, meaning that we probably should’ve only been allowed one chicken (instead of 3. shhh!). But going by that reasoning, here we should be allowed to have 40 chickens! That’s a lot of eggs!
We added to our flock a few months ago when they were just a couple weeks old. They were so teeny tiny! (Side note: I would have more pictures of the chicks as babies, but Reed poured a glass of water on my computer. I had no idea until I picked it up and water poured out of it. He’s cute, but he’s a busy mister.)
And then they grew…
And grew…
And they’re still growing. 
One morning when we came out to feed them we found one had been killed by a raccoon. Super sad. But then Chloe noticed one of the other chicks laying down. She hadn’t moved all day. That crazy raccoon had bitten off her leg. Well, of course she became our pet chicken. We named her Stella. She lived on our back porch. Every night I would sit with her on my lap and we would “snuggle,” as much as you can with a chicken anyway. After two weeks it happened. The incident. Reed, only 17 months old, opened the sliding glass door, which hadn’t been closed properly. I guess I should also mention that our miniature poodle, Simon, was always waiting and waiting for a moment when he too might be able to “snuggle” with Stella. Well when Reed opened the door, Simon got his chance! He raced outside, grabbed her out of her bin and she was done for. 🙁 Super duper sad.
On another note, I think I’m a goat lady. Although we don’t have any yet, I want goats. Lots of goats. I want goats for milking and goats for breeding. And sheep. And pigs. And turkeys and ducks. And maybe a cow. The girls want horses, but that’s a long way off if it is ever going to happen. If it was up to me we would already have a farm filled with animals. However, Scott says I’m moving too fast and he can’t build homes quickly enough for these animals that I have to have. It seems that for right now it’s just chickens and rabbits. But very soon I’m sure I’ll have many pictures to share of my new goats and piggies. 😉
