I did however build myself a chicken coop, and now am the proud owner of 8 chickens! Since I live in a small town in Alberta, it seemed fitting. According to the Birkmann test I took a few months ago, I have an interest in agriculture/outdoors, so I have permission to nurture my inner farmer.
Most of the chickens are young: 3 Silver Grey Dorkings (pictured and critically endangered in Canada), 2 Speckled Sussex, 2 Americanus (the ones that lay light blue eggs) and one mature Rhode Island Red. The Rhode Island Red 'rules the roost' is at the top of the 'pecking order' and other wise bosses everyone around. She has earned the nickname of 'Attila the Hen'. She is the only one old enough to lay eggs so far.
I have to say, that I am simply amazed almost everyday as I stop by to pick up the freshly laid egg. It's just amazing to look at this edible product, and see where it came from!
The coop itself is more of a 'chicken condo' than a coop, complete with thermostatically controlled heating, but it's small, lots of poops lying around, and not a place I'd want to live. But in the chaos, the cramped quarters, these funny little beasts are capable of producing a perfect, clean, flawless, life sustaining egg.
I just look at them and don't seem to get over the amazement of it all. I like technology, but I'm thinking we're very far away from machinery managing to pull off anything as perfect as a simple egg.
Come on by: I'll share.
