I figure that I probably won't have enough material to just blog about the hospital. Actually, I figure that you all will get semi-tired of reading about my hospital adventures. So I am going to try out a "weekend feature" that will tackle the issues of being a wannabe weekend homesteader AND... I have an excellent first topic! CHICKENS!
So I have wanted to get chickens for YEARS... well at least three or four years. A couple of weekends ago a neighbor volunteered to give me some hens who had just started laying FOR FREE. Now, if there is one thing you will learn about me should you choose to follow this blog- I am an s-u--c-k-e-r for a "deal" in any form. "Hey look! They are giving away a 200 pound metal tank that is all rusty with a hole in the bottom and smells like last year's turkey rotting in the garbage can! FOR FREE! Let's take it home! I am sure we could sell it for a small fortune to the metal recycling place! I bet the turkey smell will disappear when they melt it down."
Anyway, I conned my husband into the chickens with one caveat from him- "I am so NOT helping you with this." OK I can do this, I am an independent woman who happens to be married. I can use a chainsaw, cut some poles, dig some holes and build a fence. But I am not a builder. I'll just buy one of those ready-made coops down at the feed store in exchange for the small fortune I'll be making when I get the metal tank down to the metal recyclers. Easy money people, easy money.
Problem number one- the ready made coop though cute, is not insulated. Chickens don't like -15 degrees Fahrenheit weather. It could prove challenging to insulate the coop after it is put together (kind of hard to work through that 12 x 14 chicken door). But when I arrive at the feed store to pick-up the coop, it is not assembled yet. But wait, this is perfect! I'll just insulate the coop while I am assembling it! The guy at the feed store assures me that the instructions are enclosed and all I need is a screw driver. I'll use foam board insulation and front it with metal flashing so the chickens don't peck it to death. Yesssss, I am so smart and independent! The chickens are dancing in my head.
Problem number two- arrive at home chickens and two large boxes that are my coop, in tow. I get to work on the coop while the chickens wander around inside my garden fence trashing strawberry plants and teasing the dog who is locked out of the garden so as not to chase them. I open the box and unpack it- No directions or hardware anywhere in sight! I call the feed store- "Uh wow, this has never happened before. Those parts won't be in until monday". Chickens go in there coop every night like clockwork. No coop on friday does not mean they can wait until monday.
Enter my husband. Driving home from a hard day at work he sees me in the corner of the garden surrounded by assorted puzzle pieces that are my coop, with my chickens running around decimating raspberries and taunting the dog. I swear people, any project relating to building or wood emits a siren-like tone audible only to him that is irresistible- he came over.
"What are you doing?".
"Building a coop."
"How does it go together?"
long pause.
"I don't know. But you don't have to help me. I can do this by myself" thinking "Yah, I soooo have this handled!"
Raised eyebrow "uh huh, sure looks like it. There aren't any instructions?"
At this point, I can no longer resist his prodding. I spill about all of the days hiccups. This doesn't seem to matter, as he has now fixated on the wood and is moving pieces around experimentally, as happy as a little kid with a puzzle. I, not being very good at wood or puzzles, choose not to complain anymore and we set in trying to assemble the coop. It still doesn't assemble an hour and a half later.
I throw three inches of shavings in the bottom of the large dog crate that I picked the birds up in, chase them around the garden for 20 minutes until I have them all safely in the crate, put the crate into the green house for the night, and then go inside to make dinner.
Husband: "How much did you pay for that coop?"
Finesse: "Too much"
Husband: "How much?"
Finesse: "Uhhhh, $$$.... but I am still going to trade in the big metal tank and...."
Husband: "How about I just build you one."
Finesse: "OK"
So that's it! Yup! Marriage is really that easy! I will take the cute hunk of crap back to the feed store tomorrow, and Husband will probably have the entire brand new coop, way more nice and skookum built and insulated done by the evening. In exchange, I will help him finish the last 1/4 mile or so of barb wire fence around our property.
I think this is a pretty good trade :)
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