Chickie Coven

I am a brand new chicken parent. And I love it. I love these damn things so much already.

The Dominiques rush the camera or photo bomb every time.

To prepare, I went to a class on chicken raising at a Jefferson County Ag Fair, held in a high school auditorium. I read a bit online. We are only keeping these girls for eggs, not for meat.

The coop was (and is) one of the biggest challenges. They are expensive. There were lots of online plans that looked doable but time consuming and frustrating. I finally found a used one on Facebook marketplace, fit for 15 chickens. The previous owner was updating and expanding his coop and wanted it gone. He hauled it here on a flatbed trailer and unloaded it next to our house, letting gravity and the momentum of his truck pulling forward to do all of the hard work.

So now we have a very large chicken coop sitting next to Robin Woods, with two fences and quite a bit of space between where it is now and where it needs to be behind the house. Dove and their brother, Barn Sparrow, have a plan that involves PVC pipes as rollers, a sled of aluminum siding, and wench/pulley system. I fear this plan will become is a real life version of the game the two of them enjoy playing together, Satisfactory (or as my sister-in-law Song Sparrow calls it, Saddest Factory). I will report back when the coop has been installed.

We purchased six chicks from the OK Hatchery. You have to preorder them, calling about six weeks ahead of time to reserve the breed you want. You pick them up when they are about 3 days old. They are sexed and vaccinated.

Chickens are everywhere, once you start looking. I wanted ones that were guaranteed healthy and guaranteed (as best as possible) to be girls.

There are 3 cinnamon queens and 3 Dominques. They are currently just under four weeks old: awkward teenagers, with their adult feathers only half in and their fuzz sticking out at funny angles.

They currently live in our basement, in a pen. It has food, water, a heating platform, a roost. I check on them twice daily at minimum: I refresh food, clean their water, make sure they are ok, hold them, talk to them. They poop a lot and on everything so I’m constantly changing out their food and water. When it is nice, I load them in a laundry basket lined with paper towels and bring them outside. Once a week I clean out their pen and renew their pine shaving litter.

The pen when they were a few days old.

Our dogs and cats are fascinated with them. We let them observe the chicks occasionally.

Miesha wishes to eat them.

Hazel is interested, but not in a prey way. We think she will guard them when they are outside.

I was surprised at how different they are: each one of them has their own little chicken personality and distinct markings.

CHICKEN WITCH ROLE CALL

The Dominiques

Dominique chickens (also called Pilgrim Fowl) are the oldest American chicken breed and are used for both eggs and meat. They have black and white barred plumage and lay brown eggs. They are known for being hardy, good foragers as well as good natured.

My Dominiques are friendly and curious. It is hard for me to get photos of them as they rush the camera each time. They have all hopped up on me, my lap or foot.

Nancy of the Winged Eyeliner

Boss and beautiful

Named after Nancy Downs from The Craft. She appears to be wearing eyeliner. She is the boss and always is the first to inspect anything new, even if its just my hand appearing next to her.

Lottie Shadow Queen

goth girrrrrl

Named after Lottie Matthews from Yellowjackets. She is the darkest Dominique and very chill.

Ursula the Masked Bandit

(here to steal your heart)

Named Ursula from The Little Mermaid. She looks like she is wearing a little bandit mask. She’s very sweet and likes to be pet on her chest.

The Cinnamon Queens

Cinnamon Queens a hybrid chicken breed, a result from a crossbreeding between Rhode Island Red roosters and Rhode Island White hens. They are known for being friendly and laying lots of big brown eggs.

I find the Cinnamon Queens a little more skittish and independent than the Dominiques. While they are still very sweet, they are less curious about me. They get more indigent when I pick them up. When we are outside, the Dominiques watch my every move and will run to me if I call to them or even hold out my hand. The Cinnamon Queens are quick to spread out away from me, pecking, not even watching me.

Glam Golden Glinda

No autographs plz

Named after Glinda the Good Witch from Wizard of Oz. She is the diva of the Cinnamon Queens and always takes a good picture. She is a beautiful dark red, and was darker even as a chick.

Willow Will O’ Wisp

No touching.

Named after Willow Rosenberg from Buffy. Dislikes being picked up and will dart around to avoid it and cheep loudly when caught. Pale yellow, at least as a chick.

Winnifred Silly & Sweet

Kissed by an angel on the top of her dumb little head

Named after Winnifred Sanders from Hocus Pocus. My personal favorite of the Cinnamon Queens and the friendliest. She’s sweet (and a little derpy). She has a spot of dark brown on her forehead.

And that’s it, my witchy chickies, my coven of hens. I love them. I worry for their safety when it is time to put them outside.

Glinda looks beautiful even as an awkward teenage chicken.