Birdie Updates.

Oh My Gosh!  The Chickens are digging!  They have started to dig a hole that goes under the fence.  It is definitely the chickens since the hole is massive from the inside of the fence.  They got it big enough within the yard that they can back up their bums against the fence and scratch back and throw feathers and dirt out from under the fence.  We stuck a brick in the hole to keep them from digging any further.  My guess is they found an ant farm or potato bug village!  Yesterday I didn't see them doing this, but then this am I saw them doing it in the whole within the yard but unable to get against the fence to kick out.  These 4 birds are very clever!  People always say chickens are the lest intelligent animals, but if they were to spend any amount of time around them... in their natural settings (battery cages are not natural nor in 500 hens stuffed into a small barn) they would see how intelligent these birds actually are!

In other news, we have decided to move our birds from our yard.  BUT WAIT, it is for a good and exciting reason!  We believe we will be getting an offer on our house early next week.  We think it will be a house to sell offer, but an offer none the less.  This being said, we want to have the chickens and their things out of the side yard so we can clean it up for the perspective new owners.  We have not been asked to do this, we just feel it is the right thing to do.  We don't want to leave a muddy mess for anyone once the blocks and coop are removed.  It will also allow our wonderful neighbours (cough, cough) to feel they have been victorious!  Not that I want them to feel as though we have given into their bullying, but at the same time... I WILL NOT change my behaviours because of them.  If the complaint had not been made and everyone loved our chickens, we would still want to move them to clean up for the potential new residents.  Leaving the chickens there up until the day we move would only be out of spite and not wanting the neighbours to feel as though they have won; this is not fair to the new owners and I refuse to jeopardize my personal integrity and beliefs.   Plus, as I am seeing it... WE WIN!  We will not only get the home and property of our dreams, but we will be healthier, happier, and far more self sufficient!

Now, our ladies will not be far from us and we will be able to go visit whenever we wish and even collect eggs.  We are now part of the Windsor Coop and the Community supported agriculture.  They have a coop with 25 or so hens that we will have our birds added to for the time being.  Once/if we get our new place we will build a large new coop for our birds and bring them home where they belong.  We would also remain a part of the Windsor Coop and CSA for the community aspect as well as learning and sharing ideas.   Being part of a CSA is a great way to teach children and yourself about community and agriculture.

I am becoming more hopeful that everything will work out in our favour.  Country Living... here we come!

Green Acres is the place to be

Farm living is the life for me

Land spreading out, so far and wide

Keep Manhattan, just give me that countryside!