The Best Reasons To Have A Family Farm

Introduction on Farm Chickens

My grandkids call me Gamma. We gave our children a broad experience when raising them on a small family farm. It became a historical family first-generation tradition. We raised our sheep and chickens, ducks, geese, and cats. We built our own animal sheds and memories grew deep. It enriched our lives as we became involved in the farm community in our area.

It was my life and I have more than a few grateful memories. Most of my kids either want or have chickens and want a small farm because of those memories.”

Chicken Raising and Hatching Eggs

So, I get to start out telling you a great little story about chickens.

Now, I am not a person, even though I was on the farm, who wanted animals in the house. My dog was to care for the sheep, he had his job. Our cats had their jobs out in the barn and playing with the kids. But chickens? Not a fan of those as pets, and definitely not in the house.

We had a country home, and I got a wild hair of an idea. I wanted to try everything about chicken; hatch eggs, grow chicks, get eggs from the adult chickens, and enjoy the whole process. So, that is what we did. I set up a hatching box in the dining room, and we waited for the hatching, as I watched the kids crawl around the house.

We had 3 children, and each of them was a year apart. It was like having triplets! I would talk to the eggs every time I walked by and play with the kids. I was more involved in the farm at that time than the kids because they were so small.

The Hatching Chickens Day!

One morning I woke to hear the chicks, it was a highlight of my day! It is pressed into my unforgettable memory bank, and I hope in the good memories of my kids too. Of course, after the eggs hatched and the chickens grew their protective feathers – outside they went. But I was their ‘mother’, and they would cuddle around me. These were white leghorns, so I was happy they were tame. They were good layers, and we had a nice set up for them. They were very comfortable.

White-chickens-in-grassy-cage — White Chickens

Mixed-Variety-of Colored-Chickens — Mixed Variety Chickens

My Grandson

(See Links to Pictures and Short Videos on YouTube)

You must listen to my Asperger grandson talking to his mother about their chickens on YouTube as he watches them. Too cute! He is fascinated that the chickens lose their feathers and that he can pick them up and use them in his crafts. I love his Asperger sing-song voice,

He often will focus on one memory; it is difficult for him to forget it. My daughter sent me a recording of his first thoughts. (One chick had died and that was the first thing that popped into his mind when his mom asked him what he thought about the chickens).

My Granddaughter

comical-chicken-expression — My granddaughter says, “they have personalities.”

My granddaughter says that: “The chickens are super cute and adorable. One is mean and kept banging his head on the door to get food, one likes to have me pet him, one is really small, and one likes to peck us. We have eleven chickens.” She likes that because she is 11 years old.

“They have their own personalities. They have a small brain, but I could sit and watch them all day. They squawk when they want food.”

“I am excited to see when they lay eggs. It’s important to make them comfortable and warm and to make sure that they have enough food to eat and water to drink. I am really happy that we have them.”