Gigi's Blog » Tales of the Mortician's Wife

“Tomorrow is a busy day
We got things to do, we got eggs to lay
We got ground to dig and worms to scratch
It takes a lot of sittin’, gettin’ chicks to hatch…

Oh, there ain’t nobody here but us chickens
There ain’t nobody here at all
So quiet yourself and stop the fuss
There ain’t nobody here but us …”

My grandpa Clair used to sing that song to me when I was a little girl. He would dance around and shuffle in his old farmer shoes, grey pants and plaid shirt and sing the silly little song about chickens … I didn’t even know it was a real song until a few years ago. I just always thought Grandpa made it up to amuse his grandchildren and get some giggles from us. I LOVE my grampa. He’s still alive, but lives way in British Columbia so I don’t see him very often. But I still remember, as a little girl, going with my sister and brother to the big dusty hen house to collect the chicken eggs. I’ve always loved those memories and always wanted chickens of my own.

Well, …..

Yesterday, all eight of us (grandparents included as they are sharing custody with our little hen friends) hopped into the dusty Suburban *complete with broken air conditioning* and drove our way out into the deep heart of the country in search of our hens. Windows down, hair flicking in the wind and country music blaring, we made our way to a chicken farm in Ellora where had arranged to purchase three laying hens.

Quite frankly, I think Abby was embarrassed as soon as I pulled my camera out from the car. Was I really going to document the whole thing? OF COURSE.  He kept hiding from the camera and saying “Ohhhh, Gillian … c’monnnn ……”  We live in Orangeville. We’re at least 1/2 country folk … aren’t we?

Grampie Bert (awesome father in law) got right into the Hen-Adoption-adventure. Even to the point of cracking chicken jokes to the farmer guy who was selling us the hens.  Does the guy look amused? I think not. Time for some new jokes, Grampie.

Then the farmer guy handed the girls these little fuzzy chickens while we were waiting our laying hens. The tag on the chickens said “Chickens for the body, Jesus for the soul.” I was SOLD on this chicken idea from that moment on!! 😉

Next …  all eight of us paraded outside to to put our hens in the car … yup, lucky Abby. Riding an hour drive home with no air conditioning on a HOT summer day with four LOVELY hens in the back. Umm, do chickens poop more when they are stressed?

Oh, and did I mention we ended up getting four instead of three hens? Each girl named one: Priscilla, Charlotte, Scarlett and Ruby.

I think Abby has his doubts on this Adopt-a-Hen idea of mine. Or maybe he was debating the least smelly way home.

I was excited.  Lovelyn, not so much.

After a very warm, stinky drive home … phase 2: – introduce the hens to their new home.

Hmmm … still not sure ….

Time to  introduce them to their new family.

Getting to know Charlotte. {with the help of Cousin Ed. Straight from the Rock. Bird rescue guy. Handyman. And fellow-builder of the Chicken Coop.}

We were very egg-cited. {Sorry, I couldn’t resist.}

Lovelyn, again, not so much.

But in time, she slowly started to warm up to the hens …

It really didn’t take long before Lyla was getting cozy with them.

and the next morning ….

Our first egg!! We were so excited! Seriously. Best morning ever.

Later, another egg, but tomorrow, hopefully four. Still waiting on our brown eggers.  Lyla will probably hug the eggs right out of these hens.

By the end of the day, she was hugging two at a time.  And calling herself a farmer.

I think our first 24 hours with our hens have been a huge, Egg-cellent success! We love our hens already!

{Sorry, I coudn’t resist….and you just KNOW we won’t be eating these ladies come the winter, right Abby??}

Stay tuned for more egg-citing Hen Adventures … I’m sure we will have plenty!