I ordered my original chicken flock from McMurray’s Hatchery. I remember getting the phone call from the post office that they had a peeping box for me as if it were yesterday. I also remember excitedly claiming my box at the post office while everyone in the there ooooooowed and awwwwwwed over the sounds coming from it.
But what I remember most of all was getting to my car, opening the box, and taking my first look at the 27 precious little fuzzy faces that looked up at me. They took my breath away. And they stole my heart.
I do believe it was precisely at that specific moment, when I knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I could never have too many chickens.
Unfortunately, it was also, precisely at that specific moment, that Bernie was busily finishing up the chicken coop he was building for them.
I say “unfortunately” because I knew it wasn’t big enough for all the chickens I had planned in our future.
I also knew he would not agree with my plans.
But I am nothing if not persistent……….
Before my pullets were one year old, a few went broody.And I let them hatch out babies. It didn’t take long before it became obvious that the 8 X 8 coop that Bernie built was simply too small.
I approached Bernie with confidence. “Bernie I need a bigger dad gum coop!”
“No, you need fewer dad gum chickens!”
Ugh. He was going to be a tough nut to crack.
Over the course of the following years, I dropped hints about a bigger coop on a regular basis. And Bernie regularly rolled his eyes and then proceeded to completely ignore me.
But I never gave up.
Then, for reasons still completely unknown to me, I one day mentioned a bigger coop and Bernie said “Well, how do you want to add on to it?”
I’m not sure of how I responded, but I think I had the vapors.
And with the additional coop space, I’ve ordered 16 more baby peeps – which are scheduled to arrive here on April 2nd.
I need to pinch myself right about now……..
So, yesterday, this is how our coop and chicken run looked:
And this morning, after the steps were disassembled and the netting was pulled back, this is how it looked:
And this afternoon, after several hours of leveling and building the coop floor, this is how it looked:
And this is how Jake looked all stinkin’ day long:
Turns out Jake doesn’t like change very much…….
And the chickens weren’t too crazy about it at first. But after we finished up, a few brave souls made their way into the chicken run to eat a little supper.
I think I can honestly say that no one on this homestead is happy about the chicken coop addition.
Except me.
I’m happy.
I am pretty danged happy.
Sometimes persistence pays off.
