The problem with adolescents is that they stink.
Literally.
Although we still have the newest of our littles in a nursery off to the side of our living room (and they are still adorably cute), it’s time to move those pesky teens of ours outside. Although both of our chicks are fully feathered and could easily spend the night outdoors, I’m not going to take the chance that anything happens to them during the introduction to the flock and so, slow and steady it goes.
They will be outdoors but not in the coop.
For now, we have set up a fenced in area that the chicks will use during the day. At night, we’ll be safely housing them our old rabbit hutch (which has proved to be very useful to this chicken farmer.) They will slowly be introduced and no one is moving anywhere until I know that everyone will be safe.
Pippin saying hi.
Out with the adolescents also goes the Tupperware bucket that had gotten so ripe, no one wanted to be near it anymore. It was kind of like the whiff you get when you walk by an athletic teen’s bedroom – a combination of stinky-sock, mildewed-towel, and body-sweat combination that makes you wrinkle your nose and quickly pull your head back in disgust.
And while I will definitely miss talking to my chicks as I make meals in the adjoining kitchen, and the squawk of the young cockerel, like a loon’s call in the middle of the night, will on occasion be romantically missed,
I will not be missing that putrid-teen-generated stench. Chicks, you go out because I say it’s time to go out.
Now if I could only get rid of my teens still living at home this easily.
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Wendy Thomas writes about the lessons learned while raising children and chickens in New Hampshire. Contact her at [email protected]
Also, join me on Facebook to find out more about the flock (children and chickens) and see some pretty funny chicken jokes, photos of tiny houses, and even a recipe or two.
