I am so excited that Adam finally wrote a post for y'all! He was a little worried that his hilarity and wit might not translate as well on the blog as they do in person, so make sure you make him feel welcome by leaving a comment or two or twenty. Also, please note that no chickens were harmed in the taking of these pictures (contrary to how it might look based on how Jayci -and Adam- are holding them). And also please note that the Adam typically yells "hey ladies" in a high-pitched voice every time he leaves the house, and then the chickens will follow him around like his own little entourage. Hilarious.
Well I think it’s about time to write a little something for all of you who have been waiting with baited breath for the last three weeks since the grand, probably most amazing announcement to ever grace the Stanley clan blog. Yep, three weeks late. . . I’m sure you have come to realize that we are incredible with our timing and super-organized. Honestly it’s a little intimidating writing on a blog whose author is pretty incredible. I mean an inspirational woman of the year for Glamour, how does one follow that? I feel a little like the kid who didn’t do a great job preparing for his presentation following the student with the highest grade in the class…oh wait that’s exactly how it was 13 years ago when I met Becca. So I guess I’m left with my charm, wit and good looks to once again pull something together.
I thought I would kick things off by introducing you all to some of our family members who have yet to get much respect and attention on this blog. These ladies are some of the hardest working, best looking, and friendliest you have ever met. Somehow Becca shrieks and runs from them every time they come to say hello. I think you may have seen pictures of them when they were tiny peepers, but now that they have grown, their true colors are shining. Our 5 chickens have all survived our crazy routine, or lack of routine, and are thriving chasing any insect that flies and scratching for grubs. They will come to greet you when you walk out the back door and are always close by when working in the garden, waiting for a snack that’s unearthed. They really are ridiculously funny to watch. We have come to see how each one has a unique personality and I tend play out their conversations in my head.
We each named one chicken and I believe Jayci was the first to name hers. At the time she was going through a phase where she would attach a "y" to the end of a word and then repeat the word without the y. Like Zacky Zack or Mavy Mav. So her chicken is Boingy Boing, an easter egger. Its fitting really. Boingy Boing, BB for short, is the most skittish of our ladies. She will cluck, hop and run from any quick movement. We noticed she's more of a rule follower. Our little chicken run fence became too little for the ladies and they began to escape in to the yard…and the neighbors yard. Not BB, she would be hanging out waiting for us to bring the other back squaking remarks like “told you guys that was a bad idea”, or “maybe next time you’ll listen to me.” You would have heard it too if you were here…
Zack named his chicken Bigfoot, a golden laced wynadotte. It’s an unfortunate name for any lady, but when she was young she did have ginormous feet compared to her body. She has grown into them for the most part, but will occasionally trip sending BB into a frenzy thinking the sky is falling or something like that. She has always been shy and reluctant to let you touch her. She pretty much stays at the rear of the flock sorting through what the others have left behind. It would be safe to say she's at the bottom of the pecking order.
Domino, a plymoth barred rock, was named by Danielle because of her black and white coloring. Domino is usually the first on over the fence and will come up without fear. She is often the one terrorizing Becca by following her around and will try to follow you in the house. She is super friendly and is most often the one I will hold to show an interested neighbor or kid. She is also one of the biggest chickens we have.
Peep, a partridge rock, named by Becca. Peep got her name because she is supposed to lay a pastel colored egg, at least thats what we thought when she was a chick. Turns out she is not the easter egger we thought she was. Her name remained the same none the less. She was by far the least afraid of us and had the most human interaction when she was young. Now she is a little more cautious, it may or may not be because we would ask the kids to chase them back to the run. She is slowly warming up to the idea of being held again.
Finally we have Madea, an Australorp, named by yours truly. Why Madea? Well look at her, and she has attitude. She will let the others know how shes feeling and will chase you around if you have a tasty treat. She has always allowed us to hold her and even though she has attitude with the other hens she is pretty docile around us. There may be an errant peck here or there, but she is quick to come when called.
Well those are the other ladies in my life. They have not started laying yet, but should any day. I joke with the neighbors they will have to earn their keep and will wind up on the table if they don’t produce any eggs, but that’s not something that will ever happen. They are pets with benefits. I have grand plans for a chicken friendly garden in the back yard, but that’s something that is still up for discussion with Becca, who just like Boingy Boing, runs whenever Bigfoot missteps.
I thought I would kick things off by introducing you all to some of our family members who have yet to get much respect and attention on this blog. These ladies are some of the hardest working, best looking, and friendliest you have ever met. Somehow Becca shrieks and runs from them every time they come to say hello. I think you may have seen pictures of them when they were tiny peepers, but now that they have grown, their true colors are shining. Our 5 chickens have all survived our crazy routine, or lack of routine, and are thriving chasing any insect that flies and scratching for grubs. They will come to greet you when you walk out the back door and are always close by when working in the garden, waiting for a snack that’s unearthed. They really are ridiculously funny to watch. We have come to see how each one has a unique personality and I tend play out their conversations in my head.
Domino, a plymoth barred rock, was named by Danielle because of her black and white coloring. Domino is usually the first on over the fence and will come up without fear. She is often the one terrorizing Becca by following her around and will try to follow you in the house. She is super friendly and is most often the one I will hold to show an interested neighbor or kid. She is also one of the biggest chickens we have.
Peep, a partridge rock, named by Becca. Peep got her name because she is supposed to lay a pastel colored egg, at least thats what we thought when she was a chick. Turns out she is not the easter egger we thought she was. Her name remained the same none the less. She was by far the least afraid of us and had the most human interaction when she was young. Now she is a little more cautious, it may or may not be because we would ask the kids to chase them back to the run. She is slowly warming up to the idea of being held again.
Finally we have Madea, an Australorp, named by yours truly. Why Madea? Well look at her, and she has attitude. She will let the others know how shes feeling and will chase you around if you have a tasty treat. She has always allowed us to hold her and even though she has attitude with the other hens she is pretty docile around us. There may be an errant peck here or there, but she is quick to come when called.