Now that the holidays are coming to a close, (those who know me are familiar with my tendency to hold off on taking down the tree and/or nativity down until after January 5th when I celebrate the Epiphany with a rosca de reyes and Mexican hot chocolate) so begins the season of the poultry and livestock catalogs. I always returned to work with at least four of these to pour over during my breaks and lunch. Even though I was sold on Silkies and couldn't really expand my flock by much there was always room for more in the flock I was keeping in my head.
The catalogs are filled with photos or illustrations of dignified and colorful roosters, descriptions of hen temperaments and endless inspiration for chicken people. By the end of January I usually had close to a dozen that I would split between my book bag and purse. They came in handy when waiting and riding buses to and from work, waiting on friends in idling cars, waiting for toast, waiting on waiters... Every single one of them looked pretty ratty by the end of the month, dog eared, item numbers circled, check marks next to interesting breeds.
I was always building and rebuilding a flock that would provide me with eggs of various sizes and colors. The hens all had to get along so assembling a group with complimentary temperaments as well provided me with the sort of entertainment one might find doing crossword puzzles. I would work and rework the plan... some with roosters, some without, all rare breeds, some heritage and so on.
There was a year I thought I was seriously considering a tiny flock of Seramas. They are the world's smallest breed and I thought it would be cute to keep a rooster and three or four hens in one corner of the yard in a small coop. I never picked up the phone to call in my order though.
Now is the month to start doing research and deciding on breeds if you want to start your own backyard flock. The more popular breeds sell out fast. It is also a good time to order coops and gear. This year I won't be browsing the poultry pages. The flock in my mind is also on hold this year while I do the reading, research and browsing for our special spring chickie.
The catalogs are filled with photos or illustrations of dignified and colorful roosters, descriptions of hen temperaments and endless inspiration for chicken people. By the end of January I usually had close to a dozen that I would split between my book bag and purse. They came in handy when waiting and riding buses to and from work, waiting on friends in idling cars, waiting for toast, waiting on waiters... Every single one of them looked pretty ratty by the end of the month, dog eared, item numbers circled, check marks next to interesting breeds.
I was always building and rebuilding a flock that would provide me with eggs of various sizes and colors. The hens all had to get along so assembling a group with complimentary temperaments as well provided me with the sort of entertainment one might find doing crossword puzzles. I would work and rework the plan... some with roosters, some without, all rare breeds, some heritage and so on.
There was a year I thought I was seriously considering a tiny flock of Seramas. They are the world's smallest breed and I thought it would be cute to keep a rooster and three or four hens in one corner of the yard in a small coop. I never picked up the phone to call in my order though.
Now is the month to start doing research and deciding on breeds if you want to start your own backyard flock. The more popular breeds sell out fast. It is also a good time to order coops and gear. This year I won't be browsing the poultry pages. The flock in my mind is also on hold this year while I do the reading, research and browsing for our special spring chickie.