Aunt Margaret / Brood Barn / Chickens 3.18.10


Aunt Margaret comes to Dobbin about once a month to visit with whoever comes to the farm during that time. Our kids have really grown fond of her visits. Sometimes she spends the whole afternoon playing outside with all of them. I find myself very productive during that time and I am so grateful to her. She had a project to do with the kids this time...she bought a beautiful photo album and her and the kids wrapped it up and wrote the sweetest little note and gave it to me. I was SO surprised and quite humbled. She is a very special lady, and we are blessed to spend time with her. Thank you Aunt Margaret!!
Here are the kids (minus James who was taking a nap) with the photo album (Millie is holding it) and the card (Martin is holding that).


"Chickie Hutch" or Brood Barn"

We have been wanting to raise chickens for about 3 years now, and have never jumped out there and done it. Well, the day came, and we ordered 100 of the "frying pan special" from a hatchery in Iowa. The next day Stephen went to Home Depot. and got some lumber for a little brood barn. We had the greatest time assembling it.

I am so proud of Stephen. He designed this little barn all by himself and built it all by himself (well, not counting all of us who "helped" every step of the way). It turned out so cute. It rained the night we got finished, and proved to be leak free and nice and dry inside.
Here is all the lumber and supplies we needed.
As you can see, everyone is helping every step of the way.
I think they were all taking a rice krispie treat break as I just brought out a 9x13 of nice soft treats.
A little measuring here, a little sawing there, here a screw, there a screw, everywhere some more screws.....
We had some family stop by to see what was going on.
All of our girls going through the door frame at once. That won't be able to happen for much longer.
It is so much fun getting to watch our children grow up. They surprise us every day at the things they say, what they can comprehend, what they try to do etc. Martin loves being Papa's big helper. His latest favorite is to not have to take a nap (he hasn't slept for a nap in months) or lay down to rest, but stay up and work with Papa. Stephen is so patient with them all and gives him opportunity's to "be a man".
Martin took this picture of Stephen and I as we were painting the little brood barn. When the paint was first going on the wood it looked pink and we were sure we didn't like it. But as it dried, it turned red and now we are sure we like it:)
Stephen and Martin working their way around with the rollers.
The baby chicks came early Monday morning. Wouldn't you know they came in with a cool front. It had been so warm and pleasant, and we were sure the chicks would be fine as the instructions were to make sure the temperature of the shipping van would be at least 50 degrees or warmer...and wouldn't you know it got down into the 30's during their travels...oops, oh well. They all survived. We felt bad for the little fuzz balls, but got them home to feed, water, and warmth as soon as we could.

I am not sure why this picture uploaded sideways, but anyways, you get the picture of 100 peeping baby chickies all happy in their nice new warm home.


1 comment:

mamageese said...

Brings back fond memories of all the kids getting the chicken barn ready. When the day finally comes, no one wants to leave the chicks, and nearing the end of the project, no one wants to go out to the chicks.....wonder why it works that way? Hope you've enjoyed them, I'll be like Chicken Little, is that the story where she does all the work making the bread and no one will help her, and in the end everyone wants to eat the bread with her? Anyway, I'll be like that one, and help you taste those little ones.....Love to all, mamageese!