We welcome four footling bagatelle balls into our home on June 15 , 2020 . nestle in Nevada County , California , we are currently remain at our home close to townspeople on a small less than an acre .
Our county ordination only allow us four hens . Roosters are not allowed .
That ’s a true gamble when you ’re randomly buy snort at the local farm - supplying depot . In the past , a friend was surprised by four roosters out of five chicks and had obsessively warn us of her not - so - prosperous experience .
But we missed out on a connection of guaranteed excite chicks . So our only available pick was our local store , the one we were nervous about due to our booster ’s bad luck .
Here Chicky, Chicky
Our coop was near pass completion . So the follow sunup my son and I give early and failed at our first stop . Our local farm - provision was already sell out .
Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic and all - thing lockdown , it appeared the intact county had decide to promote chickens .
But we had one more option . There was another farm - supply memory board in the township over—8 mile away . We rush over , park , unbuckled and mask up as tight as we could . Both of us jumped out of the truck and ran into the memory with fingers crossed .
Amee Medeiros
Luckily , they still had some biddy impart ! We werenow going to be a kinsperson of nine ( including the wienerwurst and cat , of course of instruction ! ) .
take more : Here ’s another family who started keeping chicken during the pandemic !
Random Selection
take baby chicken within a chemical compound of 40 others is a very random process ! When the shop salesclerk put her hand in the pen , they scattered like cockroaches in the surprise of a kitchen light being turned on .
We could only say , “ Give us a yellowed one , an orange one and then two of those back ones , please . ”Amee Medeiros
Pandemic Chickens
I frankly had n’t felt that excited in a long time . We were only into lockdown for three months at this level .
I was still not going into work . My son was no longer croak in - person for his already part - metre school day Roger Sessions . And our syndicate was no longer doing our trail voluntary work .
Yes , we were healthy and could still open our home and nutrient , so I continue to be aware of what I whine about . However , things were push to the stage of slump with not see kin , not hugging family and admirer , and not being with my kin group at work .
Amee Medeiros
We were well cognisant the entire world was experiencing this pandemic , just in differentways . I explain to my son that even though we may all be on the same sea / ocean — mean the pandemic — we are all in dissimilar floatation devices . Some people have yachts , some have tiny lifeboats and others may only have a pool noodle .
For now , our lifeboat was take on four tiny frivolity balls . Our minds had a glad distraction from pandemic woe , and , with these new chickens , our railway yard took on laughter again .
Half of those baby poulet were named before we even left the parking lot . We welcomed :
Amee Medeiros
Read more : raw chickens in the henhouse ? Here are 6 ways to name your Bronx cheer !
Red-Flag Warning
If there are rules to incline to chicks , we crack them all ! Our summertime was hot , and our county was in a scarlet - flag word of advice many days throughout the summertime .
( In California , a ruddy - flag warning is issued for atmospheric condition events which may result in utmost fire behavior that will occur within 24 hours . )
We brought our birds into the business firm , and they nestled in our laps while we learn bedtime stories . We laughed as they find comfort in the crook of our neck or at the belly of our old dog .
After story meter , we would gently put them in their bin . When nights were too live , we flip our collapsible shelter in our cubic yard and those bird sleep with us , in their bank identification number , a tight fit in a little tent .
We were obsessed with our new kinfolk members and could n’t imagine being any far than an arm ’s attain aside . We camp out the remainder of June , all of July and into August until the night of the lightning tempest that started the Jones Fire . That lightening ten-strike woke the bird and me .
With the concern of our ruddy - flag warning , I was up the remainder of the night — disquieted and listeningto the police scanner for updates . Amee Medeiros
Flying the Coop
The minute the Dominicus came up , we had our local radio station tuned in , waitress for voiding warnings . By 4 p.m. , seconds after the sheriff drove by request us to go , our pinch go - bags were in our vehicles , as well as our son , the dog , the qat and , of course , the chicken , all tightly sitting in my elevator car .
With my partner in his truck , we headed to our evacuation meet - up spot . Whether or not the winds were going to drive that fire to our neck of the woods was out of our hands .
We wait patiently . The kat meowed in objection . The old dog-iron was confused but along for the drive . And the not - so - tiny birds jumpe and , yes , pooped everywhere ( except their bin ) .
time of day afterward , we were allow for to return to our home . It was safe and as we had bequeath it . But others were not so lucky . That fire burned more than 700 Akko for 12 day , destroying 21 structures and our beloved ADA hiking trail , The Independence Trail .
I Heart Chickens
Chickens or no , this pandemic has slowed many of us down . It has use up days and hours of our meter , filling our idea with great ideas and also many fears .
One thing is for trusted , though . We love these bird , and they love us . Or possibly we just look like chicken treat and that is why they come run when we walk out back !
Our chicken have been one of the convinced pieces to our pandemic stay - at - habitation order . As my son says , “ They are the best part of COVID-19 . ”
These bird kept us companyduring summer and even through a dark winter . They keep on to work laughter into our railyard . They brighten our at - house school days , inspiring my Logos to write narrative , suck chickens and work up chicken with his building bricks .
We ’re all - thing chickens and ca n’t imagine our abode without our sweet birds — which , by the way , all turned out to be daughter ! As of January 16 , three out of four were laying day by day !
Iam so grateful we bring these chickens in our sept during the pandemic . I enjoy watching out my kitchen windowpane as my son dig for worms and the hens stand by waiting . It brings me smashing joyfulness to look out them run and follow him around the M while they search together for other bug .
I even enjoy chasing them back out of doors after they have come in through the dog room access and into the laundry room begging for a treat !
This article , written by AmeeMedeiros , to begin with appeared in the May / June 2021 proceeds ofChickensmagazine . Medeiros is the executive director of the Neighborhood Center of the Arts , a nonprofit prowess program for adult with peculiar abilities . She ’s also a broadcaster for her community radio set station , KVMR . She lives in Grass Valley , California , with her human and creature family .
