Spring Chicks

It's that time of year again! Joe and Isabelle brought home their yearly box o' chicks today. This is always a fun event in our home. We currently have about 20 laying hens who are doing a fairly good job in spite of the cold; however only 8 or so of them are laying. Each year we bring in a new brood and slowly say goodbye to those who are 2 years old and over.
Joe and the kids spent the day in the barn building new feeding bins in preparation for having more poultry. We will also be raising our own poultry chickens for butchering in the late spring as well as trying our hand at turkeys come June. It's intriguing for us to raise some of our own food. I know, I know .... it's easy enough to go down to the local grocery store; but there's something about DOING IT YOURSELF that keeps Joe and I trying new things. Returning to an agrarian lifestyle (while still somewhat in the suburbs) is very rewarding. Hard work is good for the soul (not to mention the wasteline and the pocketbook)!