Tough Competition

We don't know what judges look for in a chicken beauty pageant. So when we entered Frieda in the junior poultry show at the Tennessee Valley Fair, it was just for fun. And this was just as well, because she didn't win anything! However, we're sure she had fun meeting new feathered friends while hanging out in the display barn all week. When it was time to pick her up, our daughter was awarded a blue ribbon for her participation. And Frieda is still a first place bird to us.

Checking in on Frieda

Hen Publicity

We got interviewed by our local PBS station for a spot on hen keepers in the city of Knoxville. I was asked a few questions, and then my daughter was interviewed about her role as care giver to the hens. Thanks to the practice she's had starring in home videos, she was pretty comfortable in front of the camera! We're not sure how much of the material will be used, or when it will be aired, but we'll post it here once we find out.

A Day of Firsts


August 1st was our first day of home school, and it was also the day we got our first egg from the hens! Every morning Imree goes out to the coop to check for eggs, and on this day, her hard work was rewarded. It tasted great! YUM. Keep 'em comin' girls!

Bird Watching

We've had fun watching the hens get settled in their new home. 

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Our dog, (behind the run) checks out the birds.

The Chickens are Here!

The long awaited day has arrived! Last week, Dad and I finished the run. The coop inspector came the following day, and we "passed." Finally, we took our paperwork to Animal Control, and then we became the proud owners of a permit for domestic hens.


So yesterday we went out to my cousin's house to pick up our hens. (My daughter would correct me, and say they are "pullets," which is the term for hens under 6 months of age.) She's correct, since these gals are about 3 months old. We brought them home in a big cardboard box, and delivered them into their new home. We hope they like it here!

Moving the hens into their new home.

Trying out their perches.

Meet Ruby, Cookie, Annabelle, and Frieda

Hanging the Feeder

Selecting Feeders at Tractor Supply on Maynardville Hwy.

The kids and I added the final touches to our coop this week. Imree and I relocated one of two perches inside the coop in order to make room for the hanging feeder and waterer. We decided to place the feeder and waterer inside the coop so that in bad weather, the hens wouldn't have to leave in order to eat and drink. This required moving over one of the dowel rods our coop builder placed in the upper section of the coop.

Next, my son and I attached a hook in the ceiling of the coop for hanging the feeder. There is enough space now between the hanging feeder and the perch above. This space is important because when hens perch during the night, they unload a lot of droppings directly below. We don't want all that to end up in their feeder!