My daughter’s sixth birthday is right around the corner and we’ve started to discuss her party options. Maybe some cookie decorating or ice cream sundae making? After this past weekend, that shit ain’t gonna fly.
On Sunday, we attended the birthday party for our friend’s five year old son and it was quite the shindig. Not only did the host make a spread of legendary proportions (I’m talking apple sausage mac’n cheese, butternut squash apple soup,etc.) but she had live farm animals brought in for all of the kids.
My daughter’s face lit up whenever she held any of the week old chicks but that was only the beginning. She fell in love with Oreo the goat:
And rode the pony at least five times acting as if she was a professional cowgirl:
While it was heartwarming to watch her having so much fun, I couldn’t help but wonder how we were going to live up to this one. I’m thinking “Duck Duck Goose” or “Pin the Tail on the Donkey” won’t quite cut it.
While my daughter loved mauling all of the animals, my son could not have cared less. Just look at this weak effort of trying to pretend to enjoy the pony:
After his poor performance trying to pretend he cared, he was off with all of the other boys playing football:
It then became a balancing act of trying to participate in the chaotic and poorly planned football game the boys put together while also enjoying the animals with my smitten daughter. I think I managed to satisfy both children as I put the beat down on the kids while playing football and also showed my daughter that Daddy liked the baby chicks too:
In truth, the party was a blast for both kids and parents alike:
And I’m pretty sure I know what will be added to my daughter’s Christmas list:
Time to start researching how to raise chickens which sounds awesome but with little time to tend to the garden already, can I even manage it? Talk me into it or talk me out of it. Your feedback would be most appreciated.
John
Gald to hear you all enjoy, wonderful to bring animals in to your life! Yes, you can manage you garden and the chickens they will help you in your garden, they love those bugs you don’t!
Make sure to join in on P Allen Smith’s fb Chicken Chat this is the place to ask questions, get advise and learn about which chickens are best to raise in your area.
Love to know your thinking about producing your own fresh eggs once you do you won’t buy them at the store I garuntee you that!
Annie
You forgot to mention that you can’t catch for shit
My daughter (age 30) over at Greens and Jeans got chicks this spring. She’s just now getting eggs. Check out her blog. She even has a tab for the chicks progress. http://greensandjeans.com/
The house they purchased came with a henhouse and run so that expense was nil. A lot to consider.
As far as birthday parties one of the best we had way back when was to have a magician. Adults and kids were fascinated by him. Just an idea.
This is my first time raising chickens and so far it has been a great experience
Love having chickens and from the looks of your place you definitely have the room for it. The eggs are to die for. My best layers have been the black austrolorps and the speckled Sussex. Not sure I would recommend free range for an ONG though. They tend to move baby plants out of the way with reckless scratching, rearrange mulch, poop everywhere… Etc. But they are excellent fertilizer makers and garbage disposals. They love leftovers of all types! Looking forward to seeing a flock in your future! The most time consuming part is creating the house and run and bringing the babies up from chick to pullet.
If you’re thinking you’ll get your daughter to help, just make sure she will. It will be a good bonding experience, hopefully. I think it would give her a wonderful learning experience and responsibility if you think she is up to it. I think it could go either way, John. I would love to raise chickens, but our Township doesn’t allow it and our neighbors think we are crazy enough as is! Whatever you decide I think it should be a joint experience and not just you because as you said, you have a little time to work in the garden.
Yes, I’m pretty sure your ship is sunk. How about one of the big bounce houses which can be delivered and set up in your own backyard. I am so sorry!
I think whatever you do will be fine. Don’t think you have to keep up with the friends to make your daughter happy. Even if it is her birthday. Do a few things she enjoys. How about a a slumber party? Food she and her friends love. She will look back someday and feel just fine about her 6th birthday. Parents do the best they can, later the children realize it.
Pretty much every chicken book I’ve read (and, as I have oh-so-un-cool-y reminded my husband if we disagree re: what to do re: chicken issue X, I’ve read 7 of them) says chickens are a PERFECT project for kids. Even little tinies can go get eggs, check that they have plenty food. You will probably need to ensure their water is clean and plentiful.
Barbara Kingsolver writes about that (among other things), her youngest daughter becoming a chicken baron, in Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. It’s pretty amazing.
Her daughter DID THE MATH to figure out how many eggs she’d have to sell to get enough $ for a pony (& I believe paying her parents back for the feed!). And how long it’d take (years).
Then, re-calculating what they’d make if they also raised some for meat, she changed her mind on that one (before she had a no kill policy), declaring “We’ll only kill the mean ones.” She wanted that pony. =)
And, as other folks wrote, they are GREAT if you have veggies/fruit/nuts you would normally toss–they convert compost-bound stuff to tasty quiche! (Well, with a little human assist) SUPER low carbon footprint kinda stuff.
I’d get types that are sweet-tempered. To me, that’s key. And when they are small, handle them a lot, every day, so when they are adult, you can readily lure one with a raisin, and pick it up to check for lice, etc. And then kids can handle them w/o freaking out the chickens, and vice versa.
But, of course, you must ensure they are protected from every kind of predator possible. One of the things making me want a dog is poultry protection.
Like all decisions re: animals, I’d recommend ONLY go for it if you are 100% committed to it. But, they ARE charming creatures, surprisingly filled with different personalities.
Lovely children you have. Don’t know anything about raising chickens. My grown daughter’s friends still talk about a scavenger hunt I had at a party for my daughter’s birthday when she was young.
Manure Tea Soil – the thought of fresh eggs and the kids interacting with the chicks is so appealing, need to see if I have the time to dedicate to it.
Aimless – go take your medicine
Marcia – I will def check out her blog, very cool. Magician just may be an option.
South coast – so you would recommend raising chickens, huh?
Ruth – you have made a very convincing argument, great info!
Lemonverbena – it is all about time but it would be such a memorable experience.
Bonnie – thought about that but her b-day is in December so will be too cold.
Janie – We have kept it simple over the years and it’s been great so really no worries … for now.
Biobabbler – wow, what incredible info, thank you so much for taking the time to share! I’ve got notes from your comments already.
Paula – I love the scavenger hunt idea, need to think about this one more. Thanks!