An Egg-ceptional Project

When Marty tweeted at me and asked if we wanted to borrow some chickens for a week or two, I thought he was joking.  As it turns out...he was, by all means, serious...

A couple of hours later, these two ladies showed up in our yard...

They are part of a new experiment Marty thought of.  Since he was a little boy, Marty always wanted to have chickens.  His mom told him it was against regulations where they lived, but he could call the town and ask.  His mother, as often mothers are, was right, he was told they were against ordinance.  After a Summer full of a young boy rechecking the rules over and over, the town officer told him, that he thought actually, it would be OK, but if anyone complained, the chickens would have to go.  That wasn't enough for Marty, so he gave up on the chicken project until he was an adult himself.  Now, if you pay a visit to his farm, you will see an elaborate system of chicken runs all surround by some safeguards to keep the coyotes and other such creatures from having chicken for dinner, and many very happy chickens.  Marty and Carolyn raise the laying hens for eggs for themselves and for their CSA Members.  As a member I can tell you, this is one of our favorite parts of our weekly distributions.  We love the produce, flowers, etc., but there is no egg, like a farm fresh egg. 

Back to yesterday, and Marty's new idea.  Since they aren't selling these eggs, and are primarily doing this egg business to provide eggs in their distributions, Marty thought, "Why not loan out the chickens".  Apparently a couple of the girls had a vacation to Lackawanna recently.  This week there are a couple in Orchard Park.  We put their mini-chicken tractor in the back yard near the pond, so they could get to know their cousins, the ducks and geese who frequent our lawn. The kids are thrilled!!! 

Maybe we should make the chickens a little travel journal, a passport of where they've been?  Or compile a book of pictures of their adventures?  An AFS program of chicken exchange....

The next question is, after their vacation with the Gilmartin Family, who would like to get a chicken visit next?  Let us know!  Seriously.  Project Chicken is in full swing, and could be coming to a yard near you!