The American Dream Includes Feathers…
For years, I nurtured a quiet hope that I would one day own chickens, though I never truly believed it would happen. When the reality of homesteading first took root in our second home—a place with a decent backyard—the dream of gathering our own eggs felt like a distant fantasy. At the time, our city was debating whether to allow backyard poultry. My husband, Will, attended the town hall meeting, but the council couldn't reach a consensus. The proposal was shelved—not a "no," just a lukewarm "maybe later."
We brainstormed ways to keep a covert coop, but the only logical spot was right in the middle of our dogs' outdoor run. It didn't feel safe, so we tabled the idea and focused on what we could control: our garden and our growing family. Then, last year, we sold that house of dreams. We moved into a rental to pay off bills and reclaim our financial freedom—the new American dream, right? In a rental, chickens were out of the question. I did manage to start raising quail, though. They were small, quiet, and easier to keep indoors during the sweltering summer heat, away from the dogs.
When we finally moved into our permanent home and began mapping out new dreams, the quail came with us, and the garden followed. But the chicken dream remained at a standstill—until May 6th. That day is always difficult; it's my mom's birthday, and I find myself feeling sensitive and missing her deeply. Sensing my somber mood, Will took me to Tractor Supply to pick out a new bird feeder. As fate would have it, it was "Chick Days," and the store was filled with the sound of chirping. I immediately ran over to look at the adorable fluffballs.
That's when Will surprised me. He asked what we would need to bring some home that very day. Since we already had an enclosure and food, all we really needed was an extra feeder. He looked a bit stunned by my readiness but told me to go ahead and get four Barred Rock pullets. I literally skipped to the front of the store to find an associate!
Once we got them home and introduced them to the kids, the difference between chickens and quail became immediately clear. These chicks were naturally more domesticated; they actually wanted to be around us instead of scurrying away in fear. I spent the afternoon cleaning enclosures and ensuring the quail were safely quarantined from the new arrivals. That was only two weeks ago, but they have grown at a staggering rate. They started out the size of adult quails, and now they are already outgrowing their indoor brooder!
I'm preparing a larger indoor space for them now, and in another few weeks, I hope to have their permanent outdoor coop ready. I am so excited for the day I can finally walk outside and find an egg large enough to make a real meal out of.
Of course, the kids took charge of naming them. Inspired by their favorite stories, they chose Glinda, Elphaba, Nessarose, and Madame Morrible. They are already living up to their names!
