Daisy & Josie…

Now don’t laugh at me!!! But, I’ve added two more birdies to the flock here at Fishtail Cottage!  I have been on the prowl for a fantastic chicken coop for my outdoor garden & have always wanted to have two little white Silkie chicks running around next to me as I garden.  My worries were where would I put this imaginary coop and how would I keep my feathered safe from predators (not to mention Charlie, my shih tzu). 

Last year on Mothers Day, my family finally gave me the go ahead to take the leap…my nerves got the best of me & said “next year” thinking spring 2011.  In September we sold our play set & since then I’ve been keeping my eye out for a deal on a coop (because we have the room for it now).  Most I’ve seen have not been a good fit.  Meaning they are icky & not good enough for my backyard, didn’t have potential to fit in here, or just way out of my price range!  I didn’t need a spectacular building – just something that would get me started to see how it would work out.

Soooo, after months of “browsing” websites & craigslist – I came upon a listing for a coop – saying email for pictures….usually those type of ads are not worth it, however I did email for more info. anyway.  The gal responded & she sent me to a website to see what the coop looked like but no actual pictures were available of the coop she was selling.  We corresponded for a couple days & finally I explained what I intended to buy to put in the coop & offered way under what she was asking.  Funny thing, she had two little Silkie chickens that were in her back yard & she felt they didn’t have enough space in her new yard.  Said she bought a smaller coop to keep them in, but felt sad for them.  I sent her picture of my yard (in the summertime) & she offered me her chickens in trade of keeping her updated on their life & accepted the offer I had made. 

how cute are their little fanny’s?

So last weekend (in the rain) my husband and some buddies went to pick up my new additions and we set them up in the gravel area where the play set used to stand.  The coop is amazing….brand new & so much potential – can’t wait till summer to give it some character…..& of course a garden around it!! Since the weekend I’ve left newly named Daisy & Josie in the coop to get a visual of the back yard.  Today was a sunny day & I thought I’d take the opportunity to see if they’d join me in the garden while I cut back my perennials. I was a little concerned for their safety because of the past raccoon visits when we had the mamma & nine baby ducklings appear one spring in our back yard.  Not to mention the hawks & bald eagles that fly over head…..and of course Charlie, the oh, so curious little guy.   But when Daisy & Josie flew the  coop to explore – all that came close was a curious crow.  They walked cautiously throughout the garden scratching & pecking at the ground in my baron backyard…. they seem to enjoy themselves & I had to giggle at their personalities……the brown one Daisy, was the leader and Josie the black one was the follower, they stayed very close by one another! After a few hours of my gardening, they were escorted back toward the coop & walked up their little ladder to rejoin their safety zone till the next time.  It was awesome to here their little clucks while I was gardening…& poor little Charlie stood at the french door windows with his nose pressed up against the glass door…..that introduction will be saved for a different day.

Hope you enjoyed meeting my newest members of Fishtail Cottage!