research

Research on my current obsession.  I read all your comments on farm animal suggestions.  I appreciate all the stories of your past farm animal experiences.  The uncles and aunts and grandparents who were brave enough to go down the farm road.

I’m afraid the last option “Toss the whole idea out the window and get a pool” won out.  Unfortunately, I was just kidding about that.  That wasn’t actually a real option, although someday it would be fun to have my own pool.  Maybe when we’re living in a warm and tropical climate instead of out on the frozen tundra of  Idaho.  As they say, When in Rome, do as the Romans do, and the Romans here keep farm animals.

So, after much hand-wringing and intense debate visiting the local hatchery, we’ve decided to get:

Chickens!

Why?  Because:

1. They’re cheap to purchase and to feed
2. They lay eggs so they contribute
3. Hens aren’t loud
4. Their poop is much smaller than any of the other animals in the running
5. Kids can carry them around
6. They don’t look at all like their barbeque counterparts so I think I can keep the two separate in my brain
7. They fertilize the lawn and eat bugs and weed seeds

Now that we’ve made the decision, I need your help. Right around Easter is chick time.  So I have to work quick if we’re gonna be ready when chicks are plentiful.  I’ve located the chicks and the chicken feed.  Now I need the:

COOP!

I’ve spent far too much time scouring the internet for ideas. Here’ what I’ve come up with:

I know what I DON’T want:

Now, I know chickens can live practically anywhere that’s warm and dry and they don’t care what their coop looks like.  But I DO!  I want something aesthetically pleasing.  Something cute and functional.  Something that says,

“I’m not a farmer, but I think chickens are cute and it would be fun to get some, but only if I can have a cute coop to put them in.”

So, I’ve narrowed down my choices.  I have to give Hubby my final decision this weekend so he can get to work on it ASAP:

#1      The Car Coop.  Which, honestly isn’t even in the running because I’m not that into cars and we don’t have a spare rear end of a vintage car to work with.  But I thought it was an interesting “theme” idea.

#2    Along with the “theme” idea, how about this Japanese coop?  OK, again, not really in the running.  Although we’re big fans of sushi, we’re not Japanese, we’ve never been to Asia, and our house has not a stitch of Asian flair to it.  A little piece of Japan in Idaho?  I think not.

#3    Now this is more practical.  It’s made from a pre-fab dog house.  It’s got more of an Idaho feel.  It’s pretty cute, but I’d paint it red.

#4   Another very practical coop.  Probably the most affordable option.  Not sure it would withstand the gale force winds we’ve had here lately though.

#5   This is what you call a chicken tractor.  It’s mobile so you can move it around the yard and the chickens eat the bugs and weed seeds while fertilizing the lawn.  Ingenious concept.  But I’m looking for a little more color.

#6   Definitely more color.  Again, mobile.  Note the wheels.  Likely to withstand the winds.  I like the red.

#7   A cuter version of the chicken tractor.  I like the shingled roof.  The exterior box is where the hens lay the eggs.  Just lift the lid to collect them.

#8   Check out this beauty!  Mobile.  Cute. Flower boxes.  Sturdy.  It could pass for a playhouse to the HOA KGB.

#9   OK, it’s not mobile but it sure is fabulous.  Check out the details.  A kickplate on the door.  An exterior light.  The white trim, which I love. I don’t know.   This might make a better guest house than a chicken coop.

#10   I’m trying really hard to hold back any bias so I can eek an honest opinion out of you, but…BUT…BUT…I LOVE THIS ONE!!! It speaks to the New Englander in me.  It’s not red, but it has white clapboard siding and a windowed cupola up top!  What more could I ask for?  But don’t let me sway you in any way…  Give me your honest opinions…

#11   And if all this is just too “country” for you, all you pool voters out there, I offer you the Eglu. It’s the iMac of chicken coops.  It comes to you via UPS with the chickens and the chicken feed all ready to go.  It’s easy to clean and comes in a variety of bright and fun colors.  I was a big fan until I found out I’d have to shell out almost $800 to acquire one.  That’s a lot of eggs and chickens I could buy.  But if cost effectiveness isn’t a priority, have at it!

So, help me decide.

Which one do you like the best?