Aussie Grands Visit the Chooks

SUSAN:
On Friday, Grandma and Grandpa arrived from Australia and were introduced to their 46grand-chooks. Much activity has ensued since their arrival, and much advice for the care of the grand-chooks!

Important to know that Grandma and Grandpa have had vast experience raising chooks.... "Back in the old days......
-"There wasn't any 'book' on chooks!!!!!"
-"We just threw out the leftover food scraps to them!"(nothing as extensive as our feeding and watering system).
-"They laid eggs for years!"
-"Winnie (Winston their farm dog... best sheep dog we ever owned by miles!!!) used to protect them all day when he wasn't working!"
-"We just threw out food scraps to them!"
-"If this bloke ever grows into his feet, he'll be a big chook!"

My impressions from the grands are that chooks "sure are a lot more complicated these days!" Grandma reminisced (as she sipped her glass of organic wine and watched the chooks) about a time when she was a little girl and her mother had made wine trifle for a party at the church. There were leftovers so she "threw them out to the chooks". Then, the family noticed that the chooks were wandering around, falling over, and were basically DRUNK from the brandy in the trifle! (more evidence of chooks being good at tailgate parties - see Nigel's earlier post).

According to Grandpa, the chooks with the longer tail feathers typically are the roosters, and the shorter tail feathers are the hens, so it looks like we may have "a fair few hens" (which is good!).

The biggest project so far has been the addition of the roof underneath our deck, so that the chooks can move there, still have their heat lamp, and have a small section of the yard to explore. This construction started on Sunday with a lot of conversation and decision-making about the best way to start. Beverages were enjoyed as the plan was formulated and analyzed. Then, a trip to "heaven" (Lowe's) and more directing/bossing - from all involved!! In true mountain fashion, we conveniently had rain on Sunday night so that we could determine that the roof did work, and the chooks would be dry.

Next project with the grands: Building the chook house!