Chick Inn

Pretty much since we've been married, RD has expressed his desire to have chickens like he did growing up, and would always mention wanting Buff Orpingtons.
15 years later, we owned our first house, and it became a possibility. But I didn't really want to have chickens; you can't get any cheaper than factory farms, and then you have to worry about taking care of more creatures. Keeping my kids and the dog alive and well was enough for me.
But during my stay on the couch while pregnant, I watched "Food, Inc.", and a few other docs that convinced me knowing where your food came from had value, and I could invest in having happy healthy chickens for eggs.
"Invest in" meaning letting RD have chickens and doing all the work :)
SO RD luckily got a coop for free from some neighbors, and spent three evening after work putting together a fence, gate, and setting up the coop for the chickens, and getting some chicks and chickens. We decided to get some chicks for the girls, who were wildly enthusiastic about having chickens, and a couple laying hens to satiate our desire for eggs now!
I have to admit, when RD brought home those tiny balls of fluff in a cardboard box, cheeping away, my heart kinda melted. They are adorable. And SO soft and fluffy.

The next day he took Cameron and Aubree to The Chicken Man in payson to buy the hens, and pick up one more chick on his way home. We now have six chicks/chickens, all different breeds, so of course we all laid claim to one. Reese almost lost his chance to name one with his "jokes" about the chickens being killed/dying, but he stopped when he realized we were serious about him not getting to have one. There's been some shuffling around, but we're all happy with the one we get, and Aubree's chick has 7+ names so far.
Aubree and Grace love to hold and pet their chicks, and Aubree spent over half an hour in the coop trying to get to pet the chickens; they wouldn't let her, which was pretty discouraging for her.

RD's happy to have his chickens though! His chicken is the Buff Orpington, whom he's named Donna Rose. Buffy was a close second.

Padfoot is probably the most excited; can you tell?! Oreo, our Ameracauna, got over the fence when RD was in the coop changing the water (she's flighty) and Padfoot went right for her; luckily she was able to hide behind the shed until RD rescued her.  Darn dog!! He better not kill one!
We've already gotten three eggs in 4 days!