Caretaker Me

I am now the caretaker of 1 rooster, 3 chickens and a baby chick! I didn't set about to acquire chickens. Last Sunday, after church, I was chatting with some people I had not met (other people knew them, they came to church years ago before I moved here), one thing led to another and the lady ask me if my small time farmer daughter wanted more chickens and I replied YES! Yesterday my daugher and I went to their house in Becky's convertible truck to bring home the chickens. You have to know that I call her truck a convertible because it is a small old pickup truck that has no AC and in the summer one must go everywhere with the windows open to keep from getting cooked! At any rate, on the way home we decided to put the chickens in my garden. I have grown dis-interested in my garden because it is pretty well overtaken with bermuda grass and is much too hot for me to care to go out there and tend the garden. I have a completely enclosed 2000 sq. ft. garden to keep out the larger preditors like little Kit foxes, coyotes and wild rabbits, then it is covered around and overhead with a web of netting to keep the birds away from my tomatoes, etc. It is a good place for the new chickens for it will keep the long time chickens of Becky's from "beating up" on the new kids on the block. Chickens are mean beings and will peck the new ones unmercifully. Also, the garden space will keep the hawks away from the new chickens (she has a dog to keep the hawks away from the chickens over there). There is so much for the chickens to eat in my garden I am not sure if and when she will have to feed them. That will be up to her. The bugs are plentiful, there are cherry tomatoes and some nice new bean plants they are welcome (and will) to eat. I think I am responsible to keep them in water. One drawback to having the chickens in my garden: How will we ever find the eggs they are bound to lay???? It may prove to be a continual Easter egg hunt for the grand kids!!