Eddie might be the chicken man, but at least this isn't Philly... [OPEN]

[batteryacid]

Who: Eddie Kaspbrak (batteryacid) & Anyone who'd like a chicken.
and of course Angel (graveling) is probably on the farm as well
What: more about the chickens
When: Mid-March
Where: Kaspbrak Farm
Warning(s): There may be some discussion of chickens as food, but it will be serious. Eddie intends most of these chickens as egg-layers or companion animals, but other fates may come up.

The chicks who remain at the farm unclaimed, all about a month old by now, are milling around in the open 'yard' area around the chicken coop. At the moment, they are all about five to seven inches tall... not quite the little yellow floofs they used to be, as the down is gradually replaced by normal feathers.

The girls are Abby, Calla, Dena, Fay, Ida, Katy, and Leah. The boys are Art, Chuck, Dave, Ernest, Frank, Grant, and Huck. (I give you this information so you can more easily refer to the animals in threads going forward. The names are meant to be temporary, so you can talk about changing them once you've claimed one or decided to take it home.)

As he said before, the female chickens won't be ready to lay eggs until they are four months old -- which will be in May. So Eddie is perfectly fine with caring for the chickens until then. But his gate is always open for friends, and friends may want to claim their chickens beforehand to bond with them.

Especially if someone decides to take one of the baby roosters on as a therapy animal or pet. (Or alarm clock, maybe!) Since there's really no timeline on when the boys will be useful, unless breeding is the goal. And if it is, maybe trading one of the boys for an unrelated rooster would be a smart plan.

Either way, Eddie is still expecting to hear from Sam Porter, Mairi Miann, and Arthur Morgan about how many chickens they'd like. They could just send word, and Eddie will take note to send the birds along in May, but a visit would be welcome! At least to figure out which of the flock gets along with each person.

You may find Eddie scattering some feed for the chicks, carrying a bucket of fresh water to fill their various drinking dishes, running Kit the collie through his paces on herding the chicks, or just leaning against a fence post and watching the flock.

You're welcome to join him, or go right for the fluffy widdle babbys.

Comments

Mail Order

[batteryacid]

[ If you'd rather just send along a letter for how many boy chicks and girl chicks you want set aside, feel free to reply to this top-level. Eddie will reserve them for you, and await you picking them up in May. ]

[300kgbackpack]

An envelope that's just the letter itself, folded in such a way that it seals at the edges, with a little hand-drawn skull to indicate who it's from.

Hey Eds
Finally got a little spot set up for the chickens out back of my place
Think you can hold on to a couple hens and a rooster for me?
I'll drop by when I have a minute
-Sam

[batteryacid]

Eddie makes a note assigning Abby, Fay, and Dave to Sam.

Grant is one of the quieter roosters, not one to kick up a fuss. And Abby and Fay are gentle girls who will take living with a curious little girl like Lou in stride.

(He would have considered Ernest, before the pecking incident made the boy chick rather nervous about being handled.)

Eddie sends his own written message back:
Dear Sam,
Swing by any time. The kid's built a couple crates for transporting the chicks, so it should be easy for you to get them home -- two baby hens and one baby rooster.
If you end up needing more, or one of them doesn't work out, let me know. We're incubating a new batch.
Regards,
Eddie

[300kgbackpack]

When Sam can actually head over to the farm, it's after a shorter shift that had actually gone pretty smoothly, so he's in a decent mood. Not that it really shows on his face any more than any other mood does. He nods a greeting to one of the farm laborers on his way up the path, and knocks on a fence post when he spots Eddie out in the yard.

"How's it hangin'?"

[batteryacid]

(In the back of Eddie's head, something speaks up that sounds an awful lot like kid Richie's voices, "Dare you to say 'A little to the left'." Eddie briefly presses his lips together to keep the chuckle back.)

"Doin' all right. Yourself?" is what Eddie actually replies. "Here for Dave and the girls?"

[300kgbackpack]

The twitch in Eddie's expression is noted, but not commented on. If something about his greeting is funny, he doesn't have the context outside of the juvenile humor that is the basis of that little retort on the imaginary Richie's part.

"Holdin' together," he replies easily, and tilts some in place to peek in at the birds scratching about. "Just got the spot ready for 'em, bedding and all. I can haul the feed back with me in the same trip too, if you can box 'em for me."

[maximumcake]

It didn't take long for word of the available chicks to reach Max. If he wants to start a bakery he'll have to think about getting eggs. Starting his own chicken coop seems like the perfect idea.

He comes upon Eddie while he's out spreading feed. "Hi, I'm Max Maximum. Are you the Eddie I'm supposed to talk to about some baby chickens?"

[batteryacid]

"Hello!" Eddie says cheerfully. "Yes, that's me."

He dusts off his hands, then straightens up and offers a hand to shake.

"Fellow farmer, or looking to set up a backyard chicken coop?"

[maximumcake]

"Nice to meet you," Max answers as he reaches out to shake firmly Eddies hand.

"I'm an aspiring baker, actually. Thinking about getting a little bit ahead of the curve by starting my own backyard coop."

[batteryacid]

"Ah, so you'll be wanting one of the girls. Half of what I've got at the moment is boys." Eddie points at one of the chicks. "See that ribbon on her leg? All the girls have one, and the boys don't, so you can tell which is which."

Eddie has had to switch out ribbons at times, because chickens will pick at them and not care about getting them dirty. But it's necessary for folks who won't be able to tell the chickens apart -- as Eddie can from experience.

"We've got a few more eggs in the incubator, so there should be more chicks on the way, too."

[maximumcake]

"Yeah, if you have any available. But I'd like a rooster, too, in hopes of doing some breeding myself down the line. One hen alone isn't going to lay enough for the need I expect to have."

He smiles when he sees those ribbons. "That's a smart way to identify them. I might follow your lead later and do that with mine. I'll admit, I've never done this before on my own. So any tips you might have, I'd love to hear them. And I can pay you back in trade with some baked goods once I get going."

[batteryacid]

"Hens can get pricey, it's true."

Eddie smiles, "A lot of this I learned on the fly. Chickens are social animals, so spending some time with them outside of the egg gathering and feeding is a good call. Let them wander around and get some sun, it's good for them. Oh, and! Chickens are omnivores. Don't get weirded out if you see them eating mice or whatever."

[decohere]

Ava's quietly lurking about the coop, heard about the chicks at the nearby farm. Don't mind her, she just wants to watch for a bit...

She lets out a nervous giggle when a few of them wander closer to where she's failing at hiding, pecking at the ground near her feet.

[batteryacid]

Eddie finishes pouring fresh water into the last of several drinking dishes for the chicks. He looks up when Ava giggles, and gives her a nod of acknowledgement before leaving the coop area to return the bucket to its spot near the water pump.

He walks back and leans against a fence post, nowhere near her 'hiding spot', and says, "If you have any questions, feel free."

[decohere]

She vanishes, seemingly, at being called out. And then reappears next to him a short moment later, the air flickering around her like a tv station trying to properly tune in.

"They're funny looking," Ava points out with some amusement. Stuck in that awkward inbetween stage.

[batteryacid]

"Heh. They are, yeah. Got regular feathers coming in, but still a lot of baby fuzz." Eddie offers, "Would you like to pet one? Calla is very calm, and I could pick her up for you."

[decohere]

Her face immediately lights up at the offer, an eager nod. She's never gotten to play much with animals. But her nervousness comes from an entirely different issue. "Ah... can you. Put your hands under mine, in case I drop her?"

[batteryacid]

The request mystifies him for a moment, but that vanishing... he smiles nonetheless and nods. "Sure, of course."

Eddie walks over to the chicks, who swarm around his feet and demand pats for a while, until he extracts Calla by picking her up with both hands. She gives a curious cluck and looks around from her new higher vantage point, then nuzzles at Eddie's chest when he brings her in close.

Eddie transfers Calla to the palm of one hand and walks back to Ava. "Here, hold out your hand, and she'll hop right in. I'll move my hands when she jumps."

And Calla does indeed hop toward Ava's open hand once she mimics the gesture. Eddie does just as Ava asked, as well.

Howdy, Neighbor!

[theydrewfirstblood]

A couple days after John's officially moved into the farmhouse, he takes a walk just because he can. Sure, he's got a goal in mind, but he's also been pretty quiet about his plans...and they may not be side by side, but Eddie's still sort of a neighbor now.

Finding Eddie scattering feed when he gets to the farm, with Co tucked in his front shirt pocket, John wanders up and gets Eddie's attention with a wave.

...or Co does, as she starts telling him off at the very same time from the safety of her perch.

"PEEP! PEEP! PEEPEEPEEP! Peep...PEEPEEPEEP!"

[batteryacid]

Eddie laughs when Co starts yelling at him. "Boy, stealth goes right out the window with her, huh?"

He dusts his hands off on his pants and holds one out for John to shake (if he wants to). And Eddie can't resist leaning in just a little to glance sideways at Co to catch her eye.

"You still mad at me about the name thing, little Co?"

[theydrewfirstblood]

"My fault--I treat her like the princess she is." John laughs as he shakes Eddie's hand while he talks to Co, who wriggles in her perch and lets out a couple, more subdued, peepeeps.

"She's actually really good when I go out to check my snares 'n traps--barely makes a sound." he admits. "Nah, she just likes to be given her due praise. Little diva."

"Peep! PEEPEEPEEPEEPEEPEEPEEPEEP!"

"See what I mean? Fine, you're beautiful 'n ruler of us all."

"Peep. Peepeep."

"I'm so done with you." he huffs, but tugs her out of his pocket to kiss her fluffy head--which she summarily nudges against his cheek in response as he turns back to Eddie.

"So, uh, I got news and a question. News is, I changed jobs--dunno what to call it yet, but I got the plot over next to the guy next to you, I think? I'm ranching, like him, so we're neighbors now. Which brings the question: you got any male chicks left? Thinking Co could use a buddy."

[batteryacid]

"Ah, yes. She's operating under 'be quiet when my person is hunting, but demand acknowledgement when I see other people'," Eddie nods sagely. "Chicken logic."

He hides his smile as the two of them show affection for each other. It's very cute, but he won't draw attention to it just yet.

"Oh, that's good news! If winter taught us anything, it's that there's no such thing as too many hands in food production." The question has Eddie looking thoughtful, and then he says, "I have plenty of male chicks still... when it comes to handling a princess like Co, you'll want someone who can stand his ground but won't, like, try to beat her up. Frank has a temper, so... I'd suggest either Art or Chuck."

Eddie leads the way toward the chicken coop, and the other young chickens milling about the yard. After studying the group, he spots the two boys he's looking for and scoops them up, one each to an arm.

"And of course, you can rename them as you see fit, once we figure out who Co will get along with."

[theydrewfirstblood]

"Sounds like a plan." John agrees as Eddie brings over the boys--and almost immediately, Co starts mouthing off.

"PEEPEEPEEPEEPEEP! PEEPEEP! PEEP PEEP PEEP PEEPEEP!"

From under Eddie's arm, Chuck pipes up.

"Peep? Peep peep peep!"

"PEEPEEPEEP!"

"Peep!"

"PEEP PEEP!"

John starts snickering as the back and forth continues, shaking his head.

"I think Co's got an opinion." he laughs. "Pretty sure Chuck's my man, but let's put 'em together, see if she's just talkin' shit or not."

"Peep peep peepeep!"

"You do too talk shit, don't sass me."

"...peep."

"Yeah, I know I'm right. C'mon, you can play with your brothers."

[configuration_birdwatcher]

There's a large, blocky mechanical individual lurking around the perimeter of the farm, watching the chickens scurry around and peck at the dirt in search of food. (And it's not First Aid.) When they realise Eddie's noticed them, they look up.

// Can I have chickens? I heard you were distributing them.

Which sounds like a beep and a whistle, but the words pop into Eddie's head regardless.

[batteryacid]

Eddie pauses for a moment, wondering how the words got into his head. But then he shrugs to himself, in a 'this might as well happen' sort of way.

"Sure you can. Are you looking for an egg-layer or just a companion animal?"