Lavender Obsession

On Sunday, dear reader, The Bibbed Wonder and I went to the Farm Swap at Tractor Supply. I have only ever attended one other farm swap with my friend Jenna. Jenna knows everyone and anything Jenna wants; she knows someone who knows someone who has what she is looking for. That's just one of the many impressive traits of my friend. I, however, am not that well-connected. I have been searching for more frizzled chickens to add to my flock since my frizzled rooster was murdered, yes, murdered by a hawk. My poor little frizzled hen, Frizz, is lonely. She is the only frizzled chicken in the flock, is smaller than everyone else, and spends much time alone or in the coop. The big girls don't treat her well. Her little head is scabbed from being picked on, and she's developed a rather surly attitude. I don't blame her. It's not fun to be the outcast.

I wanted to attend the farm swap specifically to look for little chickens for Frizz to befriend. Frizz needs little friends with fancy feathers to hang out and bond with. I did not want chicks because Frizz needs friends now. The only fancy chickens that were grown were roosters. Two frizzled chickens cannot have babies because they will come out without feathers, just quills like a porcupine. I find that very interesting. So, I did not want to get a new frizzled rooster because someday, I want to hatch Frizz eggs. I am very excited to have Frizz babies.

Fancy chickens are expensive. I'm talking $50 a bird for a grown bird. I was not expecting that. I thought I would spend maybe $60 and get three or four chickens. Once I got over the sticker shock of fancy chickens, I started weighing my options. There was a trio of lavender cochins, two hens, and a rooster. They were gorgeous, and I was quite taken with them as soon as I saw them. Eric thought they looked "dusty" and urged me to get Polish chickens with fluffy heads. He was sure I would choose the Polish ones, but they were too big for Frizz. I felt they would just be more big chickens to bully her. There were silky chicks and serama chicks for sale. Both breeds are small and docile. However, I did not want to raise chicks. As I looked around, I continued to circle back to the lavender cochin trio.

As I tried to fight the urge to impulse buy, I reasoned that spending $150 on chickens would probably result in one or all of them being murdered by a hawk. I am not a serious chicken breeder and merely enjoy my flock for their personality and humorous antics. Frizz needs friends, not show chickens; and, I reasoned, fancy chickens lay smaller eggs. I convinced myself I did not need the lavender cochins. Instead, I spent $20 and bought four serama chicks with feathers, who are a few weeks old. I was just okay with my decision. I was not thrilled or excited, but Frizz would have gentle little friends in a few weeks, so I was satisfied.

Eric and I went for breakfast, and while awaiting our food, I Googled lavender cochins. They are believed to be a very friendly, docile breed, prolific layers, and GORGEOUS. I discovered that $150 for a trio was a deal. I could not find any birds for sale from any hatcheries. However, if they had been available, $80 would have been the least amount charged for a grown bird. Many hatcheries are selling them for $100 or more. Fertilized eggs for hatching are being sold for $30 an egg. If available, day-old chicks would sell for $50 a chick. I was astonished at my findings. When I shared the information with Eric, he replied, "We're going back for your fancy chickens, aren't we?" I excitedly replied that yes, indeed, we are.

We quickly finished our breakfast and returned to the swap. I came home with seven chickens: my lavender cochin trio and four serama silkies. The little chicks are in the garage, and my lavender cochin trio is in the little green coop. After two weeks of quarantine, I will introduce Frizz to the cochins. I am hopeful they will get along. I am also hopeful I will hatch lavender frizzled chickens from Frizz and Roux. Roux the rooster is named after the sexy gypsy love interest of Vianne in Chocolat. Chocolat is one of my all-time favorite books. If you haven't read it, I highly recommend it. I named my hens Vianne and Josephine, also from the book. I love my lavender cochins.

I haven't named my serama babies yet. I need to see their personalities a bit more before I name them. They will probably be named after literary characters as well. Perhaps they will be named after Little Women. We shall see.

Along with ten new baby goats, I have seven new chickens. I will keep you posted on their relationships and well-being. It's been an exhilarating spring so far. On this overcast and chilly day, stay safe, be smart, be excited for new adventures, and keep washing your hands.