Spring Time Fun...or Something Like That

Spring is in the air and with that I was thinking of this time last spring. Jett brought home a chick from Cal Ranch. He said he thought they were cute and it would be fun for the kids. Hmmm...Really? Well, ok. And he was right about one thing...the kids did have so much fun with the baby chick they named Molly. He was wrong about the other...it was UGLY!!! It was an ugly, black, homely little chick. I asked why he didn't get a cute yellow one and he said because they grow to be albino looking. Sigh. Whatever. So...I went with it. The kids played with Molly EVERYDAY!!!! They LOVED her and she was really good with them. She grew to be what I called a teenage chick. One day I came home and Masi went to do her daily greeting with Molly. As she neared the cage she let out the loudest shriek EVER!!! I feared the worst thinking that Molly had croaked for some reason. No. That was not the case.

Masi: MOOOOOOMMMMM!!!!! Oh my GOSH!!!!! Molly had a BABY!!!!!!!

WHAT!?! I walked over to see what she was talking about and sure enough there was a teeny tiny chick sitting in Molly's cage. Now. Let me tell you. I learned ALOT on how to be a chicken farmer that spring. My first lesson (aside from learning that baby chick's need a heat lamp so they don't freeze to death during the cold spring evenings and mornings) was that you can't put baby chicks in with teenager chicks. Molly was pecking that poor little thing! So I got the new chick out, scolded Molly for being naughty, and put her in it's own cage. Ok...so...where did this new chick come from???? I called Jett.

Me: "Jett, did you get another chick, cuz if you did I am going to KILL you???!!!???"
Jett: No! I didn't. I SWEAR!!!
Me: Yes you did! You are going to make me crazy. Why did you get a new one???
Jett: I didn't, Kristi, I promise.

Ok....so where did this chick come from...??? Thinking.....thinking...DAD. Oh...you little... Ok Kristi. Stay calm. Now...just for the record...my dad thinks he is real funny. I decided to take the "pop the collar" approach and stay chill. I didn't call him or anything. He was coming in for a haircut and I would nonchalantly ask him then. Meanwhile my kids are LOVING that we have a new chick they name Polly. Molly and Polly.

So, while I'm cutting my dad's hair I simply ask him if he knows anything about a chick that ended up in Molly's cage. Now for any of you who know my dad you know this look I'm about to describe. He looks at me, eyes bright and sparkly. Half of his mouth is slanted upward in a half smile... He did not have to say a single word. GUILTY!!!!!!! That dirty dog. But he would NEVER admit to such a thing so he really says to me, "I don't know what you're talking about."

Nice.

Another day goes by. I go out to the garage to get something out of the freezer and low and behold yet another chick. WHAT THE!!??? That is IT. Here I have Molly pecking at another poor chick. DAD!!! I call him up.

Me: Dad, if you are going to keep putting chicks in my house then you had better stop putting them in the same cage as Molly. She is going to peck the poor things to death.
Dad: I don't know what you're talking about.
Me: Look. I am a chicken farmer. I know these things. Molly is MEAN to the baby chicks. Also, paybacks a bugger so watch out.
Dad: You better not, Kristi. It's not me.

Yeah right.

Well, needless to say, my kids were delighted to welcome Jolly (naturally) to their happy home of chickens. Molly, Polly, and Jolly. UGH. Let me tell you another thing I learned as I became a professional chicken farmer. They STINK!!! No matter how many times I cleaned out Molly, Polly, and Jolly's cage my garage WREAKED!!! Ew.

I can laugh about this now but during the time I was about to come right out of my skin. 3 chickens...REALLY? Well, the story ends like this. Molly went to a great home of a lady who was looking for a chicken. Her name was Holly. (This is NO LIE!!!) And when Polly and Jolly came of age my brother took them to a farm in which became their new home. I was so happy to finally be rid of my chicken farm.

I will get my dad back for this one day. I don't know when and I don't know how. Wahahahah (wicked laugh).