Recently, I dubbed my email newsletter “Church Clothes and Chicken Toes” based off a series of random Sunday afternoon posts I’d made on social media about me and my chickens. This is the story of where that name originated.
Things that rhyme
For starters, it kind of rhymes and I thought it was catchy.
If I was smart and had more money, I’d pen that catchy little phrase legally but what will be will just have to be for now with it.
How Church Clothes and Chicken Toes came to be
It was a cold, rainy, and very windy February Sunday.
Just a few more weeks before the “Chicks Available” sign was to be strung between the bars of a hay feeder turned on its side in front of the local Tractor Supply store.
A time when everyone gets excited about those little peeps and decide to bring a handful home. Also, a time before reality sets in that chickens are a real commitment and materials are mandatory. Either purchase or build a coop. Free range or create a run. Where will the biddies live while they still have their adorable fluffy down?
Thoughts and questions I never asked myself the day I, too, walked out of Tractor Supply with a box of birds and zero plan. Thank GOD for a patient and logical husband who figured it out for me.
On that chilly and wet Sunday, I came home from church in the nasty weather to check on the chickens. They were in their run that was now full of water. Without changing shoes first, I headed straight for the birds.
Though they have perches and their own picnic table to stand on plus some dry areas out of the weather in their run, my birds were standing in the rain and wind.
I decided to let them out to free range. They knew better what to do in inclement weather in nature than in their own, mostly weather protected run.
Let me set the scene for Church Clothes and Chicken Toes
I’m in a dress with a pea coat, stockings, and heels. Fresh from Sunday Service.
Heels like the slender ones that are pointy. Perfect for sinking down in the mud and muck of a chicken run.
After letting the birds out and getting myself unstuck, I tiptoed to the protection of the wood shop’s lean-to and thought “these boujee birds better be glad I like them”. Then stopped to snap a picture for that week’s post about my chickens.
As I wrapped my pea coat to button it, I realized that this is my life now as a livestock owner. I knew I wanted meat birds soon and they need a lot of daily care regardless of the weather too. I know I want other animals in due time that will commit my family to the homestead and not allow for many vacations in the future. Realization hit me hard that when you commit to homesteading with animals, even small scale, there is requirement involved when life is involved. Same applies to a garden, really.
You can’t board your chickens
Or maybe you can? I most definitely have not looked into it but I’m willing to wager it’s not a thing yet… or at least not a thing I can afford.
Homestead sitters that are reliable are hard to find and they too must be paid.
For majority of their life, you are your chicken and livestock’s caregiver.
Rain or shine. Snow or sleet. Wind or heat. They depend on you.
The Mailbox Surprise
On that same day after checking on my girls, I figured since I was already wet, I’d go check the mailbox.
Inside was a packaged delivered the day before. Turns out a friend sent me a surprise magnet in the mail because she said she thought of me when she saw it.
“Crazy Chicken Lady” the magnet boasted.
And she’s not wrong.
What a perfect gift to receive on such an adventurous day.
Giving it my best in my Sunday best
Even on days when it’s raining sideways and it’s freezing cold outside, the birds’ water must be checked. Eggs need to be collected. General welfare checks need to be conducted.
No matter if you’re in your Sunday clothes or not, bad weather can come up. Sometimes it sneaks up. And when it does, it’s on ME to make sure my animals are okay.
Even in my CHURCH CLOTHES, I’ve got to check on them CHICKEN TOES.
Weekly newsletter: Church Clothes and Chicken Toes
Since that fateful day, I’ve started a weekly (or most weeks) email newsletter.
Sometimes I just enjoy connecting with people off of social media.
Often times I would get comments or direct messages about my chicken posts, many of which made me laugh.
Social media can be great and it can also be a headache of opinions and controversial topics, etc. Having an email newsletter where folks who actually want to read my thoughts and sign up to do so makes sharing our small scale homestead things more intimate and ultimately, meaningful to both the writer and the reader.
If you’re interested in joining my weekly newsletter where I share ideas from my garden, kitchen, and yard, feel free to sign up for it HERE.
Other Crazy Chicken Lady things
Here are a few more blog posts on raising chickens on a small scale homestead, laying hens and meat birds:
- Is it worth raising meat birds? You decide. Here’s our cost break down.
- How we built our chicken tractors
- Can you raise meat birds on less than 1/2 an acre? Yep.
- How you can have farm fresh eggs all year long, even when your girls are resting for winter.
- How to make a DIY killing cone for meat bird processing day for about $5
