I love Austin. I flew down the last week of March with my friend, Lauren Scheuer and her lovely daughter, Sarah. I had a feeling it’d be a fun trip, after all, my traveling companions were the best, and we were going to see the Austin Funky Chicken Coop Tour. But, the visit exceeded my expectations. First of all, the city has the best signs. This one describes many of Austin’s neighborhoods,

but this one captures the funk, the color and the western vibe.

I also took this neon sign as a sign to go ahead and fulfill my dream of owning a pair of cowgirl boots. It turns out that Sarah had the same dream. We went shopping. Everything is bigger in Texas. There are boot stores larger than my house, with a selection not seen anywhere here in the East.

We came home with these. Mine are the red ones on the right.

The boots would have been enough for me, but then there was the Texas hospitality. When we told the organizers of the Austin Funky Chicken Coop Tour that we were coming down, and that it’d be nice to meet up with some like-minded chicken folks on Friday night, they gathered the troops and gave us a warm welcome. And hats.

On the left is Susan, of the Austin Bluebonnet Egg Show. I just might have to go back down for that event! (Notice my boots???)

Saturday was the big day.

It began at Buck Moore Feed & Supply. Every town should have one of these.

Debra is the driving force behind this amazing chicken fest. There she is on the left, wearing a t-shirt printed with Lauren’s design.

Lauren signed copies of her new book, Once Upon a Flock, and I had my books for sale.

But, better than signing new books, was signing a much-loved copy owned by this young reader.

Lauren signed her books and t-shirts, and still had time to fall madly in love with this nice rooster.

We had so much fun that we had time to see only a couple of coops. Some were cute and quaint. This is the perfect use for a prefab playhouse.

Being that this wasTexas, you had to have an over-the-top coop, too. Look at the colors! The crystal chandelier!

On Sunday, Sarah and Lauren had to go back home, but I headed to the flea markets near Round Top. I found three of these small feed sacks. I gave them a good washing and ironing. They’re still stained (you should have seen them before the cleaning!) but sweet as can be, and so TEXAS. You can win one!

Just tell me where I should go next. The winner will be determined by a random number generator. One entry per person. Entries close Friday, April 12 at Midnight, EDT.

UPDATE: This contest is closed. Lois Tooker, from Massachusetts won.

Here in Massachusetts we have one of the largest and best flea markets in the country. It happens three times a year and fills up fields on either side of a mile of road in the small town of Brimfield. It just so happens that Texas has a similar seasonal flea market, in the tiny town of Round Top (population 90), and it happened to be going on when I was down in Austin. I rented a car and drove the 70 miles east to see what it was like.

Everything is bigger in Texas. Whereas Brimfield really is in the one small community of Brimfield, Round Top actually takes place in several towns. There are miles of fields filled with tents, some with piles of junk, and others with antiques usually found only in tony shops.

Even the taxidermy was bigger.

There were big piles of wooden wheels.

Reclaimed metal salvage is currently on trend. These banged up chicken feeders were being sold to be repurposed into pendant lamps and flower planters.

This being Texas, even the rusty metal salvage was bigger. This corn crib sold the first day of the show. It will be a screen house on someone’s estate.

There were plenty of things to fit a chicken-themed decor.

These windmill weights were the real deal. Remember the fake that I saw at Brimfield? (There were plenty of repros and fakes at Round Top, too. Buyer beware!)

Not everything was made of metal.

This vintage incubator would make a cute end table. It reminded me of the chicks back home.

These industrial scrubbers would have made the perfect gift for Pip and Caper. It’s shedding season and wouldn’t these make great scratching posts? Too bad they didn’t fit into my carryon luggage.

I did find something to bring home. but I’ve got to clean it up before I share it with you.

In 1906, people were already nostalgically looking back to a rural, agrarian past. Of course, as those of us who keep chickens know, life in the coop is never “simple.” But, even a few hens are satisfying and grounding to be around.

It might snow today. Or rain. Or freezing rain. Which isn’t as bad as what blew down on the midwest overnight. Whatever the weather, it’s the sort of day that could use a cheerful pick-me-up. Silly windup toys always make me smile. Here’s one from my collection. It’s Russian.

I think it resembles Jasper.

What’s cheering you up today?

On Saturday, March 30, thousands of chicks will hatch at Murray McMurray. Twenty-five of them will be shipped on the next day and arrive at my post office first thing on Monday morning, April 1. When I ordered the chicks in the middle of the winter, I’d had images of their arrival at the beginning of a new season, with fresh green grass on the lawn and crocuses coming up in the woodland. April Fools joke on me! This is what my front yard looks like.

Instead of putting the chicks into a heated brooder, I had hoped that I’d be able to sneak the chicks underneath a couple of broody hens, and let them raise the chicks up. A broody hen is awash in hormones that make her want to care for chicks, and she’ll do a very good job of it, keeping them warm, and leading them to food and water. Those plans are dashed. First of all, none of my hens are broody. I don’t think that they believe it’s springtime, either. Secondly, each broody hen and her batch of chicks need to be kept in a separate enclosure. Contrary to the heartwarming videos on YouTube, hens do not like to share. Not food. Not chicks. My friend Wendy has a lot of experience with mamma hens and chicks and she’s told me about the mayhem, the attempted abduction of chicks, and the bloodshed, when two fiercely maternal chickens live in the same enclosure.

The solution, and what was done in the days before kerosene (and then gas, and then electric) brooders were invented, was to put each mama hen into her own brood coop. These were small enclosures. The hen had access to food and water inside. She couldn’t leave, but her chicks were free to come and go at will.

This design is from a 1907 USDA publication.

This A-frame is another version. (Note that this is what these triangular shelters are designed for. They are not meant to be your flock’s permanent housing!)

I have spare rabbit hutches that I was going to turn into brood coops and put temporary fencing around. But, that doesn’t work in the snow. And, even if the ground was bare and dry, what with the weasels and foxes looking for dinner on my property, I couldn’t possibly keep such a setup safe.

Instead, when my chicks arrive they’ll be put into a traditional brooder with an electric heat lamp. With Steve’s help I’ve just set it up in the Little Barn. I’ll be doing numerous posts in the next few weeks to walk you through what I do, so that when you get your own chicks, you’ll be ready.

On April 1 the cam in the Little Barn will be moved into the brooder. ChickCam!

So, who’s getting chicks and when are they arriving?