Tits or gtfo.

Edit: sorry old habits

Some of them, yes. There's Ginger because, well, she's Ginger. Maybe Jewish because she's really greedy and selfish. Then, there's GQ because he's aloof and always checking his plumage. Even inspects his feet just because. There's Spot, Brownie and Blackie but smaller ones will end up looking similar so I don't know if those names will stick. Before I go to bed I go out to check on them, do a head count and pet each one a bit to say "Good night!" Last night I caught a cat lurking near them so I'll set the trap tonight.

Best thing is, they constantly search for bugs and keep the Bermuda grass clipped short.

Worst thing is, in early morning they come up to patio door to make grumpy "Feed me!" Noises and they will turn their beaks up at regular chicken feed. They really want rice and noodles. Bread sprayed with hot water is fine also. What they really crave is raw hamburger. They also go nuts for spaghetti because they think it's worms. So, yah, they are spoiled rotten.

Work days I don't mind them getting me up at first light.

You would laugh if you saw my excuse for a coop. They won't sleep in it and instead prefer to use the flat roof which is a pallet. The sides two pallets with six two by fours on the sides using three inch construction screws. I'll be putting a peaked roof but knowing them they will just fly up to perch on the ridge and from there to find a nice spot in the persimmon branches. The five younger ones abandoned their hatchling crib last night in favor of the second floor as the older ones on top made it clear they are not welcome.

??? Not true. My cooks find stray dogs, stray cats, stray birds, stray rats,etc. everyday, but sometimes do need go outside Chinatown.

One of them even chases https://poal.co/s/realPoal/363769/662e75fb-3d0a-47b7-9108-b9169116cbdc

Can I ask why you suggest purchasing from a local farmer? Our neighbor does sell chicks. My husband and I only just bought and moved into our first home and we're not very experienced yet with chicken ownership! He's concerned about getting a rooster that will be a breed that can maximize egg production and be decent meat chickens as well. We have only female australorps right now. So he wants to buy from the breeder so we can get an Australorp rooster. Just seemed like the thing to do. Our neighbor's chickens are just... Products of generations and generations of mixed breed chickens! Just like I grew up with, because our rooster was a different breed than any of the hens we started with and they were all different breeds themselves. I don't know, we have lots to learn. We do support our neighbor in ways other than buying his chicks. So far the chicks we've gotten from the breeder we used last time in Montana have seemed quite healthy. Except one who just seemed... Neurologically different. Like she seemed to totally lack any chicken instincts and would just stand there and not do anything ever. Only ate when I hand fed her and eventually I just let her go because she clearly didn't want to live.

Once our child is born and the chickens are settled in and the garden is going strong we plan on breeding pigs for meat as well. We have no idea what we're getting into really! I had pigs growing up but they were just pets. Lots to learn.