Saturday my wife and I went into our local Tractor Supply Company to pick up some feed and softener salt - and what do I find in the center of the store while my wife is looking at clothes?

A sign reading, CHICK DAYS AT TRACTOR SUPPLY.

Under it, three horse troughs filled with chicks. One was mixed pullets, one was straight run Cornish Rocks, the third straight run Rhode Island Reds.

I thought this could, um, kill two birds with one stone. I could increase my flock size and perhaps get a rooster in the process without having to run all over northeast Ohio collecting chickens willy-nilly.

So we bought a dozen. From the pullets, five Silver Laced Wyandottes, two White Rocks and two Red Sex Links. And to get a rooster, I decided to play the genetic lottery and bought three Rhode Island Reds. That seemed like a good number to get at least one roo out of the deal. And if I get three, well, we'll have a couple of nice broilers, I suppose.

This means soon, perhaps as early as next weekend, Bob will simultaneously go to Chicken Paradise and the Stew Pot. I'll miss his crowing until the new Rooster grows up enough to take command of the barnyard (providing I got one), but it's the best thing. I don't want to risk him crushing the life out of the Reds while trying to procreate, and he's unhappy where he is, even though he's got enough space.

In barnyard news, there are no new eggs from Mildred, but I think one of the Reds is starting to lay. I found the remains of a soft shelled egg right at the door to the coop. It was broken (or perhaps squished is a better word) and the chooks were helping themselves to the yolk. I'll have to keep an eye on them now and encourage them to use the nestboxes. Must find some old golf balls.

Did some other minor work in the barn, but haven't gotten around to putting up a higher roost yet. Been too busy with other things. Perhaps that will go on the list for this next weekend too, along with filleting Bob.