The Chick Feed

What's the Line-up? After a heck of a lot of pecking and squawking, we have order. Well at least for today we do. Violet is the leader. She enjoys eating every treat first, running at the head of the flock, and sitting on your lap. Petunia's on deck. She is still the smallest chicken, but she is a force. She loves to forge for bugs, chase Violet, and run around the coop. Daisy is literally up next. She is our cuddle-bunny, taken the place of our beloved Brahmas. Daisy likes to follow us around as well as perching on shoulders and heads! Myrtle's 4th in the batting order. She is the den mother. Myrtle Mum is the first in the coop at dusk and then comes down the ramp clucking to round up the stragglers. She inspects the inside of the coop when I turn over the straw. Forsythia is a beauty. She doesn't usually hop on our laps, but does let you pick her up. She coos in response to whistling. Don't be fooled, she's a spitfire. She's ...

Drum roll please.... We got an egg yesterday! We think it is Daisy's. Hi Beautiful!

Cock-a-Doodle-Doo I was turning over the straw under the chicken coop when I heard it. Thankfully Scott was out in the yard too so he knew just which one did it.   This one. On New Year's Eve. 19 weeks old. What the $%#! Noooooo, is what I wanted to shout. This wasn't supposed to be happening at 19 weeks! From what we'd read, by 8-12 weeks you'd know if there was a rooster in the hen house. I emailed pictures of Lily to the hatchery, but with the holiday we didn't hear back right away. I also snapped a picture of Verbena. I say snapped because to be honest, I'd been having trouble telling the two of them apart for the past month. So while Scott was holding Lily, I went in search of Verbena. I didn't have to look far, she was right behind me, looking at Lily in a puzzled way. See Verbena's puzzled look? The fact that I couldn't tell them apart should have been a clue as to what happened on New Year's Day. Yep, anoth...

Walking in a Winter Wonderland... Well, we are at least. The chickens are trying to figure out what happened to their yard. For the first three days of the snowy landscape, the chickens did not want to come out of the coop. On the fourth day, I think the chicks got a little stir-crazy.  And then they got creative.  Where there's a will, there's a way. The chickens' ability to fly out of the coop and land on the least snow covered object or person is amazing. So out came the chickens, in search of grass or anything green.  I cleared paths in the yard to help them forage, to show them that the grass was still there. The chickens came out timidly and then didn't seem to mind the snow. Since the weather is much colder, then chicks need additional calories to keep their bodies warm. I made a  Fruit and Nut Wreath  for the girls.  The chicks love it!! I also put seeds and cracked corn in an empty berry c...

Personalities Galore! Chickens are not animals often described as having great personalities. But let us tell you, they do!!  Oh Petunia while you are the smallest, you aren't a little birdie   When we told people that we are getting chickens, a lot of them said, "Why?". We were then regaled with chicken horror stories and antics. Nonetheless we forged ahead with our plan, and we are so glad that we did.  If we hadn't, we would not know that Verbena is a photo-bomber. Or that Violet could lead a prison break. Or that Lily and Merigold are our broth connoisseurs. OR that Lily, Forsythia, and Daisy would be snuggle-bunnies. We love having these chickies in our lives. We look forward to seeing them each morning. They burst out of the coop to explore the yard.  I enjoy sharing my garden beds with them. Yes I know, in the summer I may not feel the same way, but for now it is awesome. With the days getting shorter, the chicke...

Here chick, chick, chick The chicks continue to amaze us. They truly are mesmerizing. Scott and I love spending time with them in the yard. The chicks follow us in the yard and a few of them come when called by name. The chicks enjoying garlic infused water. Daisy posing so prettily The chicks seem to get along. They are almost always together. When one or two get separated from the group, they squawk to locate the others.   The chicks enjoy each others' company.  Home sweet Home

Chick Days You might be wondering, "what do the chicks do all day?". Here's a glimpse into the lives of our chicks. Gardening Verbena & Lily taking dust baths Myrtle checking out her feet    The girls, in general, look for worms and bugs. Resting Daisy relaxing in the tunnel Lily commandeering a lawn chai r Petunia, Violet, and Verbena under the coop. Daisy, Lily, and Verbena sleeping on Scott under the coop with Forsythia looking on. You might be wondering why Scott is under the coop, he was attaching the wire fence and it got late and the chicks decided to cuddle with him. Exploring Scott designed this awesome ramp for the chicks to securely get in and out of the coop. Initially, the chicks needed encouragement coming down the ramp.  Soon they got the hang of it. Well, sort of. Playing I give the chicks the water I cook vegetables in. I cooked some overgrown green bea...