Chickens

32 chickens arrived on Monday February 11, a frigid and windy morning, in a little 12" x 12" box with round breathing holes. We were expecting them on Wednesday, so the phone call from the post office at 8:30 am came as a surprise to Hannah when she answered. I received the message from Hannah at the door after returning from feeding the horses. "The chickens are here, The chickens are here" was her greeting at the door. I would loved to have been a fly on a wall when she got the phone call and for the hour she waited to tell me.

When I received the chicks it was as if some one gave me a newborn baby to hold; the familiar mothering instinct came over me. Hannah held them the whole way home. For the first week they stayed in Hannah's room. Then the cage became too small and we built a cage out of card board boxes which we put in the family room. This contraption worked great until they started to try out their wings at 3 weeks. They did not fly out much but enjoyed perching on the sides and looking out at the array of chairs and peering out the sliding door. At 4 weeks it became urgent for Dad to get the chicken coop built. The coop was finished on and the chickens were transferred from the living room. I missed their little peeps, but surely did not miss all the dust from them fluttering all over the place. Another week and they would have started perching on the furniture.

Of the 32 chicks 6 were roosters. The different breeds included Araucanas (blue egg layers), Silver Spangled Hamburgs, Buff Rocks, Black Australorps, Golden Laced Wyandottes, and New Hamshire Reds. Daniel and Jonathan each picked out a rooster and Hannah a hen to call their own. Hannah was going to pick a black Australorp but when the chicks arrived she could not decide which one she wanted to call hers because they were all so cute. she decided to wait and see how their personalities developed.

Hannah chose an Araucana and named her 'LuvSum', Daniel a Silver Spangled Hamburg and named him "Spring Blossom". Jonathan delayed in his decision for a few Weeks and decided he wanted a black rooster. He named the rooster ' Mr. Goldleaf'.

Most of the chickens have names and the list is as follows; Three roosters remain, Mr. Goldleaf, Spring Blossom and Colonel - the hens include Luv Sum, Nutmeg, Coleus, Henrietta, Chilly, Snowflake, Daisy, Buttercup, Red, Tilly, June, America, Tiger and Hepatica . The only hens without names are some of the black ones - They seem to look the same especially when they act the same. It amazes me that Hannah can tell most of them apart.

In June Dad and the boys added an outside

run for the chickens so we could keep them contained when we went away. The chickens free range when we are home...we have to watch out for Mr. Foxy.

The chickens have been a great experience for all of us. In the morning we let them out and they follow us to the horse barn for hand outs of oats. There is a group of 5 hens that always come running when they see you... I love their waddles! Buttercup and Tilly follow us every where and cluck non stop. Hannah takes them wild strawberry picking and bug hunting. The horses are not afraid of the chickens. In fact, when Hannah rides in the ring and the chickens enter, she and Lady love to chase them. Instead of chasing cows, she does it English style...she chases chickens.

The roosters are a delight to hear through out the day and are so beautiful. Mr. Gold leaf's bright red comb echoes against his lustrous black feathers, Colonel whispers when he eats hand outs and is rather awkward/goofy looking but so sweet. The more he matures the more handsome he becomes. Spring Blossom is our small black and white night-in-shining armor.

Mr. Goldleaf and the boys are still rallying for who is going to be boss. We enjoy the roosters, but they must know their manners. I am not sure how many lives chickens have, (they say cats have 7) but Mr. Gold leave has one less life left because he jumped on Jonathan. If he does not mellow his attitude he will be our Halloween dinner (or I hope to find him a home without children). Jonathan has disowned Mr. Goldleaf and now calls Tiger his hen.

Oh, and the hens have started laying their beautiful eggs. June was the first with her brown egg. We have an assortment of brown, blue and white. They started small and are getting bigger. We are getting about 12 small eggs a day and expect to get 4 to 5 dozen per day. They taste so good and have so much more flavor compared to super market eggs. Once the hens start laying regularly, the children are going to sell the eggs locally. I guess we should get working on the sign and marketing:)

We love our chickens. I never dreamed they would make such wonderful pets for the children and give us such enjoyment. They have such personalities and are a delight to be around. On a good day, even Mr. Goldleaf is a shining star.

Check back soon for I am compiling pictures of the chickens with their names.)