We've been having a lot of fun with new chicks around here. Our hens are a few years old now, and we want to make sure to keep the egg supply going, so it was time to start a new flock.
Almost every day has started with Hailey asking "Can I hold a baby chick?"... and repeated several times throughout the day.
We got them around Mother's Day, and just moved them outside this week, into a cage next to the big chicken hutch, so they could get to know each other (without the big ones eating the little ones.) They are thriving!
We had one incident with Sam leaving a chick out in the grass and forgetting about her. She was all but dead when we found her, but I warmed her back up and she's doing GREAT. Another night the girls swore they'd locked their cage, but they were all out the next morning, and one was missing. I was sure a wild animal had gotten her, but an hour later, she showed back up! We've never lost a chick in either flock... but did lose one grown hen (my favorite, of course) last year to a neighborhood dog.
Chickens make me happy.
Except that the big girls (chickens, not children), have taken to eating their own eggs. Ugh. We're trying every trick we can think of to get them to stop, but have only had success with one thing... letting them "free range" more often through the yard. One person suggested it would keep them occupied, that they were only eating eggs out of boredom. Turns out that's not the case, but they've taken to laying eggs in odd places, where we can then snatch them up! (Like behind the chick cage... (3 yesterday), and in this pot with a small oak tree in it (2 yesterday, 2 so far today).
Cute chicks. Now this is totally not related to your post, but when you first bought your house, didn't it have carpet in the front room? Or am I completely brainless and not remembering correctly. I love the wood floors though, so nice!
Posted by: Carrie | 06/12/2010 at 11:05 AM
I visit your blog occasionally....came across it thru bakers dozen!!! Just wanted to tell you I prayed for the chillens return and now I'll pray for your strength thru the rough spots,,,another mother,,,Greta
Posted by: Greta | 06/12/2010 at 08:56 PM