The girls are getting big, just eating and sleeping the summer away. I was grocery shopping and saw this beautiful watermelon slice and had to get it for the chickens. They are so used to getting treats now that they rush the gate when we try to come in the run. They come running out of the coop when we call to them. It's so cute! I think within a few weeks I'll have the first eggs.

More details complete

We've got a cute new paint job and nesting boxes and perches installed inside. The only thing left to do is paint a sign for the coop that says "Yik's Chicks". We've discovered that the chickens love treats: strawberries, mulberries, and blackberries, as well as eggplant and watermelon. Mike loves to give them treats so much they have started getting a little pushy when I come in the coop. If I'm wearing sandals they peck at my toes thinking the nail polish is berries! I've got one sweet girly though, that will jump up into my lap and eventually get on my shoulder every time I'm in the run for more than a few minutes. Then when I try to put down she wants right back up. Such a snuggler! I'll try to get a picture with her for next time. Molly, we're ready for your inspection so give me a call! :)

Coop is done, I think. Well pretty much.

Lots of photos, I know. When I get time I'll learn more about how to post them with captions. I wanted to show you what we accomplished yesterday. Lots of sore muscles and sunburn but we're proud of a job well done. The girlies go in and out of the hatch door and seem really happy with their new digs. It was hard getting them in last night but they were like sleepy toddlers, overstimulated by exploring and falling asleep in the grass, so I picked them each up and put them inside for the night. This morning I went out at about 7 and opened their door and they're having fun exploring again. They make the cutest little sounds to each other, a cross between a coo and clucking. So sweet to hear. Come visit, friends!

More coop progress

The weather has been terrible this week and we've been so busy. So our progress is painfully slow for my poor big chicks. They are in their coop but have to stay in the kennel cage during the day so I can leave the doors open. The run isn't ready and they have no hatch door yet.

Sorry, I'm not really good at formatting this blog. I've figured out how to load pictures, but not how to put them where I want them. But the pictures show that some things are happening. One side of the run has chicken wire. That's our big garden and outbuilding in the background. Jessie and Parker and I picked out paint colors for the coop...Parker hates what we chose cuz he got voted against 2 to 1. The shade names are lettuce alone (kind of a light pale green like iceberg lettuce) and sunbeam (a buttery pale yellow). The yellow is for the trim.

It's 90 degrees today so we have to get the run done tonight. They can't be cooped up, literally, much longer!

Daycare chicks

Here are some other baby chicks that I take care of. This isn't everybody but it's who was here today, except for the sleeping one year old baby boy. I've had a home daycare for the last two years, but I'm closing in June and preparing to go back into teaching public school. I'll miss these kiddos but it will be nice to de-clutter my house. I've got baby stuff and toys everywhere!

Coop is coming along slowly but surely

Here's a photo of Mike working on installing the posts that will support our fenced in area of the chicken run. The run will be about 12 x 24 feet when done. We have 6 foot tall chicken wire for the surround and also 24 inch chicken wire to bury at the bottom to discourage digging predators. Eventually the run will also have a chicken wire or hardware cloth "ceiling" so owls and hawks won't visit. The girls are huge and are already crowded in the large dog crate. They tip over their water often and I have to clean out the cage EVERYDAY because the manure is in such a concentrated place. Needless to say we're all anxious for the coop to be done! If the weather had been nicer in May, we would have been able to get this project done a bit faster.

Also above, there is an up to date picture of one of the barred rock girls. See the comb developing? (Sorry for the picture quality. I just got a new phone with a camera so I'm experimenting.) The blurry movement in one picture is probably the naughty girl pecking me. They've got a little attitude once in a while.

Wow I'm bad at this!

My babies are almost a month old and have already outgrown their baby brooder rabbit cage. Now they are in my garage in a big wire dog crate. It got really cold last night so they have a space heater and a heat lamp and the crate is draped with blankets and rugs. They all snuggled down and kept each other warm. The have shed most of their fluffy down (all over the basement!) and have more real feathers now. Their combs are starting to develop.

Remember the mean one? She's my favorite and I named her Winnie! See picture of me holding her off to the side? She isn't mean just confident...runs up to the door and lets me pet her everytime. The rest are more skiddish.

The coop is mostly done but I forgot to get a picture. It's an 8x8 shed that we bought as a kit. Now I just have to make the adjustments to turn into a chicken dwelling. I'll add a shelf for nesting boxes and a 1x4 for roosting at night. And we need to fence in the outside run and cut a hole in the wall so they can get outside. That's on the agenda for this week. Fun!