And Then There Were Five

On Tuesday I added three newbies to the chicken coop.  

Too cute, huh?

I just wanted to get two chicks but the lady at Family Farm and Home, convinced me that if I only got two and one didn't make it then the last one probably wouldn't make it either.  Like alpacas chickens like to have buddies.

So these babies are Buff Orpingtons.  They are pullets, which means they are females.  When you go to buy chicks, you can buy pullets and know you'll have females or you can buy chicks that are from a straight run.  Meaning they could be any sex.  For an extra dollar a chick, I like knowing that I'm getting future hens.  I don't want a rooster.  My hens seem to do just fine without one.  Roosters can be aggressive to hens and people and they're another mouth to feed without a benefit of eggs.  I don't want to have an unexpected brood of baby chicks waddling about, either.  I know that for some people the rooster is good for the pot.  I'm not there yet.

I set the newbies up in the chicken coop in a cardboard box with a heat lamp, water, chicken starter and pine shavings for bedding.  The screen is to protect them from the hens and from a curious Linus.

They seem to be doing fine after their first night.  They definitely hang out at the end of the box where the heat lamp is.

No names yet as I can't tell them apart.  Though I'm open to suggestions.  Hoping as they grow I'll be able to distinguish one from the other.  Notice the little wing and tail feathers they're developing.  They are about one week old.  They should be fully grown at eight weeks.  Then they'll be able to join Dolores and Winnie in the coop proper.

Speaking of Winnie and Dolores.  I've been letting them free range during the day.  I just leave their coop door open.  I've found eggs in the stalls and on top of the hay bales.  The girls seem to appreciate their freedom.  I caught them sunbathing on Tuesday in the alpaca girls paddock.

Definitely snoozing!

Today I looked out at the barn to see Daisy Mae and Birdie chasing the chickens around the paddock.  Chickens can move fast when they need to!

Spring Has Sprung! Or Has It?

Sunday was the perfect day for the first day of spring.  Sunny, a high of 45, little to no wind. Wonderful!

The cluckers, Dolores and Winifred, have resumed laying eggs full throttle.  We are now getting one to two eggs daily.  They also have discovered the unparrelled delight of dust bathing.  

Winnie is on the left in the video and Dolores is on the right.  Chickens use sand as their cleansing agent of choice.  The sand coats their skin helping to keep lice and external parasites at a minimum.  Kinda like taking a nice warm shower for us.

The nesting area of choice.  An upside down cardboard box in the coop.  Go figure.

Aren't you proud of us?

While the paca girls and I were out Sunday morning, Birdie bolted to the edge of the paddock.  She heard and spotted one of our true indicators of spring, a sand hill crane.  While we were listening and watching the crane I noticed a lone interloper in the back hay field.  A coyote was out vole hunting.  Directly beyond the coyote was a herd of deer.  This is one of the reasons I love living in the country!

The girls have been enjoying the lack of snow in their pasture.  A week ago they couldn't contain their excitement and commenced with the paca races.

Then today it started snowing around noon and hasn't stopped.  Evart will probably see about six inches of the cold wet stuff.  Sigh.  

Snow, snow go away and don't bother coming back another day!

Sunrise

Today we had yet another beautiful sunrise.  Then we had a beautiful sun drenched day with a high in the low 50's.  Surely spring is around the corner just hiding out of sight?  
By the end of today 2/3 of the snow in this picture had magically disappeared.

Sunrise!

On a totally unrelated note:

Last night, Zoey was pining for her "fathers" lap.  She loves to nap on Jeff while we watch TV.  Jeff went downstairs, Zoey didn't.

Lastly, I'm thrilled to report that Dolores has resumed laying eggs!  She is averaging one egg every two to three days.  Winnie is once again starting to look like a live chicken instead of a just plucked one.  Her "pin" feathers are blossoming into beautiful glossy brown visions of true feathers.

Guess It's Still Winter

Yes it is as cold as it looks, but the sun does still exist!  Good to know.

This morning at 9:00 a.m. the temperature with the wind chill was in the single digits .  We still have plenty of snow.  We apparently are at the eastern edge of lake effect snow, despite being almost 65 miles due east of Lake Michigan.

To say I'm awaiting warmer weather, green and sunshine, would be too obvious.  By the way, by my unofficial reckonings I think we averaged five days of sunshine in January.  This morning, however, we did have rays of gold.  We no longer do, but hey, three hours of sunshine is better than none.

Here's a glimpse of what sunshine looks like here in the frozen heartland of Michigan.

Rafael wondering what the heck I'm doing.

Now just envision this with fields of green.

Felicity is a snow nibbler.  The evidence is on her muzzle.  She told me she also likes sunshine.

As an interesting side note, we experienced a sonic boom this morning.  I was already back in the house from the barn when I heard the approach of jets.  Since we don't live near a commercial airport, any planes in the area draw my attention.  I was looking out at the barn and the girls in the lean-to eating hay when it occurred.  There was a intense boom and windows rattled.  We all jumped about three feet.  I haven't experienced a sonic boom since I was a kid.  I had to look it up on my iphone to verify that's what it was.

Feathers Everywhere!

First I have to apologize for the the non-working video on my last post.  I so wanted you to be able to hear the alpaca "alert".  I'm still trying to figure out how to correct the problem. The video works fine on my desktop and photo file so I'm not sure why the disconnect. 

Secondly, I have a clucker who is well on her way to being naked!  The two chickens began molting mid January.  I haven't seen an egg since then.  The coop looks like chicken anarchy has occurred.

Winnie on the right, about two weeks ago.

Last week.

Now a poor Winnie looking very ragged.  

Feathers everywhere!

Finally, I have to share the alpaca version of breakfast in bed.  I snapped these photos today.

Felicity and Andraya like their hay laying down.

"Not me," says Daisy Mae, "I'm too wired!"

Alert!

The alpacas beasts are very aware of what's going on around their little neighborhood.  If they see anything suspicious or wonky they send out an alert.  The other morning Rafael spotted three deer on the other side of the pasture.  He was determined to let the rest of the herd know of this scary threat, so he sent out his alarm.

Silly Barn Lyrics

      The other day I walked into the barn

 and what to my wondering eyes should appear

 but five gleefully free alpacas staring at me. 

 I don't know who was more surprised, them or me?

 Lesson learned, latch all gates securely!

I know nothing!

I'm dumbfounded!

 Life on the farm is never dull.

Who me?  No responsibility!

Are you talking about me?

Why yes, I agree, I am extremely handsome.  Yes me!

So remember, the path to the barn can lead to the unknown.

But sun on snow can make all aglow.

The End!