Maybe I Have Forgotten How

I wanted to include these photos in yesterday's post about painting the interior of the chicken coop but I forgot.

Oops!

So, better late than never, a look at a few of the girls that were causing all the raucous when we got too close to their nest boxes...

Aren't they purdy?  Noisy too, hahaha!  I love my chickens!

For those of you who are wondering, Miss LizzieBelle and pups are all doing well.  She's a great Mama and is taking such good care of them making my job pretty easy.  I will post an update soon and hope to include some video as well.

I hope y'all are having a great weekend!

Till next time,

First Eggs

After five months of patiently waiting for some fresh eggs, the wait is over!

She's getting the nest just right.

Round and round, scratching and rearranging the hay.

Until it's just right!

By the end of the day, there were three eggs in this nest box (but not from the same chicken!).

No matter how much hay I put in the nest boxes, they scratch and scratch until they get to the wooden bottom.    Go figure!

I think the girls knew I've been patiently waiting because they actually started laying a month early.  Chicken Mama's very happy!  

The first few eggs are sometimes bloody.  Poor girls!

Their first eggs are rather small but they will gradually get bigger over the next month and become medium to large eggs. 

MMMmmm!  Now THAT's what I've been waiting for!  Deliciously rich and oh so flavorful eggs!  If you've never had a farm fresh egg, I encourage you to find some and try them.  You'll be glad you did!

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Till next time,

This or That Rural Thursday

It's a dreary day here today.

We had a much-needed rain yesterday and today it is overcast.

I like dreary days.

I slow down.  I allow myself more time to do some things I enjoy;

reading, crocheting, cross-stitching and taking photographs. 

The light of a dreary day is perfect for photography.

Sounds strange, I know, but the colors of your subject are not washed out by the sun.

~~~~~

In farm news, the chickens are enjoying their first flock block.

Firsts with chickens are always fun!  They're very cautious creatures.

I purchased two flock blocks yesterday and after much hesitation on their part to get close enough to try it they are now surrounding each block, standing on top of it, whatever it takes to peck at this yummy treat!

Mmm, good eatin'!

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Till next time,

Nosy Girls

The other day I sat in the chicken yard for about thirty minutes trying to get some photos of the ducks swimming in their pool.  While I waited and waited, this is what I saw...

One Americauna hen after another coming to check me and my camera out.

I had the camera in my hand and was resting my arm on my leg when this girl walked up so I just snapped her picture without knowing if she was even in the frame.  She's a little close, don'tcha think?!

I was sitting on the 4x4 'foot' of this Chiki Hut (as we call it) when this girl jumped up there to roost right beside me.

Check out the claws on this girl, yikes!  Toenail polish anyone?

Occasionally a Rhode Island Red would venture over but they weren't as nosy.

Whenever a Red did dare to get close they would not keep their head still so I only managed to get two shots of the Red girls.

Ah, the rooster.  He's a very good boy so far and always runs over to see me.  I think he's hoping for some yummy scraps!

I love this pose!

This guy loved to pose for the camera.  He walked up to me many times and just stood there striking different poses while I shot to my hearts content!

I can't wait until these girls start laying eggs.  A couple more months and we should start seeing some small brown and green eggs!  Yay!

Meanwhile, the ducks went over to the pool and took several drinks but never went for a swim while I was in there.

They used to swim in front of me when they were little.  I wonder what's changed...

By now my bum was numb so I gave up on getting a shot of the ducks swimming and began the process of getting up off the 4x4 with my numb bum.  It was a site to see fer sure!

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Till next time,

Did We Get Ducks or Pigs?

The ducks are a month old now and are quickly catching up to the chickens...

They're growing like weeds and eating like pigs!  They are the fastest growing animals I've ever seen.

They love their 'pond' yet I've not been able to get a photo of them swimming in it.  I did catch them taking an early morning dip this morning when I went out to feed everyone.  When they heard the back door open they all scampered out of the pond as if they got caught doing something wrong!  Meanwhile, the chickens were sleeping in.  Lazy chickens!

I think they're camera shy.  One day, I'm going to sit out there and just wait for them to go swimming so I can get some pictures.

Remember what they used to look like?

Such tiny little things!

The ducks and chickens get along just fine.

The chickens are about three months old now.  They're still establishing the pecking order and the rooster is perfecting his crow.

The first time he tried to crow, he was standing on a roost outside and just about fell off.  Wings were flapping and he was bobbing forward and backward to keep his balance.  He managed to stay on the roost but it took him quite a while to get the hang of crowing while keeping his balance!  Also, the first time he let out a good crow, every single hen hightailed it back into the coop...  it was the funniest thing I ever saw!

Such pretty girls (and you too Mr. Rooster!).  In a couple of months they should start laying eggs.  I can hardly wait!

Till next time,