Henhouse on Monroe

The Girls are now Ladies. I got back from my conference and I think they doubled in size!

Which means the race is on to get the Henhouse on Monroe finished. Here's where we're at:



The yellow dog enjoys checking out the progress. It seems to meet with his approval.

Since the Ladies are a bit big for their brooder pen (which we moved to the porch), we've been letting them flap around in the garden whenever we're outside. Fun for them and fun for my daughter!

Brooder pen





The Chicken Tenders

Great Big World

The Girls got a taste of the outdoors a few days ago. They didn't like it at first. None of them wanted to walk on the grass, so I moved them into my garden (which is not fully planted yet) and that went a bit better. They seemed to enjoy the dirt. I told them they better get used to it, as they'll be living outside very soon (hopefully).

One Girl is a little weird, though. She's the smallest and most timid. She's afraid of everything, and when I would put her on the ground outside, she would tip over. Finally, after watching her sisters walk around, she got the idea. I wish I'd snapped a picture of her when she wouldn't move. She's a goofball, that's for sure.

This dandelion was a very interesting find for the Girls. They enjoyed pecking it, watching it bob around, and pecking it again.

Our most pressing issue (other than sneaky Rocky, who hasn't been seen since the last post... but who has a trap waiting for him) is the fact that we have no coop yet. And these chickens can't live in their brooder pen much longer. Look how big they are!





So, while I'm away this weekend enjoying a fabulous conference (check it out here; http://www.kathrynmitschelen.blogspot.com ), my dear husband and daughter will hopefully get a coop finished. A big shout out to Dan Quigley for the cedar.... thanks to you, my Girls will have a place to live! You're first up on the list of fresh eggs this fall.

The Chicken Tenders

Trouble in the tree

We have trouble in the tree. Trouble for our chicks. Trouble for us. What could it be?

Sneaky Rocky



Rocky Raccoon discovered we have chickens. We've caught him hanging out in the Tulip tree outside my computer room window several times, most recently last night. When the windows are open, we think he's catching a whiff of the girls. 

The Girls are a bit nervous about this most recent development.

They would prefer staying inside where it's safe, rather than living in their coop with sneaky Rocky watching from above. Lucky for them, their coop isn't finished.

We'll keep you updated on the trouble in the Tulip tree.

The Chicken Tenders 

Bits and Peepses

We've had lots of eggcitement involving the chicks, so this post will cover all the bits and peepses of the last few days.

First, we've named the very brave girl. She's been the one to attempt new tricks (such as flying, roosting, and climbing) before all the other chick-a-poos. So my daughter decided to name her Karana, after the main character in the book Island of the Blue Dolphins, because the girl in that story was also very brave.

Karana



Look at the wings on this girl! Those wings really motivated us to get building the coop. After a full day of work Saturday, the framing is finished. Of course, we had to make sure the work passed the yellow dog's inspection.

And, lots of visitors have stopped by to hold a chick or two.



The Girls are thriving and the coop is coming along. We've got lots more work to do, but that coop will be finished by the time Karana and friends are ready for the big outdoors!

The Chicken Tenders

Learning to fly

Wow, chicks grow fast! Who knew? Probably everyone that's ever had chicks before, but since I haven't, this is news to me. The Girls are starting to look like little chickens, not just chicks. They have feathers, and thicker feet, and they can fly!

We've covered the whole brooder pen with chicken wire to prevent any catastrophes. And I've stuck a few items like rocks and a brick in the pen to give the Girls roosting practice. I think we'd better get busy with that coop in the backyard.

The Girls get visitors every so often. My dad stopped by a few days ago, but I pinky-promised I wouldn't put the photo of his whole self with the chick. I'm actually surprised I even got him to hold a chick. Okay, actually I didn't get him to hold it. I kind of shoved it in his hands!

I'll upload some better photos later so that you can actually see the wings and tails these Girls are sprouting.

The Chicken Tenders