From the above blurry image, it’s easy to tell these chicks are getting difficult to catch on camera while all six are sitting still! It’s hard to believe we’ve already had this little chicks for 3 whole weeks today. But after seeing some baby chicks at the farm store this weekend, it’s even harder to believe that just 3 weeks ago they were so small! They’re beginning to feather out on their heads now and have nearly full wings of feathers. Their bodies are turning into funny little fluffy tips at the end of what look like the beginnings of feathers. And they are getting noisy and rowdy. The little babies are definitely growing up!
left: Harriett, Goldie, Evelyn 
Edith, Gladys, Goldie, Mable, Evelyn 
Harriett, Goldie, Evelyn, Edith, Mable, Gladys
It’s so much fun to watch them interact and their personalities develop. Gladys has seemed to step down from trying to be the top hen, and while she is still the largest, she seems to be reserved and allow the other chicks to push her around a bit now. Edith on the other hand is getting very bold and has become the first one to jump in my hand whenever I stick my arm in. And Harriett seems uninterested in perching on my arm when she used to be the first to hop on. Evelyn and Goldie are getting bolder as well – just today Evelyn jumped on my hand for the first time! I like to give them the opportunity to choose to interact before I pick them up and give them some handling love time. Doesn’t always work, but I like when it does! All the other (mostly clear) pictures I got were of Edith, she was hogging the spotlight during their photoshoot this week.
I’m getting excited and nervous for them to move outside. We definitely have coyotes around in the night and eagles in the daytime; so I’m a little concerned for their safety. I suppose since we’re living on the farm now I’m going to have to get used to the idea of “survival of the fittest” (which has never been my strong suit!). Hopefully they’ll all be smart and safe and learn to roost in the henhouse in the early evening so we can lock them up safely before any predators come around! My father-in-law has been working on the henhouse and it is coming along beautifully! Here’s a little sneak peak of the progress:
The wood and metal he salvaged from the Honey House and Cabin projects. Eventually it will be on wheels so we can move it. He designed it so that cleaning it out will be a breeze, just wheel the wheelbarrow underneath, open the trap door, and sweep all the bedding into the wheelbarrow. I’m pretty excited to get them moved out and see them enjoy the extra space and sunshine!
The Homestead Journey 