Today’s post was written by Chitter.
Two weeks ago we introduced the baby chicks to their new home…the chicken lot. At first they were really scared and didn’t like it. They missed the warm comfort of their cardboard home in the basement.
But after a few days they calmed down and realized how nice it was to have so much space to run around.
I can’t believe how much they’ve grown since we put them in with the other chickens.
Because I took care of them from the start they have a real attachment to me. Every day when I go into the pen they scurry around my feet and jump on my shoulder and sometimes peck me in the head 🙂
Remember the little one with the hurt leg? I named her Annabelle. When I had her isolated in my room I put a buddy with her. I named the buddy Delilah. Now the two stick together and love to sit in my lap when I go to visit them.
The older hens seem to be more accepting of the little ones since they’re pecking them in the head less every day. Our rooster Bo mostly ignores the little ones except when he chases them out of the coop each morning.
I’m happy that I only have to water and feed and no longer have to clean up their mess two times a day.
Now we just wait on the eggs 🙂
Chitter
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Chitter, I just love the white one on your shoulder. A chicken angel.
Tipper,
A long time ago, when you and the girls was over here at my shop, I had a dog that looked just like Ruby Sue, only he was a he. Chitter or Chatter bent over to pick Little Bit up and I can’t half-hear. But, I asked Tipper what the Girls said, and she said something about Stealing Ruby Sue. They were little back then and didn’t know the Politically Correct way to say things. I’m that way too, I have two girls also, only much older.
I said, “Just turn him over, see, he’s got a Gem-Slinger, he’s a boy dog and his name is Little Bit.” You should have seen the smiles come over their faces, and off to the fresh-plowed garden they went with Little Bit in their arms. Little Bit just soaked carrying up, and the twins went to look for Arrowheads.
Every time I loose a Dog, I swear I’ll never have another, but in about 3 weeks, I’ll get another. …Ken
Chitter is a great chicken mama! That’s THE sweetest little picture and story! I got a big kick out of this blog today! It was refreshing. BTW, the garden looks awesome from what I can see!
A little chicken wanted to sit on my shoulder. A little chicken left something behind. A little chicken s it on my shoulder! Yuck!
And your chickens are so sweet. We got 6 chickens about the same time as you! They are really getting big & fluffy. They told us they are Americana Easter Egg & will lay blue eggs. We believe one is rooster! City ordinance says we are not allowed a rooster. Oh dear. Our daughters named them after the girls in Little Women and named the rooster Aunt March because from a little thing it was very bossy…so now he has to be Uncle March. One hen is very big and fluffy so she is Marmie. They love broccoli & watermelon. Cannot wait for the eggs to start coming! Now the grandkids want a goat & a miniature piggy. Yikes!
Sherry-we once had a hen Missy who turned out to be Mr. Missy like your Uncle March 🙂
You can get a rooster “fixed” just like cats and dogs. Does the ordinance forbid capons?
You have taken care of them, now they will take care of you as they provide food for the family. Mom had her chickens in a pen like yours. She let them out to free-range in the back yard during the day and secured the pen when they came back to roost at night. They would get their belly full of bugs and worms and didn’t need to be fed much cracked corn.
Great job Momma! They will soon move to the next step in their lives. Enjoy them and be thankful of this experience. I was a baby chick Momma long ago. Thank you for taking the time to share.
I formed these same attachments growing up. There is nothing quite as cute as one of those tiny yellow creatures we always called widdies. I don’t know why that is what we called them since a fast google gives other popular names such as biddies, chicks, or peeps. I cannot go into a feed store without going to look at them. You have done a great job, and I am certain your family is proud to have raised such a caring young lady.
One thing about chickens as pets, they don’t potty train, just go wherever whenever. I learned that by experience with a red hen I had once.
Your chicken farming reminds me of the old “Lay or Bust” feed we used to get. I wonder if it is still around. Where I lived growing up there is nearly no calcium and we used to supplement the chickens with something that was, I think, ground sea shells. My memory about it is hazy but I think that also gave them grit they needed. And we gave them back the egg shells. They also liked green stuff like grass clippings, apple peels, etc. No green sprig dared show up inside the pen.
Happy egg gathering.
Crushed oyster shells? We bought them by the truckload for laying hens. The eggs were for hatching not eating so needed healthier shells. Crushing the oyster shells provided calcium for strong egg shells and also grit for their gizzards.
Chitter, you’ve really made pets out of these chics and you’ve done a good job raising them! You go girl!
Aw, they are so sweet! It is really special to nurture and raise God’s little helpless creatures. God bless all of you and keep you safe and healthy continually! Love and blessings to you. 🙂
Speaking of attachment of chickens to a person. The little girl who lives just over the hill from me got attached to a young hen and the hen to her. She carried the hen all over her property and mine. She even brought it up to our house and the hen liked being carried around.
Nice job they look healthy.