The hens have just recently started laying after their winter break. I think they were puzzled by the lack of winter. But we have been getting about six eggs per day over the last month. Every now and then, Farmer H catches a hen getting all broody, and takes a few eggs to put under her for some chicks. We usually get about three or four from a batch. The last ones were two little turkens and a yellow chick, hatched by one of our two black hens. We have many mongrels, and six Ameraucanas that Farmer H bought at the feed store as chicks. They looked like little chipmunks, brown with black stripes.
Farmer H and I were in a deep discussion of serious matters on the back porch shortly after we arrived home, Farmer H resting his rump on Juno's doghouse, the better to formulate ideas, I suppose. The Pony grabbed his egg basket and took off around the porch. I heard him return through the front door, then he barged out of the kitchen door and into our conversation.
"Um...we have some new chicks. I went to collect the eggs, and Chicky had four chicks walking behind her!" Chicky is the original chick. The OC. The first one we ever hatched here at the Mansion. She's white, with black-tipped tail feathers. The Pony could hardly contain his excitement. He's normally excited after counting down the days, when Farmer H finds the chicks and breaks the news. This one was HIS discovery.
Farmer H went to inspect the new poultry. He called on The Pony's phone, but The Pony was in the basement and didn't get there in time. He called on the house phone. The Pony dropped what he was doing to answer. "Are you SURE? TWELVE? Dad says we have TWELVE chicks!"
Here is a partial picture, taken by The Pony on my phone.
Congrats on the new chicks! More to feed, you know .....
ReplyDeleteSmart kid you have there. He counted his chickens AFTER they hatched.
ReplyDeleteI'm blaming the weather. I've already had all my Sparrows at the Ecology Center hatch their chicks with almost all of them ready to fledge. They're at least one week ahead of the yearly schedule.
ReplyDeletemore pictures of the chicks! :)
Kathy,
ReplyDeleteThese 12, and the other 3 recent fluffs of joy, will almost double our feed bill. It's not TOO bad. They walk around eating bugs from the yard and woods all day. Then in the evening, Farmer H scatters some chicken feed.
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Sioux,
Unlike Farmer H, who usually counts them BEFORE.
I'm waiting for him to burst into a soliloquy on, "The rooster goes with the chicken. So who's having sex with the hen?"
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Chick,
It's supposed to rain Friday. But when we can get a clear picture of them following the hen, I'll put The Pony on the case.
When the #1 son takes his magnificent pictures, they take an hour to download. A phone pic is good enough for me. And speedy, too.
OK, time to check out the other farming blogs like "Chickens in the Road". One can apparently make a living blogging about their farming experiences. I am definitely addicted to reading certain people's blogs.
ReplyDeleteknancy,
ReplyDeleteI DO need to infuse some new blood into Hillmomba. Sometimes I need a tasty chicken tale to get me going.