I wrote this in a notebook while "babysitting" in the chicken coop on Friday 10/2/15.
I'm sitting on the bottom roosting pole in the chicken coop surrounded by six curious, lively baby chicks and one cranky older hen that Robin calls "Godzilla." She's giving them the "evil eye" while scratching and digging in the bedding and tossing it around, trying to scare them.
Today, they seem less frightened by her, although they are still wary and scatter if she approaches too close. They're trying to scratch in the shavings just like big chickens; some of them are even flapping up in an attempt to perch on the roosting poles. They're a little shaky, but they'll catch on.
We've been watching the babies, trying to sort out individual personalities so we could give them names. Some of them were easy: Amelia Earhart--the blue Ameracauna who was trying to fly at the age of one day, and Maggie--the other blue Ameracauna, a real sweetie who kept peeking out of the box on the ride home from the hatchery the day we picked them up. The others--Debi, Susie, Cuddles, and Harriet (she seemed to like that name)--just naturally fit as they grew.
Debi climbed up on my shoulder and pooped down inside my shirt and all over the collar. It is one of the bad smelling ones and I'll have to put up with it for a little while--I can't go in and leave them out alone just yet.
Godzilla pecked Maggie and made her squeal. Maggie ran and hid behind the stock tank we are using to house them in until they are big enough to be out in the "big girl" coop. She emerged about five seconds later and ran off to play with the other chicks.
Now, Godzilla (whose name is really "Leica") is up on the roost and the babies are happily scratching away and having a good time. They are really fun to watch; they're at the age where they are starting to feather out but they still have enough "baby fuzz" to make them look scraggly.
I'll give them a few more minutes before I put them back in their "house" and I can go inside and clean up. I'll probably have to hose my shirt off outside.
I'm sitting on the bottom roosting pole in the chicken coop surrounded by six curious, lively baby chicks and one cranky older hen that Robin calls "Godzilla." She's giving them the "evil eye" while scratching and digging in the bedding and tossing it around, trying to scare them.
Today, they seem less frightened by her, although they are still wary and scatter if she approaches too close. They're trying to scratch in the shavings just like big chickens; some of them are even flapping up in an attempt to perch on the roosting poles. They're a little shaky, but they'll catch on.
We've been watching the babies, trying to sort out individual personalities so we could give them names. Some of them were easy: Amelia Earhart--the blue Ameracauna who was trying to fly at the age of one day, and Maggie--the other blue Ameracauna, a real sweetie who kept peeking out of the box on the ride home from the hatchery the day we picked them up. The others--Debi, Susie, Cuddles, and Harriet (she seemed to like that name)--just naturally fit as they grew.
Debi climbed up on my shoulder and pooped down inside my shirt and all over the collar. It is one of the bad smelling ones and I'll have to put up with it for a little while--I can't go in and leave them out alone just yet.
Godzilla pecked Maggie and made her squeal. Maggie ran and hid behind the stock tank we are using to house them in until they are big enough to be out in the "big girl" coop. She emerged about five seconds later and ran off to play with the other chicks.
Now, Godzilla (whose name is really "Leica") is up on the roost and the babies are happily scratching away and having a good time. They are really fun to watch; they're at the age where they are starting to feather out but they still have enough "baby fuzz" to make them look scraggly.
I'll give them a few more minutes before I put them back in their "house" and I can go inside and clean up. I'll probably have to hose my shirt off outside.
What a delightful post!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lisa, I hope to be doing more in the future--I'll be retiring soon. This was fun!
DeleteNice, Gena! I could hear your voice as if you were sitting next to me. I look forward to reading more about the feather babies in their journey to chickenhood.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cis! I really enjoy sitting out with the babies (and Godzilla). Sometimes they don't do anything but flap around and scratch in the dirt or shavings. But they are fun to watch.
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