Chick Chick Hooray!

We have chickens! On Thursday Pete drove up to our favorite feed store in Hurley and came back with five little chicks.  I was so happy that we could get them locally and not have to worry about getting them through the mail.   The last time something live came to us via the post office there was an escape and I didn't want that to happen again. (See the March posting Worms Invade Mercer)

Dancing Chicken

Before I show you the chicks I should tell you that Pete finished the chicken coop about a week ago. It was really designed with the chickens in mind - keeping them safe and comfortable. Pete stopped just short of putting in a stereo system for them.

Our Cool Coop

Maddie Jo and I inspected the finished product. The construction is solid and should keep the chickens safe from the weather and predators.

Maddie circles the
chicken coop

"Where are the
 chickens?"

The inside has all kinds of chicken amenities including nesting boxes, perches, lighting, sliding windows with screening and a nice big feeder.

Nesting Box

Ceiling Lights

"Enough about the coop - where are the chickens?"

Introducing the Fab Five

We have four Ameraucana Araucana chicks and one Brown Star.  The Brown Star, which must be some relation to the Red Star, is golden (she's on the far left) and will lay brown eggs. The Araucanas are brown, grey, white and gold striped and will lay blue/green eggs.

Brown Star Chick

The Araucanas each have different  markings.

We have not named the chicks yet. We need to see their personalities first.  Pete likes the name Chicken Little. I want something chicken or egg related like Henrietta, Lorraine (quiche lorraine), Frita (frittata), or Lettie (Omelette). Barb, one of my colleagues, found a wonderful website that lists chicken names - just like a baby name site. All About Chicken Names  - check it out.  Odd though, I got to the G's and noticed both Goosie and Goobles were listed. Who would name a chicken Goosie?  I think these names may not have been vetted for chickens specifically.

For now our five little chicks are living in a cardboard box inside the tub in the second floor bathroom. I know it doesn't sound very glamourous, but it keeps them away from the curious eyes, noses and mouths of the dogs.  They won't be able to move into their lakeside chicken chateau until they are bigger. That's okay though; it will give me time to do some special chicken landscape design.




I was thinking of planting sunflowers, amaranth, mustard and marigolds after reading that chickens seem to enjoy these plants. I could always get a little fancier though.


Now our little family consists of 2 crazy people, 3 digging dogs, 1 French cat, 1000 squirmy worms and 5 cute little chicks.

"We are cute, aren't we!"