For the past 2 weeks the baby chicks have been living out of a box. First it was 1 banana box, and now they are currently residing in 2 giant spinach boxes The Girl connected and taped together from Costco.
Lately they’ve been chillin’ on the top flap, and every time we pull into the garage they fly up, sit on the ledge and greet us. It is seriously the sweetest thing ever.
Black Fatty Jr. {Australorp}
As expected, black fatty is The Girls favorite bird. She loves to fly and sit on The Girls lap. I love australorps, they are such a calm bird. It’s a great choice for little kids.
Peter {Easter Egger}
I don’t think Peter likes us. Or anyone else. She’s kind of a jittery bird so far. It will interesting to see how she progresses.
Hilda {Easter Egger}
Hilda totally loves us. She’s pretty happy go lucky and always has a smile on her face {if that’s even possible}.
Matilda {Easter Egger}
Last week Sarah said Matilda looked like a “Glam” chick with her black painted eyes. I couldn’t agree more. She is a bit of a little Diva too.
Maroon {Rhode Island Red}
The jury is still out on Maroon.
5 {Rhode Island Red}
5 is my favorite chicken out of this bunch. She hung out with for 2 hours the other day when I accidently locked myself out of the house. She was a real trooper and happily pecked in the dirt while we waited for the Handsome Husband to come rescue us.
Pablo {Silver Laced Wyandotte}
Pablo is extremely feisty and does not like to be held {yet}.
Picasso {Silver Laced Wyandotte}
Picasso doesn’t like to be held either. She needs her space, just like a true artist, so we are making allowances for her temperamental behavior.
I was having a hard time trying to figure out how to tell Pablo and Picasso apart, then The Girl pointed out the at Pablo has a dark red comb, and Picasso does not. Finally now I can tell them apart. Yay!
I love, love, love raising chickens, and I still to this day am not sure how we talked the Handsome Husband in to first getting them years ago, but I’m sure glad we did.
Birds are the coolest.
For more of of adventures with raising backyard chickens, head on over HERE.
Have YOU ever raised chickens before? If so, what has been your favorite breed, and why.
I think my favorite is the black australorp.
~Mavis
Have you been thinking about getting a few chickens for your backyard? Check out the book A Chicken in Every Yard: The Urban Farm Store’s Guide to Chicken Keeping By Robert Litt. Amazon currently has the book in stock.
Andrea says
Your chickens are so cute. No chickens for us yet but, we do hope to have some one day when we are a bit more settled in life.
Camille says
Hi Mavis!
You directed a LOT of traffic my way with your refried beans post. Thank you for sweetly linking to me…but, by now…I am sure those refried beans are truly yours! Has it really been two and a half years??!! I’m glad to know that you are still enjoying them. (On a side note…mine are soaking on the stove right now). 🙂 Your chicken photos are lovely…what a blessing that you are able to raise them up and keep them…I am sure they are all very loved. Your blog is beautiful! Have a great day!
Many blessings to you!
Camille
Mavis says
Hey Camille, your beans are the best!!! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by to say hi. 🙂
Dogs or Dollars says
This was our first year of chickens. I’m looking forward to raising a few more in the spring. In my current batch, my Buff Orpington Lady Gaga is my favorite. Many people don’t like Buff’s because they are loud and bossy. So am I! Gaga and I get along swimmingly, I find her a benevolent flock leader, and she hangs with me (and my pocket of sunflower seeds)whenever possible.
Sheila M. says
I was raking in the yard yesterday with my chickens literally at my side. I started wondering if I looked like a giant hen to them the way I was using my rake to ‘scratch’ at the ground.
Mavis says
Ha! That’s funny. They probably think you are a big hen. 🙂
Ashley T says
I just love the Easter Egg chicks! They look like they have eye liner on! I have 3 Easter Egg hens myself right now and I always love finding there blue/green eggs!
Mavis says
I always get excited with the Easter Eggers because you just never know what color of eggs you are going to get.
Rosario says
I have 3, 2, and 1 week old chicks myself. Raising chicks/ens is a first for me and I just can’t get enough of them. They are so funny. When I peek in the brooder, Katniss, the 2 week old Barred Rock flys up to the edge to greet me too. She finds me rather interesting. There are a couple that get scared when the giant hand reaches in the brooder. I hope they warm up eventually.
And on a different note, my 3 year old little girl doesn’t want to hear anything about eating chicken. She connected the dots already. She says, “Pets are friends, not food.” That’s her Finding Nemo reference, and in our house, she’s absolutely right.
Destini says
Ok please dont be mad at me but ,Pablo, i think is a baby rooster not a hen 🙁
Mavis says
Oh that would be very bad news for Pablo.
Destini says
I only say that because when I got my chickens this year I was super paranoid about a rooster ( had a very mean one as a kid). I have a silver laced wyandotte. I researched and researched gender clues and having white patches on the wing was one. BUT the big one was early reddening of the comb and wattles. But they say wyandottes are tricky so I hope i am wrong. 🙂
Mavis says
I have already made 1 phone call. I want to be sure and find Pablo a good home. We simply cannot have a rooster. Thank you VERY much for the heads up. LOL
Sarah says
I was thinking that too! Hey look on the bright side, you can get an incubator and have LOTS of baby chicks!
Jennifer O says
Oh, I am sooo jealous! They are so cute! I’d love to have chickens one day. We go through a lot of eggs around here.
Jaime says
Hi Mavis,
I am getting closer to wanting chickens. Grew up on a small farm and had many chckens, cow, horse, etc. The last few years we don’t even have a cat or dog, which is really, REALLY nice, no hair, or mess. But my son just turned 4 and the lady we get eggs from is moving. I am seriously thinking of taking a couple, can’t stand not to have those fresh eggs. Oh, the Easter Egg chicken is soooo pretty. If we do get some chickens I will definitly have to get one, or two. We have a small yard but have a space between our house and fence that could be a perfect spot making it large enough to not have to let them out all the time.
Sarah says
I love chickens too! When I was in elementary school, I used to get McMurray Hatchery catalogs and buy chicks to show. I’ve raised several breeds, but I love the hardiness and temperament of Barred Rocks. Now, I’ve never had Americanas so this year we are ordering the Rainbow egg layers assortment from trusty McMurray Hatchery. Seeing your Americanas is really getting me excited for my chicks (which are going to arrive in October)!
Mavis says
Yahooo! 🙂