Lucy’s 7 babies arrived back on April 11th of this year and what a pure delight they have been. To put it mildly, Lucy LOVES baby chicks. She loves everything about being a baby chick mama and would put a 6 year old to shame when it comes to attentiveness, and all aspects of loving on baby chickens.
It never fails, each time we have had babies, Lucy is right be their side. And if we have the chicks behind a closed door, she will sit at the door and wait until we let her in to check on them.
Because the chicks arrived a little late this year, we were able to move them outside for a few hours each day at around the 7 – 8 week mark and by the end of July, the HH had built them their own coop.
My original plan was to let them free range all day outside of the coop until late fall, but with 2 falcons flying overhead at regular intervals, we decided to keep the chickens in the run most days and just have them free range on the late afternoons we were working outside. Our neighbors, 2 doors down had three of their chickens attacked earlier this summer, so we didn’t want to take any chances.
This flock of chickens has been wonderful so far and each of them have very distinct personalities.
This is Eleanor, our Golden Cuckoo Maran, and if she was in a mean girls club, she’d be their Vice President. While she would never win a personality contest, she tends to look after all the other birds and she does lay pretty brown eggs, so we put up with her.
Splash, our Blue Black Splash Ameraucana is a bit nutty. When you walk into the coop she just sort of stares at you. She doesn’t charge you, doesn’t expect anything from you, she’s just sort of there. Sweet, but not a whole lot going on upstairs, that’s for sure.
Martha is our Lavender Orpington and she will eat you out of house and home. She’s such a sweet bird though, so you kind of overlook the part about her eating twice as much as everyone else. Plus she’d curious, and will come up to you like she wants to have a chat.
Red is our Cream Legbar and she’s a pretty happy go lucky bird.
Hilda our Blue Easter Egger on the other hand would come inside and snuggle up on the couch with the HH if he would let her. Not only does she demand attention upon sight of him, she likes to be held. If you are looking for a chicken that is good around little kids and likes to be hugged… this is your bird! 🙂 Oh, and she will also stick to you like glue while you are in the run {when I was painting the inside of the run she would not leave my side, hence the red paint on her feathers}.
Ethel the Easter Egger.
She’s a go-getter and if you stand in one place to long she’ll peck the clothes right off of you. Nothing is off limits with this bird. She’s not afraid to give chase either and this girl, LOVES to give Lucy a run for her money. If Ethel was a person, she’d be the one to always press your buttons. She’s such a fun bird…. and I love her to bits.
And last but not least, there is Black Fatty. Our Black Australorp. My daughter absolutely ADORES australorps and each one we’ve had over the years has been named Black Fatty. Australorps are HEAVY birds and so, so sweet you can’t help but want to pick them up all the time. It’s another breed I’d totally recommend for homes with small children.
Even though egg production has slowed down to only about 2 eggs a day {3 if we are lucky!} from these girls…. I know once next spring rolls around and the days are longer, we’ll be swimming in them.
Feathered friends, they’re so much fun to have around. 😉
Have a great Friday everyone, enjoy the weekend.
~Mavis
Jennifer says
Question about the Slow Cooker Chipotle Chicken Stew. Have you ever made it with raw chicken? It just seems like raw chicken would absorb the flavors better/more? Just wondering.
Jennifer Meyer says
I feel like this was a horrible post to ask this question on. Not bashing you, just found it quite hilarious. Thanks for the laugh lol!
Yvette in Cali says
I was thinking the same thing! LOL. I had to reread the first sentence, assuming I was surely mistaken.
I certainly hope Jennifer wasn’t licking her chops, as she scrolled through pictures of the sweet, gorgeous, gals!
Sorry, Jennifer. Couldn’t help but join Jen M. in poking fun at your decision to ask that question on this particular post. LOL
Carrie C says
I love an assorted flock! I have 6 girls, all different breeds, ranging from 9 months to 4.5 years. I also love Black Australorps. Such sweet birds! Mine isn’t super large though, no where close to my Buff Orphington. Although, I love the different heritage breeds I have found my Rhode Island Red and Barred Rock are/were my best layers. My Barred Rock choked on a large grape and died last fall. 🙁 My Ameraucana stopped laying after 2 years, she is 4.5 and lays about 10 eggs in the spring and that’s it. She’s also the bully and I think she stressed my youngest Easter Egger out because she has stopped laying while the other 2 newbies are still laying daily. I have plans to build a larger coop so they aren’t so pissy in the mornings and on snowy/rainy days. Chickens sure are entertaining!
Melinda W says
Pretty sure you’ve got Red and Eleanor’s info/pictures mixed up. Most cream legbars are “crested” with that extra poof on their heads, which the pic for Eleanor has. And cuckoo is fancy chicken talk for “striped,” which the pic for Red has.
I’ve got white crested cuckoo bantam Polish top hats, which is a lot of words to say little striped chickens with big poof heads. 🙂
Courtney Baggett says
I love this post! How do you prepare and what do you do for the birds for winter? Maybe another blog post idea?
Julie says
Hi! We want more eggs in the winter, and to keep them warmer on bitter nights (just to be up and moving, not perched, motionless on the perch…) so, we have a light come on a timer in the middle of the night, so they get 14-16 hours of light a day. Extension cords work go a long ways, if you have no electricity at the coop. Sometimes it’s a heat lamp, when it’s warmer, it’s just a 100 watt bulb, but it sure helps the egg production! 🙂
Gee says
Well, Mavis, thanks for the chicken intro’s. I haven’t had chickens since I was a kid, but they can definitely be fun.
Vicki in Birmingham says
Thanks for introducing us to the girls!
Sue says
My hubby and I would love to raise chickens but do you have any problems with rats or mice? That’s our biggest concern.
Mavis Butterfield says
Not that I have noticed. But we do live in a wooded area.
Ann says
Get a cat.
Ann says
Actually, I encourage you to adopt a rescue cat.
Mel says
We’ve never had chickens before, but we’re getting black copper marans in the spring. We only have space for 3-4 because we’re using an Eglu as a chicken tractor sort of thing, but I’m excited. We have so many bugs in summer, and it’s very hard to buy local eggs (they’re widely available, but our farmers market is only open a couple hours Saturday morning.
Mavis Butterfield says
The good thing about the Eglu is that you will be able to move it around. That’s my favorite feature!!
Mel says
I know! I’m very grateful I saw the Eglu on your blog. My husband wanted to go with this massive heavy wood coop that he’d have to drive two states away to pick up. I showed him your pictures of the Eglu, and he was sold!