Monday, August 24, 2009

Chandler Chicken Farm

I haven't written much about our oh-so-fabulous chickens lately. I always feel a bit embarassed when I explain to people just how wonderful my chickens have been in helping us to giggle or smile since the death of Jeff. It seems too simple. But really, it's better than cable. Watching the girls strut around, interact with each other, find bugs, eat from your hands and follow you around the yard. I, honestly, have to remind myself to get back inside after my morning visit to 'the girls'. I could hang out all day....

Now that our roosters are 'gone', it's high time I introduced our old and new cast of chickens.

Stella - We got her as a chick from B&P's farm with Rosie. She's a bit stand-offish but a good layer. Stella's more of a chicken than a pet.
One of our new girls, Minerva Louise (or Minnie Lou) - I like this girl alot. She's pretty mellow and has a quirky little head tilt. She always seems to be saying, "And WHAT are you doing NOW???" Minnie Lou's 'twin' (to the untrained eye you can only tell them apart by their leg bands), Freda - She's pretty sweet. Not as mellow as Minerva, but still great.

Sarah, our lovely little girl - Sarah's a bantam Barred Plymouth Rock. We LOVE this chicken. SHE is a pet. The kids cart her around like a doll and she runs on her tiny little feet to the gate when you arrive in the morning for a cuddle. She's suddenly gone 'broody' and now refuses to come out of the hen house. She's so tiny but would insist on sitting on the big girls eggs attempting keep them warm - like sitting on an exercise ball! I took pity on her and bought her some fertile eggs of her own to hatch out....I have a chicken addiction.....

Briar's newest chick, Jeesah - Not much to say about 'her' (hopefully). She's white and has hairy feet.
Soleil, Charlotte and Frizz - the other three chicks that Lucy hatched out.
The star of the coop, Lucy - She's lovely, big and warm. Gentle, cute and mothering. I love this girl. Don't tell the other chicks, but if I could only keep two, it would be Lucy and Sarah. I love them to bits!!!!! *Notice Fuckles staring at the chickens through the fence. No fatalities lately but he sure hangs out a lot at the fence licking his lips at the tender morsels of chicken nuggets inside.
Antarina, the dreaded bitch - This is Briar's chick that hatched out in the Spring. She's nasty and mean. She never bites us, but she chases the cat, terrorizes the chicks and causes general discord in the chicken yard. I have mentioned to the kids that Antarina looks mighty appetizing to me, but they are appalled. The only thing that has saved her thus far is that she is 'supposed' to lay blue eggs like the one that she hatched out of. I want blue eggs. But the blue egg thing is wearing thin as I repeatedly have to rescue chicks from the attentions of this meanie.

There already was a picture of this chick above, but I love this chick. Frizz is a 'frizzle'. I am worried that it's a boy, but we'll have to wait and see. He's cuddlier than the rest and is stinkin' cute! He's tiny in comparison to the others and just...needs me. He reminds me of Lola, sweet little Lola.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I totally understand how chickens can lift your spirits and entertain you for hours! We have about 8 chickens and a wild turkey who approached the pen last spring when the chickens were on "free range"...within a day or two of hanging out and chasing after the chickens (who were scared to death!) she convinced them that she was a chicken too! Now they all hang out together and have even embraced another turkey hen and jake (but these two know that they are turkeys and are a bit snooty), but its been a lot of fun to watch them this summer!

RC said...

I'm envious of your beautiful chickens. We live in the city and have 2 cats that would love a chicken snack, I'm sure of it. Lucy and Sarah are just beautiful. I'm sorry but Antarina looks so MEAN! I see why you call her the dreaded bitch. I had to look up a frizzle. Holy cow, that must be the cutest chicken on the planet. Hope Frizz is a girl. ;-)

World Wide Alternative said...

SQUEEEEEEEEE! I just love them! XXxx.

Forrest said...

I love the chickens!!!
We're deciding whether to get bunnies or chickens first (we live in a subdivision, so either would feel slightly subversive) -- your pix just tilted the scale.

Rachael said...

You and your Chicks! Love that one is called Stella, even if she is a bit of an odd one...

I wish I could have chickens here but, given we now have a member of the Fuckles family, I am not sure if that is such a good idea.

xxx

Mel said...

I totally want to come with Reece to visit you and meet your chickens.

Anonymous said...

Lovely to meet the flock. Interestinly our auracan cutie cheeks had the same kind of shellless egg like yours. Then the eggs after have been fine. How are her eggs now. Are they blue or green? I too found cutie cheeks to be mean and she actually seriously injured one of our chicks. Sadly we had to find her an new home because she was sooooooooooo loud and we did not want her to blow our cover as backyard chickens are not not in the bylaw yet! Will be going to City soon with a team to present changing the law soon!! Fingers crossed. Luckly our dog Amber does not bother the chickens and will often run into garden if she sees wild birds. She also brings a ball to them and tries to get them to play with her!!!