As anyone in my family and/or my work place would tell you – I have become slightly obessed with chickens and/or raising, feeding, watching, gathering eggs, auctions – in a nutshell OR in this case a chicken shell – CHICKENS!!!
I love chickens – I could sit and watch them for hours. They are vastly amusing with their own little cache system and pecking order and personalities.
For instance – Fitzy – she is my oldest hen – the “other half” of my duo – “Ella/Fitzgerald”. Ella died suddenly and left us with Fitzy. When I have company over and they wish to pet/hold a chicken – Fitzy is ready to go. She is so docile and friendly. I got her and Ella from a petting zoo. Unfortunately I feel her days are numbered so I snuggle her as often as possible.
We then of course have “Marilyn/Monroe”. An amazing duo of hens – great layers.
Maxwell – one of our Roos – when he crows – it sounds like the theme from the Maxwell Smart show – what a handsome man he is.
I have Ivan and Olga – my Turkens (naked neck chickens) Ivan is an asshole (sorry no sugar coating that) and Olga his lady.
We recently acquired Eartha/Kitt- no photos yet – they are coming.
And then – we have the “Twins” – like the albino twins from the Matrix Movies? Come on – have you seen that? OK well then…
It was one of the twins who went “broody” on us.
This Mama bird has sat on her clutch of eggs for 21 days – 21 DAYS!!! Rarely eating – seldom drinking – just sitting. That is dedication!!!
Hell…I have a hard time sitting through a 30 minute sitcom.
She was oh so patient and then on day 21 – I heard peeping and cheeping and out popped a little chick!!!
Don’t mind the red light – we thought we would bring it in – we moved it back out with Mama.
It was then that I found myself in full on alert Chick Watch. Checking every hour for more and more.
Today was no different of course. Like a spoilt child at Christmas – I have to open every present and lo and behold – out came more.
The WONDER of this little tiny descendant of the velociraptor – has totally captured my heart. So little – so cute with their peeping and little wings.
Fuzzy!!!
We have 5 healthy little wingless lizards.
We have 3 more eggs to hatch (fingers crossed).
We have one who did not make it and it buried out in our special place with our critters who have left Orange Acres. RIP Little One.
BUT – we did it!! We managed to winter our birds with little to no issue. We have successfully managed to hatch chicks.
It’s the little things. While we are not Farmers that earn our living farming – we are back yard/part time/rookies that love our farm and all our creatures.
My goal to have “all the chickens” – it’s coming!
Orange Acres 