Little Chicks Growing Up

The young chicks are now between about 5-8 weeks give or take. We had a false start about 10 days ago with transitioning them to a larger cage within the coop because the youngest silkies escaped the cage, they were just small enough to fit through the bars. They grew a lot in the week and a half and I knew we could move the gang into the larger cage without any escapees. The chicks are also ready to be off heat so the heat plate can be cleaned and put away. I know the general rule is 6 weeks old and the youngest of this batch is 5 weeks but they no longer use the heat plate choosing to snuggle or roost with the slightly older birds so it's just taking up space.

The chicks also said goodbye to their protective netting in the outside run. They kept finding ways to knock it down or get on top of it.

The chicks are getting quite adventurous. They take any chance to escape their little run within the larger adult chicken yard. They are interested in everything and raring to go. Sometimes I put them in a newly grassy area for a change but they don't have as much room there since they have to be in a cage so they won't run off or get into anything they shouldn't.

It wasn't a big job to pack up their slightly smaller cage and move in the largest cage. Although having helpers like Mo and some of the other adult birds did make it all take longer than it needed to!

Finally all chicks were settled in to slightly larger accomodation to keep them safe while getting used to the adult flock that they will soon join.

Blooming and Brooding

Spring is here, the fruit trees and plants are blooming. Lots more blooms than usual on some of the peach trees, I'm hoping for a great harvest! The apple trees and plum and pear trees are just getting going.

The strawberry plants are blooming too and blueberry plants look almost ready to bloom. Rhubarb is coming along. Fiddleheads, which are usually our first plant crop of the season, are doing well and that season is already in full swing. We've had fiddleheads with dinner a few times. Some remaining plants are too big to pick from now but more are coming along.

Fiddleheads

Strawberry plants

Rhubarb

Vegetable and flower seeds have been started and some potatoes, asparagus and leeks have been put in the ground.

As for the birds many are getting that broody feeling and want to hatch out chicks. At the moment our coop is pretty full though so I've been taking the eggs (mean mom!). We may let one do a very small hatch at some point.

Blue Belle the cochin wants babies.

Snow White the cochin wants babies.

Fuzzydot the silkie wants babies.

Usually it's just the chickens here who go broody but lately a couple of the ducks have been trying to start sneaky nests. I always find the eggs they hide outside (so far). Angel seems to have decided to try a chicken nesting box instead!

That's what all the ruckus in the coop was about.

Angel the duck wants to use the chicken's nest box. She did lay her egg there!

That's the blooming and brooding update for now and spring is well underway. Hopefully the chickens will un-brood and the trees and plants will bloom, blossom and produce great yields.

Asparagus planting, flock watermelon party and fiddleheads!

It's spring, finally, finally no more snow and ice. It was a long winter and we're glad for spring. Over the past week I've planted a new asparagus bed, cleaned the coop, worked on getting garden areas ready for planting, continued getting the baby chicks outdoors and in view of the flock for some time each day, removed the weatherproof wrap on the covered run and picked the first fiddleheads of the season. The flock has been glad for the warmer days, bugs and worms to find and longer pleasant days outdoors. They celebrated the start of the warm weather with a watermelon party.

Planting a new asparagus bed, with a little help.

Baby chicks are now 3-5 weeks old.

 Baby chicks enjoy some time outside most days now. 

They have a fenced area next to the main flock's yard.

 The frizzled tolbunt Polish is so pretty.

Finally time to unwrap the covered run.

 Coop cleaning time too.

 Some of the smaller baby chicks.

Fiddlehead Ferns!

The January chicks will be laying soon, their combs and wattles are getting red. 

This will be the baby chicks cage within the coop soon. For now they're still in the brooder in the house at night.

Some time in the run with the big birds.

A chicken and duck watermelon party to celebrate spring!

Baby chicks first time integrating with older chickens and ducks.

Where oh where are the duck eggs today.

Now that spring is finally in full swing all the female ducks are laying regularly. Some days we get 9 duck eggs from 9 female ducks. Most days one of the other takes a day off so average is 7 eggs a day. Or sometimes the count goes down and I know to look for a nest. Several times mama Duck has started nests and the Rouens, Jemima and Pebbles, are also a bit prone to laying outdoors. I think Angel has done this a few times too. We need no more ducks and have room for no more so we are definitely not encouraging them to keep nests! 

Sometimes all he duck eggs are in their pen in the morning.

Other days I have to search for a nest.

Since the ducks are well trained to go into their pen at night they haven't been sitting on these started nests anyway but they do persist in starting more when I find and collect existing nests. I guess they think I need these mysteries to solve sometimes. Their fenced area is large so their are many hiding places for eggs!

The ducks are enjoying all their little paddling pools now that everything had finally stopped freezing over. I refill the pools for them a lot but they soon manage to get them very muddy again. 

April Showers and Melting Snow Bring...Mud Season