Thursday, January 24, 2013

::Coop Scoop and Blooms!::

I couldn't believe it when I saw the first IRIS of the season getting ready to bloom!  This one is a transplant from last year. Already 3 flowers have come on it. It's not even the end of January, yet. 

 We've not had to travel to any Dr. appointments this year--- when we do travel, we either stay  away at The Honey's sister's home; or we get up really early and travel most of the day to and from. On those days, we don't let the chickens out.

 Gracie Chicken looking a little pale. She is finally growing her feather's back. I don't think she has been laying much. 

We've been letting them out of the chicken coop more this winter than last-- because we've had some nice days.  Chickens don't seem to mind the weather.
 George -- His feathers have filled in really nicely since September.  I don't know much about feather loss patterns in roosters; the hows and why of feather loss. But he wasn't looking so showy back in early November...he is looking nice now. 

After we killed the other Nuggets-- we had to let the last two integrate into the flock and LEARN WHERE HOME WAS; the NUGGETS didn't want to go into the coop on their own and roost. They wanted to roost in a tree or on the porch!  We had them all locked up for about 6 weeks. They move around the yard together now, share the coop...no one is being left out in the cold. They share laying boxes and everything. 

 Lucy is prettier than ever-- The other two, are nuggets that we integrated into the flock. The top one is Pearlie, the one on the right is Opal. (Bree named them!) 

These chickens are peculiar little things. They are fun to watch... I enjoy seeing them dig around the yard, stirring up the dirt and eating little bugs and things.  They are so nosy too!  If I'm in the yard, they want to be right there--they think I have something for them.
 Jayne-- You've heard of the "pecking order". Well, she is Head-Hen around here.  Doesn't she look it? 
2 chickens:  Audrey and Ethel are not pictured. They were sunning in the back yard! 

So that's some of what's been going on in and around our place this week and in the recent weeks. We've had more going on outside. I may blog about some of that in the future. For now, I'm enjoying the sunshine, warm weather, and being outside with the chickens and the Littles (a.k.a.--grandkids) :)

Don't forget, I'm having a give away. The drawing will be Feb 2--Go there. Sign up!
Give-Away here. 




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So teach us to number our days, That we may present to You a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12 

6 comments:

My Repurposed Life said...

they are funny creatures, aren't they? I've never been around chickens before. :)
Happy you have some warm weather. We have freezing rain in the area, just a little south of us the interstate has been at a standstill for HOURS. No movement in sight.
happy Friday Patricia!
gail

The Boston Lady said...

George indeed is looking quite handsome and the girls seem to be coming into their own as well. I've always thought chickens were a lot of fun to watch and I will bet they provide a lot of fun for your grandkids. Glad you are having some nice outside weather. We have too, except now we are having gray days and rain preceding a cold front. Fine with me! Ann

susie @ persimmon moon cottage said...

Blooming iris! I am so jealous. I believe we have a long time around here before there'll be an iris in bloom. We've had overnight temps of 15 degrees the past two nights. Last night in the 20's. That George the rooster is a handsome fellow. It looks like your rooster and some of the hens like posing for pictures.

Robyn said...

I love the photos and stories about your chickens. I miss ours. We had to get rid of all ours and our beautiful rooster hank in Nov because my husband had his spine completely reconstructed and neither one of us would be able to care for them.. I miss hearing Hank at 4 am and boy do I miss all those delicious eggs. Now we're back to store bought eggs. Yuck :(
Robyn

Liz @ Quirky Vistas said...

I'm trying to think of what school marm type character Jayne reminds me of. What a personality. Glad you were able to get out and enjoy the day. It was beautiful here today too. Even got outside to do a bit of painting, but waited too long into the evening to finish and the mosquitoes started making dinner of me.
Liz @ Quirky Vistas

The Polka Dot Closet said...

Fun post, I love hearing about your chickens, I have been a city girl my whole life and I am so enamored by farm or hobby farm life!

Carol