Right?

Actually, no, it doesn’t.

Since early March, we have added 13 new chicks and young hens to our flock. Our children are learning about the stages of life for a chicken in the real world. I hope to one day hatch chicks here on our little farm. Maybe next year when these chicks are one-year-old layers.

Sadly, we have lost three of our new chicks *apparently.* Two are definitely not coming back.

The third one … she was missing last night when we had to close up the henhouse. We don’t know what type of hen she is/was, but she is/was totally white and the other hens were really mean to her, which could be why she is gone. They never accepted her, which made us all sad and little mad too.

There they both are above on the day, March 21, we brought them home. Snowball’s sister, whom Li’l Miss didn’t even get to name, lasted only about a week as she was left outside by someone. I won’t name names, but it caused quite a ruckus here. I’m not sure forgiveness will ever come.

Raising layers isn’t easy business. Math is easier than I made it look from my title. While we did get 13 new hens this Spring, 3 have sadly gone to greener pastures if Snowball is in fact gone.  Updated to add: She didn’t come back. 🙁

This reality might have something to do with the fact we have absolutely no idea what we are doing. But, ah, that is just a little bit of info. that may or may not have to do with our recent losses.

Snowball will be missed though. Since she didn’t return, we have to assume she was enjoyed immensely by something else. A fox. A possum. An owl. I am hoping she just shows back up today. It is possible though not probable.

The 5 New Hampshire Reds are growing rapidly. Here are some photos taken a week apart.

3-Week-Old New Hampshire Reds

4-Week-Old New Hampshire Reds

In the second photo, you can see the two Feather Legs with them in the nursery! Yes, they are even sweeter in person! I do let the children pick them up when I’m in there. The chicks don’t love it, but the kids help take care of them and they love to love on them. It will also help the hens to not be skittish of us when they get older. We ALWAYS wash our hands.

The New Hampshire Reds are living outside now. We moved them out when they were 6 weeks old. I had the *bright idea* to repurpose an old metal locker we had on-site. The previous owners left many “gems” for us to repurpose. It has actually been perfect. The photos below show them exploring their new home along with their caretakers.

6-Week-Old New Hampshire Reds

Not only does the locker seal them up tight at night for protection from any would-be predators, it keeps them warm since it is close quarters and it keeps their food dry. They LOVE it and go in their willingly as dusk approaches each day. They are ready to get out in the mornings though, and I’ve cautioned the children we have to be diligent as the weather warms … or it could be disastrous. We let them out early in the mornings, and they run straight for their food. They are aptly named “the teenagers” now.

8-Week-Old New Hampshire Reds

These are the latest pics I have of our reds. They were taken a couple of weeks ago. They are almost as big as our older ladies now. As soon as they can eat layer food, we’ll be moving them in together. We are hoping their number (5 versus 1 Snowball) will help them to assimilate.

One of the caretakers is TOO CUTE in her pink overalls and see-through, neon-striped boots. I’m just sayin’.

She corrals the ladies and picks them up. She is a farm girl after all! She also thinks they need help learning how to roost. TOO CUTE like I said.

* * *

Back to our 1 lone Feather-Leg, who is growing too. He/She (time will tell) takes his/her job of protecting the 4 newest chicks (breed is not yet known) very seriously. Sadly, her sister/brother was the chick who was trampled by the New Hampshire Reds weeks ago. It wasn’t intentional, and it was really cold. They were all just trying to stay warm.

Here are the two Feather-Legged Chicks the day after we brought them home. In the second photo, you can see two of the New Hampshire Reds seeing the Feather-Legs for the first time. So sweet! The Reds were very kind to them, mothering them from the start.

1-Week-Old Feather Legs

2-Week-Old Feather Legs

Yes, they were that cute as newborns! They fit in the palm of my hand for several days. Now we have just the one, and he/she is still a keeper!

Below is our lone Feather Leg with the four newest babies in our flock. The Prez brought them home about a month ago from the farm store, because “this one would be lonely in here all by herself.” He really does love the chicks, though he won’t admit it LOL!

4-Week-Old Feather Leg with 1-Week-Old “Layers” (the Prez didn’t get a proper breed name for them unfortunately).

I love this last picture where the feather-leg is looking so curiously at my iPhone! Here are some close-ups of the youngest chicks in our brood!

Well that is a very long and very overdue update on our baby chicks, who are not so babyish anymore! I have a couple of videos to post as well, but I need to upload them to youtube so they can be viewed on devices too. Up Next: Learning in the Garden