Rhubarb and Alice

The girls are in.

Poor Harriet is stunned and thinking that whilst they are simply TOO big to contemplate chewing on-they do make interesting viewing.Rhubarb and Alice return the gawking.They are also hysterically funny when a plane goes over head-necks extended and heads bobbing in all directions.And they make this sweet gentle chirping sound as they go about their business.

We picked them up yesterday,driving for over an hour to choose them,hold teeny chicks and watch some hatch and get the pep talk on how to get the girls settled.They have never had a slab of watermelon or a peanut butter sandwich(I am told that chooks LOVE these!) or a lettuce leaf.Slowly does it with introducing our food when they have been used to the nasty looking crumble mix.They are very curious about us and getting used to the boys "perkurk perkurk"ing their way around the garden.

We also reinstated the worm farm ( we lost them to very ecstatic birds after heavy rain last year as they all wiggled free of the farm and became easy pickings on the lawn).The veges are going back in next weekend after the containers arrive.We are thinking of getting a couple of small fruit trees.

We have a tiny garden but so much can be grown in it and it is the loveliest feeling walking outside to see whats ripe.We missed it.Eggs and hen chatter will be a lovely extra.

The chicken man asked the boys yesterday where eggs come from. He was pleasantly surprised when they answered "chickens".He then asked them where milk comes from."Cows and goats" they replied.Apparently, when he does the school rounds with the hatchlings and asks the children these questions,the answers are usually " the supermarket" and "out of a bottle in the fridge".How sad.Are we missing something vital here?

We are a long way off from egg collecting as Alice is 16 weeks and Rhubarb is 18 weeks.Poor little Rhubarb has plucked her tail feathers out as had all the 18 weekers.They were bored.Pottering around our garden in a few weeks and munching on kitchen scraps should hopefully cure that : )

Ok,back to the weekend.There are a couple of sweet young ladies who are begging to be checked on!!

xxxx

Comments

[Lesley]

oo how exciting and just wait till you get your first egg!!! well done on just getting on and doing it :-)
lesley x

[Melissa H.]

I love their names! I am so excited for you guys- I'll have to get my chicken fix from your photos. I am curious how much noise they will actually make- because I still keep thinking I could sneak some into our backyard without anyone knowing in our neighborhood? What kind of chickens are they? So cute!

[Jayne]

Eggselent (someone had to say it!)
My kids have Chickens at Day Care and they are a favourite. Very cool looking chook pens in the link by the way, but somehow I fancy yours would end up looking much prettier after they had been "lulu-fied"
x Jayne

[marné]

Poor little Rhubarb! Her tail feathers will grow back quickly, now that she is living in such a good place :o)

They are lovely, and at 18 and 16 weeks, you shouldn't have to wait too long for eggs. I think some of my hens started laying as early as 4 months, and they were all going strong by 6 months. That first tiny egg is one of the best things in life! I poked holes in each end and blew the contents out, and still have it in a little nest under a glass cloche in my living room :o)

[Char]

I love the russle and hussle chickens make...very comforting, perhaps because we grew up with chickens in our garden.
I love their names too...Lucy is the perfect pet chicken name.
When do they start laying?
Have fun with them!
Char.

[Char]

Oh...Marne just answered my question...sorry...didn't read ALL the comments before commenting...
Char.

[ellouise88]

So lovely! Try hanging some corn cobs up for them to peck; that will keep them busy. When my daughter was in Year 1, they had a project on vegetables and she was the only one in a class of over 30 who had ever shelled a pea!

[Cheryl]

Oh, have fun! Chickens are so wonderful! I miss having them and look forward getting back into the country in a couple of years, and having them again!

Lovely names too! A wonderful way for the kids to learn.