The Chickens are Here!

The chickens are finally here!

Samuel was able to finish the coop on Sunday afternoon (right before we left for camping). We got our chickens on Wed. evening from the feed store in town. We were originally going to get them from a woman who lives in our neighborhood (she has about 50-60 chickens...all pets) who was looking to downsize a bit. However, she just gave some away about 2 weeks ago so we would have to wait a couple more weeks.

They were very eager to get out of the box when first put in....

We decided to get them from the feed store so we could get them right away and they had more of the variety that we were looking for, good layers.

I am a lot more interested in them than I thought I would be. They are so fun to watch and even to pet. Abel just loves them! He couldn't keep his little hands off of them...I am hoping they aren't traumatized!

....but we had to dump them out at home!

We put them outside when we got home and let them explore a bit, then we had to catch them all and put them in the coop for the night. Abel and I opened the coop up for them this morning and only one of the brave bardrocks has ventured out  (she can't get back in by herself though...). Maybe tomorrow we will encourage them all to get out of the coop for a bit. :)

We are now looking at names for the chickens...I suggested that we could do famous mountain names (ie Helen, Whitney, Nebo, Ararat, etc...) or my favorite suggestion, the top names from the 1900's (ie. Gladys, Ida, Alma, Mabel, Fannie, Eula, Ruby, Doris, Geraldine, Gertrude, Vivian, Hattie,etc.)...as you can see I already have those ones picked out:). We will see what happens! (as of last night Samuel agreed with my names!)

And now for some more pictures of Abel and the chickens!

This is one of the bardrocks, the brave ones!

One of 2 Australops

Helping the chicken explore...

"Here chicky, chicky" is what Abel likes to say:)

Got one!

Abel this morning: "Chickens like kisses." Me: "Well, chickens like to be pet and held, but not kissed." Abel: "Chickens DO like kisses because they LOVE us!"
He is really into the chickens I guess!

Dad and the mostly finished coop. (I still have painting to do)

We will hopefully get eggs in about 5 months. They are only about a month old at this point. We got 2 bard rocks, 2 australops, 4 buff orpingtons, and 4 Rhode Island Reds (forgive the spelling...). The bard rocks are by far the bravest and most friendly at this point in time and the reds are very skittish. Hopefully we so much loving by Abel they will be friendly soon.

So, those are our chickens!