Wednesday 9 March 2011

It's Spring - the first chicks have arrived!

Chicks six hours old
I know it's Spring for today the first chicks of the year arrived. I saw them tumbling out of the barn, chirping and cheeping after their Mum. She is a new Mum so a bit all over the place and not really concentrating on the job at hand. She left a nest of about ten eggs with just four chicks but with a helping hand she should still have four chicks a few weeks from now.
I scooped her up and plonked her in the Nursery, a relatively painless task. I know it will get more complicated as the season progresses but for today I basked in the sunshine (when it shone) and felt rather chuffed. Today I know it is Spring as I have four little chicks to prove it...
The problem I now have is to make sure I get hold or account for every chick for once one lot start hatching you know there are going to be a whole load more. But where do you start. My Chickens are seriously free range and the places they decide to lay their eggs beggars belief! I dread to think what the HSE would think!



Fandango
And for the chicken fancier out there a Salmon Faverolle cockerel (bantam) called Fandango and a rather coy Friesian...
A coy Friesan!

8 comments:

Wally B said...

We are planning on a few more chickens and my wife wants to get them small. Guess who will be bthe foster mother.

Miss Sadie said...

Congratulations on the arrival of the new family members. Hope you have lots, and that they all stay healthy.

Your chickens have such creative places to nest. If you think you're missing some, I'm a good bird dog, and could help you find them.

I was about to say, "Forget that; you've got Whippets." But then, if the Whippets are wicked, you might end up short of chicks. My offer is still good.

Von said...

Fandango very fine!

Anonymous said...

Those chicks are just too gorgeous amd what a fab free-range life they're gonna have...

Ladybird World Mother said...

Oh, you lucky thing... I LOVE chicks and we have fat chance of that as have no cockerel... Fandango looks a corker!!
Had 3 chicks last year and one had to come in the house as the hen kept rejecting him. Turns out he was a she, and the best layer I have ever had!
Enjoy the Spring, tra la!! xx

Posie said...

Ooh early early chicks, how lovely. No broody hens here yet...

mrsnesbitt said...

I account for 6 eggs everyday - well most days but I know where one of the hens lays her eggs - ofcourse it is surrounded by thorns & nettles but I know where!
Lovely sign of Spring!

Tattieweasle said...

Oh greif I have been bad at thnaking everyone for their comments! Apologies...
Legend - you??? I know the feeling I land up being looked to by the chicks so I always wear the same coat at feed time so they can recognise me and it works!
Miss Sadie - hopefully now in a wonderful new home yourself. Would lvoed for you to have helped me find them it would have been such fiun in the barns!
Von - Fandango is very fine 'e iz alzo Freench so 'e iz ver good wiz ze girlzz u kno!?
Lottie - sometimes a little too free range as they decide to nest in people's cars etc when they leave the doors or wiondows open...
Ladybrid World Mother - chicks doing splendidly and hoping that they are all hens as I always do...
Posie Had one set of chicks born at the beginning of February once and kept all nine of them alive...exhausting work!
mrsnesbitt - I love hunting for egss in the undergrowth it's rescuign the chicks from the upper barn I object too!!!

Go on you know you want to...

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