Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Why We Love Our Chickadoodles

Sally and April Digging For Gold
Last spring we got 5 baby chicks and boy were they cute.  Their names were Sally Henny Penny, Mrs. Brown, Laura, Amy and April. BUT...it turned out that three of them were roosters. We had to find a new home for them. We found a nice farm that had lots of hens and not too many roosters, so we took Amy, Laura and Mrs. Brown to live there. I guess their names are Arthur, Lewis and Mr. Brown these days! Now we only have Sally and April. Since August they have laid lots of eggs. Sally has laid 40 eggs and April has laid 31. April's eggs are greeny blue, because she is an Ameracauna. This spring we are going to get 3 more chicks, but this time we will make sure they are sexed. If you get chicks that aren't sexed that is called a straight run. Then you are taking your chances, so sometimes you get roosters.

When we open the coop in the morning they follow us to the vegetable patch, and when we take them back to their coop they run like they are racing each other. They stand at the gate when they want to go in for the night, and when April has to lay an egg she jumps onto the top of our garden gate and runs to the coop door, waiting to be let in. Sometimes they have staring contests. When Sally was the only one laying eggs April climbed right into the nesting box and cuddled up next to her while she laid her egg. When it's cold out they snuggle together on the perch. We put 3 gallon jugs with hot water in the coop for them at night, like water bottles. One is on the windowsill right near where they perch. Sally's spot is right next to the window. If April gets up on that spot Sally pushes her off. Even though Sally is sweet she is definitely the boss.

We love our doodles! They are funny and cuddly, and very smart. Who knew that having chickens could be so much fun?

1 comment:

  1. Lena,
    I love reading about your chickens and to feel how much fun you are having with them.
    Cheers, Andrea

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