On Cloud Nine

   Okay, so this week I am going to be talking about what I am thankful for (chicken related). It might get a little sappy but just stick with me.

   I am so thankful all of my little chicks survived to at least this age. I love them so much and I have no idea what I would have done if I had lost one.

   I know that most likely sounds weird if you haven't had chickens, but you get attached to them. You love them just like a dog or a cat... Or at least I do.

   I think in order to be happy, you have to appreciate the small things in life. For me it might be Lizzy sitting on my lap or Olive and Sleepy eating out of my hand. What small things make YOU happy?

   The last thing I am thankful for is the chicken's ability to make me smile. No matter how bad of a day I have, a few minutes out with the chickens can always turn that around. They are such curious, funny little birds. 

This is one of my favorite pictures of the chickens ever. Makes me laugh every time!

Wow, sorry. As I said, this got kind of sentimental.  I promise not to be like this all the time...

Happy Thanksgiving and I'll see you next Monday!

Add Insult to Injury

   I saw this the last time I was out with the chickens. This is just another example of Piper's...   stupidity? That sounds so mean... Let's just say confused curiosity.

This is when Piper notices the bucket. 

Note that Raven is in this picture but not the next. She realized in that time that buckets are not interesting.

Piper has a very different opinion. 

She looks closely at the bottom of the bucket.

Then she looks at the top of the bucket.

The inside of the bucket is next.

Then the bottom of the bucket... again...

And the top again... In case it changed? I guess you never know...

What a sweet, silly chicken!

Review: My Pet Chicken

  

 "My Pet Chicken" is the website/company that I bought my chicks from. This is a review of my experience.

   The website itself was wonderful! It had lots of breeds; both rare and common. Ordering the chicks was easy and fast. They also offered Marek's shots for the chicks. This was very important to me.

   Also, the customer service was fantastic! I emailed with a question about shipping and multiple question's about the chicks (I tend to overreact). They emailed back very quickly with very good information.

 
   Next, the shipping. This was perfect! They arrived the day after they hatched by 11:00. (This is especially impressive since the chicks were shipped from Ohio.) The box had air holes and a little heat pack which was still warm when it got to me.

   I was very impressed with the chicks themselves, as well. They all came alive and healthy. I got ONLY the number of chicks I ordered (some companies send extra for warmth), which was very nice. Also, I got my chicks sexed and so far as I can tell they are all girls.

   In fact, there was only one problem I had with this company. The cost.

   I did get some expensive rare breeds, but the cost of shipping itself was high. I didn't mind the cost because I was very specific about breeds and gender. However, if you are not willing to pay much for chicks, this is probably not your place.

  Overall, I very highly recommended this company! See you next Monday!

Beauty Is In the Eye of the Beholder

   Many people have seen chicks. Lots of people have seen chickens. But, unless you have raised chickens, you probably haven't seen their "teenage stage".

   They go in cute...

They come out beautiful...

But in the middle, well, all you can do in wait...

Pin feathers (a growing feather surrounded by a feather shaft) start to poke though the chick fluff.

You can see this in Nutmeg's tail (above).

Sleepy might have been the worst. It was... not pretty.

Sweet little Daisy. Her molt was not as bad as the other's for some reason.

Oh, Piper and those big puffy cheeks...

Wow sorry... A lot of pictures in this one. But, are there ever too many pictures of chicks?

Have a good week!