New Peeps at our Place...

While growing up my dad was an advocate of growing and raising some of our own food even though our home was located within the city limits~ albeit on a large-size lot by today's standards. We had a good size vegetable garden ~ which later was replaced by a swimming pool ~ much to the delight of us kids! We had a few fruit trees, and we also raised chickens for eggs. We also had rabbits, but they ended up being pets, not food for the table. That was years and years ago and although I've raised ducks for eggs in the meantime, I haven't had chickens since then. I've been wanting to have our own fresh, organic eggs for a while ~ so here we are!



Please say hello to the first five ~ they are all Buff Orpingtons, a beautiful, usually docile and gentle breed developed in the late 1800's in Orpington, Kent, UK.

Photo: Buff Hooligans
They will look similar to example above when full grown. They are "dual-purpose" hens, producing meat and eggs ~ they will be strictly for eggs at our place.

Tomorrow we'll be adding a few more to our little flock:
Photo: Google Silver Laced Wyandotte
(An American bird, developed in New York in the 1870's) and
Photo: Bing.com And Gold Laced Wyandottes (This American breed was developed in Wisconsin, 1880's)

The Buff Orpington's arrived first, here they are when they came home:

Aren't they darling? :D They must be kept quite warm for the first few weeks until their feathers grow in, so into the warm brooder box they went and will stay until they are a little more mature.

Healthy appetites!



Adorable tiny wings, and fluffy tushes ~ but they are growing so fast!




We've picked names for the five so far, the others will be determined as we meet the new chicks. May I introduce to you ~
"Pumpkin"


"Chloe"



"Chelsea"


"Lolly"
"Sassy Sally" (Here she is, walking off the set. I don't think she liked the terms of the photo shoot.) *grin*
Now for the work ~
Presently we're working on the coop ~ It definitely won't be as elegant as one of Martha Stewart's:
Instead this is what I have in mind:

Photo: Buff Hooligans
We'll allow them free-range while supervised, at other times they will have access to their run.

Photo: Buff Hooligans Again, much like this one completely screened, but larger than this because of our larger flock.
If all goes well, we should be enjoying our first eggs in about 5 months or so ... Updates to follow!










If you've ever considered having your own little flock of chickens there are plenty of resources available on the internet. One of my favorites is Backyard Chickens You know I love your comments. And if you have chickens, I would really appreciate hearing from you, too!