Tonight, on their third night in the coop, two of the three chicks walked up the ramp and into the hen house all on their own! Once the birds saw Matt and I walking toward them, Gigi immediately flew up on the ramp and went right in. Nellie and Loretta weren't as sure about this …
Week six: Freedom!
I was at once excited and dreadful about putting the chicks out in the coop overnight for the first time. The temperature was to drop down to 34 degrees. I worried about whether or not I should leave food and water. Despite my worries, I'm happy to report Loretta, Nellie and Gigi made it through …
Bears confinement well
While researching which breeds to select for our chicks, one attribute stood out to me: bears confinement well. The Dominique, Black French Copper Marans and the Olive Egger (half Marans) all fell in this category. I dutifully took note, but didn't really give it much thought until the last couple days. The birds are growing …
Week five: Drawing blood
Sunday started out simply. With temperatures in the 70s, I planned to re-stain the coop. I also knew the warm weather would be perfect for the chicks to spend the day in the run. After getting everyone settled, I put on some music and started to paint. About a half-hour in, a neighbor stopped by …
Loose ends
With the weather finally warming, and the birds growing super fast, our minds went to finishing some of the loose ends so we can move them to the coop. On the list: build roosting bars for inside the hen house and install brackets for the feeder and waterer. Roosting bars Since the highest roosting bar …
Slideshow: The chicken coop build
It took us almost four months — through snow, rain and sub-freezing temperatures — to complete building the chicken coop. But you can watch the whole process here in just a few minutes!
Week four: A breakthrough and bald spots
Loretta's been playing hard to get. Literally. Every time I reach in to pick her up, she runs screaming. Once I have her securely in my hands, she frantically wiggles her wings free and beats them until I put her down. I was convinced she hated me. Until tonight. I managed to pick her up, …
Chicken acrobatics
"MATT?!?! Can you come downstairs?" I had to scream it three times before he heard me. "I've got a chicken on my back!" He found me bent over at the waist, with Gigi proudly perched on top of me. "How did that happen?" he asked, not expecting an answer. He gently cupped her gray feathers …
Meet Loretta!
The votes were flying in, and we finally have a name for our Black French Copper Marans. Meet Loretta! This name, nominated by Kerry Hamilton Smith, won handily with 26 percent of the votes. Three names tied for second place, each taking 13 percent of the vote: Kentucky F. Chicken, Nellie and Pipsqueak. Great thanks …
Top 10 chick names: The final vote!!
Excitement is in the air. The birds are fluffing their feathers. And one chick in particular is much, much closer to finding her name. Our Black French Copper Marans can't contain her excitement. The competition was fierce, and right down to the wire, but we finally have the final choices of chick names. All the …
Chicken Scratch Fever 