The girls are growing so quickly! It seems like yesterday they arrived at the post office- well it was just a few weeks ago so maybe I'm not that crazy!
They are all really starting to look and act like chickens! We moved them down to the basement to their larger brooder. It's a little sad to not have them peeping away in the living room, but they were really wanting to stretch their legs a little bit...I mean their wings?
They are already learning to fly (albeit not very controlled flying). We would often hear a loud fluttering noise followed by a loud symphony of peeps coming from the box. Someone would decide to attempt to take flight and soon after dive bomb right into the middle of a group of chicks. Not so gracious yet!
Some are more talented than others. Clearly Maggie has always been more mature than the others and several times we have caught her perched on top of the feeder looking up proudly at her owners as if to say, "look at how well
I can fly!"
One of their favorite treats is to be let out of the box so they can play in a dirt patch. Since it has been rainy lately, this is our substitute for going outside.
Nora and I watched them all have a dust bath in the dirt the other day. This has to be the funniest thing I've seen them do yet. It is like watching a cat play with catnip.
Here's some new pics of our girls:
Alice, Speckled Sussex.
What a beautiful little bird! Alice is the quickest and the hardest to catch! She calms right down when she's held though. We can't wait to see what she looks like when she's an adult!
Francis, Dominique.
Francis is my favorite bird! What a little sweety. She will cuddle up in your hand and fall right asleep. She is also one of the most adventurous, she's always second in line to try a new treat and not afraid to try out her wings.
Jane, Black Australorp.
Jane is the second hardest to catch. She is timid, but not as skidish as Alice. She is very motherly, always curious when she hears another chick peeping loudly. I often find her snuggling with Francis.
Lizzie, Delaware.
Lizzie is not the brightest bird. She is always looking for food. Unfortunetly for the other birds this means she often pecks them when she thinks they have food on them. She is sweet nonetheless and the first bird to show up when you put your hand in the brooder.
Maggie, New Hampshire Red.
What a friendly, easy going bird! Maggie is Nora's favorite because Maggie will perch on Nora's finger and sit there for long periods of time. She loves attention! She is the most mature of the birds, and when all the others are sleeping we will often find Maggie at the feeder having a "snack".
