What's in a Name?

I don't know what it is about chicken names, but I just love them!  Naming chickens can be so much fun.  Some people get really creative and go with names like Attila the Hen (one of my favorites!).  Other's go with food names like Nugget or well known characters such as Foghorn Leghorn and Henny Penny.  My personal preference is farm-ish names and famous duos (Scot likes to buy chickens in pairs). 

Here are the names of all the pullets in my newest flock.  I love taking pictures of my birds, so get used to seeing a lot of posts of them. :D



CC - Easter Egger

Ginger - Easter Egger

Goldie - Golden Laced Wyandotte

Lulu - G's Easter Egger

Petunia - Easter Egger



Daffodil and Buttercup - Little M's Buff Orpingtons.
She calls them Yeyo Chickie, and if you call them anything else
she gets pretty mad at you.
 

Lavern and Shirley - Our working girls.  Rhode Island Reds are little egg machines.
 

Ouiser and Clairee - Cuckoo Marans
 

Lucy and Ethel - Black Sex Link. 
They're always getting their noses up in everyone's business
and are serious attention hogs.



Roadrunner - M's Silver Laced Wyandotte (she's hard to catch)
 



Feeding the Goats

I love this country life we've picked for our family!  In our town there's a goat farmer who lets you come and feed his goats, chickens, and ducks.  $0.25 for a handful of feed.  Totally worth it!



Chicken Love
 

I love this one!

But feeding chickens was not why we came.  We can feed chickens at home.  We came for the goats!



How cute is this baby goat!?!

 I never thought I'd want a goat!  Being a born and bred city girl I never thought I'd want chickens, but here we are 20 chickens later (only 14 currently).  After loving on this cute little goat, I now want a baby goat.  Luckily I can just come here anytime. 

 

 

 

 

Mama goat kept trying to get us to feed her instead of the babies.

Little M telling the mommy goat, ever so politely, that she did not want to feed the bigger goats.  She wants to feed the small ones.

Just when we thought this trip couldn't get any better we get to see a baby goat nursing!  No wonder mama goat was so hungry!

If you live in the city may I suggest you take a trip out to the country?  You won't regret it!

Our Chickens!

We've got chicken fever here!  Two years ago, and I really don't know what brought it on, I decided I wanted chickens.  This came as a shock to many since I have always been a city girl.  We moved to a more rural area, where my husband was raised, in the fall of 2010 and it must have awakened the country girl within.

In the summer of 2011 we bought, and moved into, a cute, tiny little house on .28 acre.  I guess I just needed something to fill that space.  Something that complimented my deep desire for an amazing garden.  In February of 2012 I found a breeder nearby and got myself six baby chicks.  It had begun!   

Last fall we took on some additional hens from my dear friend who was moving and had to rehome her animals (we also took one of her bunnies).  However, after a series of dog attacks we needed to make some adjustments to our set up and start a new flock.  We bought 14 chicks of various breeds thinking we'd end up with a rooster or two (that happens often) that we wouldn't be able to keep.  We're not zoned for roosters. 

Turns out we don't have any roosters, so we'll likely need to find a home for a few of them.  Our coop is comfortable for no more than 12, and you want your hens to be as comfortable as possible or they will peck each other, and cause harm.  Plus, who wants unhappy chickens?  I know I don't!

 

This is one of my Easter Eggers.  My favorite breed.  They're a mix breed that usually lay green or blue eggs, but sometimes you may even end up with pink.  We have 4 and we're all excited to see what color they'll be.

 

 

G's Lavender Easter Egger.  Her name is Princess Heart.

 

M's Silverlaced Wyandotte, Roadrunner.  She's too fast to catch.
 

 

MK's Buff Orpington named Yellow Chickie.  A pretty good name considering she was named by a 2 year old. 

 

 

And a one more of the Easter Eggers.  I sure love these puffy cheeked sweeties!

If you are considering chickens, and you were to ask me my opinion, I'd say, "Go for it!"  I know that when I'm in a bad mood I just need to grab my camera, and my 3 year old, and head out to the chicken run.  They are so great to be around and can lift your spirits in seconds.  Of course, I love anything that gets me out into the yard.