OUCH!

I have to admit I am not a chicken.
Contrary to some peoples beliefs! 
I have NO idea what it feels like to grow feathers. I am thinking that it can be quite painful.  Sorta like a new baby cutting teeth.
I even asked the chicks.

Me: "Hey chickies...How are you?  Your new feathers look like they hurt?  Do they hurt?"
Chicks: "Cheep. Cheep."
Me: Well, if I could help you out I would.  Being a new Chicken Mama....I am lame."
Chicks: "Cheep. Cheep."

At least that is what it LOOKS like when new feathers come in.
My poor little girls are shedding their cute, baby down and growing big girl/chicken feathers. 
I wonder what a real Chicken Mamas might do to assist her babies at this point.
Does a real Chicken Mama even care? Do they show them the stages of growing up? Is there a Chicken Legend passed down from generation to generation that gives detailed instructions on growing feathers and what to do and not to do?
There are tons of questions like this going through my mind every time I am around the chickens.
Inquiring minds need to know. 
Since I don't really have any knowledge, we stick to the basics.  Feed, water, pet, chat, cuddle, clean and cuddle them.
And because we might be lacking in Urban Chicken knowledge and because the family feels bad for the girls, we let them out often....
They fly right up to the edge of the brooder box and hang out.
Literally!

I love it.  They are so ugly they are cute.  Wouldn't you agree?? 
I mean really...
Can you deny them?
I think not.

Hello Ladies! 

Showing us a nice picture of your brand new feathers!

I think it looks painful.  You don't mention much. But you are so darn cute!

What's up Marilyn?  

Watch Us Fly

I am not a video professional.
I do not claim to be good at holding the camera.
And for some horrible reason I can't help but talk while I am video-ing.
I am sorry...
I apologize in advance for any inconvenience this might cause the viewer.

We Need Some Space!

Okay, so I have realized I am way, way behind on filling you in on the chickens.
My bad.
I apologize ahead of time. 
I will try to do better...I am a slacker...it's summer....alas I have no excuse.

The chickens have grown even more. I can't believe we have had them only a short amount of time and they are already realizing they can fly!
F.L.Y.
You say, WHAT?
Yup, I said FLY!!!
These little girls anxiously await the time where the family comes down and lifts the lid of the brooders box!  This gives them the sense of freedom.  Freedom to fly to the ledge and poop.
POOP!
I swear they hold it til they fly to the ledge and then let it all go!
Regardless they are still cute and we can't help ourselves with wanting to hold them.
Marilyn protests ALOT when she is picked up!
So, that is always the one chick that the hubby goes for.  (isn't that like Murphy's law or something)

Baby Chicks checking out Maya

Look Mom!  No hands!!

Enjoying the lid of the box being open.  (Please excuse the mess in the bedroom)

Hi Marilyn!!

 Let me also point out that the baby fur is leaving and the baby feathers are coming in.  OUCH it looks painful.
We have had many a discussion about how it must be like new teeth coming in on a baby.....
Breaking the surface of the skin that first time......double ouch.
The skin looks raw....you just want to give them a nice warm soak to help it feel better.
Needless to say, the hubby put his foot down regarding my idea to put them in the tub.
I didn't think it was such a bad idea.
Warm soak...that would make me feel better. 

**Side note - Betty is not showing any permanent scars from the feathers being removed from her behind.  In fact, she is growing her butt feathers just like everyone else.  No problems for her in the school yard.  Whew!**

Really its only been a week?

So the lovely little chicks are digging the new house.
In fact, I think it has given them a reason to grow....and grow....and grow...
We have a daily schedule with our newest family members. It didn't take long for us to adjust...I mean for them to adjust to us.
AM - Nick gets up and goes and visits the chicks.  He then gets ready for work.
AM - Kids and I get up and we go visit the chicks.  We then get ready for school and Jazzercise.
Afternoon - I visit with chicks often.  I have been known to read to them. People magazine seemed to be a big hit.  I have sang to them. We don't speak of those times.  I have had conversations with them...though those tend to be one-sided.
Mostly consisting of something like this:
ME - Hey baby girls.  How are you?
CHICKS - ...........cheep.....cheep.....
ME - Oh, hey that is great.  I see you have been busy pooping.  So much poop for such little girls. Does anyone need a warm butt bath today?
CHICKS - ...............cheep..............
ME - Okay, well...I guess not.  Do you need anything else?
CHICKS - ....................cheep....cheep.....
ME - Fine.  I will see you in a bit, I gotta run errands, get the kids from school.  Be good.
CHICKS -........cheep.......

So you can see how much we learn from each other.
PM - Kids home and visits with chicks
PM - Nick home and visits with chicks
PM - Come down after dinner to hang out with chicks.  Open the top and see what they do.  Clean the box.  Get fresh water and food.  Hold chicks.....put chicks down.....hold another chick......
8PM - On the dot!  Chicks are in bed and ready for night.  They crack me up!  Not a peep from them.

Repeat schedule the next day.
This intense attention has caused the chicks to grow at a rapid rate.  I swear....they secretly get together and just plan a growth spurt. Even their wings are changing colors and getting larger.  They are no longer fluffy and yellow.  It is a mix of yellow and white.  I feel sad... but happy at the same time...my babies are growing up! (I am not emotionally attached at ALL!!!!)

Video is worth a thousand words

Before you watch this video, let me make a few things clear:
1. Yes, they are in a plastic tub.  No, they were not in it long.  ONLY a couple of days.  Remember AL?  She said that was okay.  We were following the "rules". And the first tub was not as large as the second tub.
2. We have never left Elvis the cat alone with the chickens.  He only had supervised visits and was held at all times.  To be perfectly honest, he didn't and still doesn't care about the chickens.  They seem to not bother him at all!  The birds he cares about taunt him from the tops of the trees and fly by the window mocking him being stuck in the house.  Chickens....smickens...Elvis wants nothing to do with them.
3. Yes, we are aware they "chicken scratch" or as we call it "scritching" ALL the time.  Yes, they do it everywhere.  Yes, even in the food!  It is a genetic action we can't control or guide.  So....shavings get in the water and the food.  Whatever....I have bigger issues....
4. POOP!!  Lots of it.....til we chat again......

The New Digs!

Welcome to your new home little ladies!
Okay, well, your temporary, transitional, don't like it too much, you will out grow it soon, home!
Hubby and I had to come to some conclusion regarding the brooders box.
There were certain criteria we both expected this new home to have.  Criteria we needed and we knew the baby chicks needed...I sorta feel guilty thinking my needs might have been ahead of their needs...
Don't judge...I'm just sayin'....
Brooders Box Must Have's:
1. Space for the chicks to grow.
2. Roost options
3. Food/Kitchen room
4. Easy clean up (which technically should be #1)
5. Small enough to be in the garage with my car and all of Hubby's "stuff"
6. Easy accessibility to the chicks....
7. Cute, not obnoxious, sturdy...you know.... the important stuff

Remember we know NOTHING about taking care of baby chicks.  We figured that we did okay with our children when they were babies, that must give us some sort of leg up for baby chicks.  Right?
I mean, how hard can it be?? 
After much talk, research and more talk, Hubby came up with a plan and set it into action. I sat by and watched the progress.
What? Does that surprise you?
I think not....
I did go to Home Depot with Hubby to pick out supplies. Doesn't that count as helping?

The end result sported a fabulous condo like feel for the chicks.  I am sure they were impressed.  I was.
It had a nice hinged lid with screen on top, so we could peek in at them anytime we wanted.
There were nice Kitchen, Bedroom and Living room areas.
The flooring was made from wire mesh for easy clean up and air circulation.
The base of the box had room for a extra large tote to catch all the extra shavings and poop that fell from the floor.  LOVED that part.  It is all about the poop and how to keep it away from everything.
I personally feel that their brooders box was nicer than my first apartment.  But, whatever....I will get over it.
Needless to say, I think the chicks were happy.

Welcome to the Kitchen area.  Take a seat and dive right in!

Eat in Kitchen area

Living Room and Bedroom.  Good thing it was clean.

Spending more time in the Eat in Kitchen and Living room

**Side note ~ see the baby chicks white feathers staring to come in.  The cutest thing ever....so soft....cuddly......

Yes, We Are Still in the Tub

Okay, so maybe it took the hubby a few days to make the brooders box.....
The chicks were okay.....I promise.....
No harm, no fowl....(foul)....get it?  Get it?  No pun intended.....okay, well...yes, it was.  I couldn't help it. 
Here....enjoy another picture of the cutie patootie chicks

Who needs feathers?

Okay....it is confession time.
I know NOTHING, I mean nothing about taking care of baby chickens.(I gave you a hint about that a few posts back)
Surprised? Nah, I didn't think so
Whew...I feel better.
That being said, I can continue with my next chicken escapade!
So, if you find yourself easily offended, you might want to cover your ears.  Well, I mean stop reading.
I am going to talk about POOP.
Isn't that what all new Mom's talk about? Feeding times, nap times, and poop!  In no particular order.
Chickens poop ALOT!  Even when they are small. You won't believe the amount of poop one small chick can produce.  There has to be a multi-billion dollar business somewhere in chicken poop!  I am grossed out and impressed all at the same time.
Just a couple of days into baby chick ownership and we have a major poop issue.
Our runt ~ Bette Davis is having a hard time letting poop go!  I mean literally!  The poop keeps getting stuck to the back of her little chicken butt.  Poor thing.
Just horrible!
Embarrassing!
I mean, wouldn't you want someone to tell you if you had poop stuck to your butt?  EXACTLY!  I had to help Bette out!  We couldn't have Bette Davis running around with poop stuck to her.  Not cool, man!  Not cool.
In my, oh so NOT knowledgeable way, I pick her up and with a paper towel try to remove the yucky from her booty. Mind you the paper towel was a bit damp.  I didn't want to rub her skin raw.  But the darn poop wouldn't budge.  It was stuck and stuck good.
I kept trying to lightly pull on it but nothing...
And of course it didn't feel good...every time I tried to pull on it Bette would chirp in discomfort.
We were not in a good place.
Here is where the story takes a turn for the worse.
Brace yourself......it gets ugly.
I decide one last time to try to remove the offending poop and grabbed the glob and pulled.  Yes, I pulled.  I feel such remorse....I feel sick.....I pulled the poop off her butt!
I was successful, but in doing so, I also pulled all the cute peachy fuzzy feathers off Bette's butt!!!  I left her featherless.  Her butt was just skin.  Oh my!  What the "french toast" did I just do?
I hurt her good.  She chirped something fierce and then silence.  Hell, I would chirp too if someone just pulled off all my butt feathers.  (Please excuse my French, it was an emotional experience)
I was very hesitant to put her back in the brooders box with the other girls.  I just made her bald.  I was certain the other chicks were going to make fun of her, chase her around the coop, tease her, pick on her.  Oh the emotional scarring I was responsible for........I am so horrifically sorry.....
I called up to Tractor Supply and asked for AL.  She immediately gave me comfort and said that Bette was not only going to live, but that within a few weeks would have new butt feathers and no one would know the difference.   Oh.....how much better I felt hear that.  But I still was concerned for poor Bette and asked to bring her up to AL to check out.  She of course said YES!
This parenting thing is for the birds.........
So, back into the 6-pack box Miss Bette Davis goes and up to Tractor Supply.  I was mortified I did this to a poor baby chick...I was sure they were going to demand them all back.  I was just certain.  I was not fit to be a Chicken Mama!
AL checked Bette over and pronounced her with a clean bill of health.  Not only was she going to be okay, she was looking so healthy and strong!
Wow!  I don't lose my chickens today!  (Happy Dance)
Back home went Bette Davis.
I kept thinking that I might just be a bit crazy.  I have only had the chickens a couple of days and I was pulling feathers off butts, talking to them like they understood everything, and completely and totally head over heals in love...
Baby chicks rock.....

**No pictures are being posted to protect the innocent**

**Future reference: When poop gets stuck on the booty's of baby chicks, pulling off with a damp paper towel is not recommended.  Instead, take a cup of warm water and dip the baby chicks butt in the water.  Swirl it around to loosen the poop and then dry the butt with a nice soft cotton towel. **

**Baby Chicks love warm butt baths......
 

What is your name?

Name a chicken?  What?  You say I am crazy.
Not really.  I am perfectly sane.  Didn't you name your child before they were brought home from the hospital?  Didn't you pick out a name for your cat or dog before they even left the pet store?  See.....see the pattern.  I HAD to name my chickens.
What do you name Chickens?
Most people say that if you name them, you will never eat them!  Well...of course!  Why would I eat a chicken?  Look at them!!  Just look at them...would you eat them? 
Don't answer that....I think ignorance is bliss. 
Anyway, the chicken that I would think of eating doesn't come with cute peachy feathery fuzz.  It comes from the grocery store in the meat isle. 
My chickens and those chickens are NOT even in the same category.  Trust me...I know these things.
Lest we forget I am a city slicker and at one time I did in fact believe that meat came from the store and not a farm. 
Anyway, back to naming chickens...that is where I was going with this right?
I had a feeling from the moment I got these chicks that they needed some regal, cool, out of the world names.  Old school names...names that demanded respect, commanded an audience and screamed, "We are not to be eaten!!"
And since I had to purchase 2 chicks over my original self-imposed limit, I gave naming rights to Mom and Dad for them.  My only condition was to stick with the old school names.
Marilyn Monroe hit the scene early....it just fit.  My leghorn was going to be tall, leggy, and lean. That to me says Marilyn Monroe.  We could pick her out anytime, she was and still is a bit taller than the other chicks.  We made a connection.  It felt great.  We savored the name, let it roll off our tongues just because we could.  I am sure I even pictured it in lights.  I am sure you can too!
1 down......5 to go.....
Next came Mom and Dad's choices:
Loretta Young and Dinah Shore.  I only know one of those namesakes.....but I liked the thought of a chicken called Loretta.  So, they stuck.  Since we couldn't tell the Amberlinks apart....just who was Loretta or Dinah was yet to be seen.
Please make note - Dad had open heart surgery on April 6th, he was not aware that his daughter had purchased chickens or even that he had been granted naming rights to 2 of them.  That being said, when Dad became aware of said purchase and said naming rights...he decided one needed to be called.......wait for it......"Chicken Little".  YUP, that was Dad's input.  He didn't follow directions very well.  In fact, in his mature age he is a rule breaker and this was no different. 
I have secretly named one Dinah Chicken Little Shore.  I don't think she minds.  We are just now starting to tell them apart and she has the longest name in the coop.  I am sure that will garner respect from the other chickens just as soon as they all find out who they are!
3 down.....3 to go......
I would pull names from the good ole days, Elizabeth Taylor, Katherine Hepburn, Mary Tyler Moore, Carol Burnett.....I liked them but they just didn't say Chicken to me.  Ya know?  I am sure you feel the same way.
My sister said Grace Kelly, a great name blaring with regal-ness.....
One friend suggested Audrey Hepburn.....another great suggestion, but I just didn't "feel" it.
I am sad to admit it, but since we are friends...here it goes....Madonna's song Vogue came onto the radio one day.  Can I remind you of the lyrics if you don't know them?
Vogue, vogue
Beauty's where you find it
Move to the music
Vogue, vogue
Beauty's where you find it
Go with the flow

Greta Garbo and Monroe
Deitrich and DiMaggio
Marlon Brando, Jimmy Dean
On the cover of a magazine

Grace Kelly, Harlow, Jean
Picture of a beauty queen
Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire
Ginger Rogers, dance on air

They had style, they had grace
Rita Hayworth gave good face
Lauren, Katherine, Lana too
Bette Davis, we love you

Ladies with an attitude
Fellows that were in the mood
Don't just stand there, let's get to it
Strike a pose, there's nothing to it

Vogue, vogue
Vogue, vogue
BAM!  Greta Garbo hit me!  I mean, it WORKED....Just like Marilyn Monroe....it SCREAMED chicken.  I LOVED it.  I decided the largest of the Amberlinks was going to be Greta. 
After Greta the names seem to just appear in my head.  With the help of Madonna. ( Should I send her a Thank You?) Next, Ginger Rogers...of course.  Ginger the chicken.  Perfect!
It is not plagiarism if you steal a name from a song.  The names were not Madonna's to begin with.  I am good.  I consulted an attorney.
Last but not least Bette Davis.  Oh Bette, Bette, Bette..  The stories I have to tell about Bette. Bette is our "runt".  She hangs out with Marilyn, she is no dummy!  Smallest protected by the biggest....Bette is definitely NOT your average bird brain.  She has it going ON!
Welcome home ladies...welcome home!

Adoption day

So, what do you take to the store to purchase chickens, one might ask?  If you are a born and bred city slicker like me, NOTHING, but your purse and some super excited kids.  What else could you possibly need?  Happy Easter!! 
We invade Tractor Supply and head straight for the chicks.  The kids are running circles, screaming, "Get this one Mom!  No, get this one! Oh wait, these are cute!  Can we take these home?  Mom!! Mom!! "  I think you get the picture.
I, on the other hand, calming ask a more knowledgeable person who works at the store to please help us.  I believe these were my exact words.  "Hi there.  We would like to purchase some chickens.  I would like them to be good egg layers (that is the purpose, right?) and they need to be all girls.  Thank you."
Do you know who can purchase chicks?  ANYONE!  You don't need a special license, a special certificate showing you passed "How to raise chickens" class, a college degree in farming, NOTHING...just the strong desire to have chickens.  CRAZY!!  I think my inner warning signals might have been going off around this point, but being a smart and in tune individual I chose to ignore them.  
The wonderful lady was a God send.  I have to admit she amazed me..she had all the answers and all the questions...frankly I wanted to bring her home.  I have come to know her very well in the past couple of months.  I still think she is amazing!  (AL = amazing lady)
AL - Have you ever raised chickens before?
Me - No.
AL - Okay, well...you need to have food and water dishes.  We sell a starter kit, but the chicks out grow it fairly quickly.  I would recommend going for the bigger sizes and not worrying about trading the dishes out as the chickens grow.
Me - Okay.  Ummm..Son, you might need to go get a cart. 
AL - Now you need to think about feeding them.  Here is the baby chick feed.  I recommend the larger size bag, more cost effective.
About this time, my inner warning signals are shooting red flares but again I ignore them. 
I am thinking to myself, "Oh my! Holy cow! Hubby might shoot me.  Am I really doing this?  Where is my common sense?  MOM!!!!"
Me - Okay.  So this 50 lb bag should do it right?  Son, can you help me load this on the cart.  Daughter can you grab the 2 feeders? 
AL - What are you going to keep them in?  Is it plastic, wooden or metal?
Me - Hmmm.....good question.  Keep them in??  Well, we have a plastic tub for right now. Will that work?  I mean, we plan, okay, well my husband plans on making a bigger box. (brooder box, I have since learned) They should be in that box in the next few days.  Is that okay?  Will they be okay in that?
AL - Yes, as long as you don't keep them in the tub for long you should be good.  Plastic can breed disease and you don't want that.
Me - Disease?!?!  Okay, okay, I will get my hubby going on that box asap.
Mental note: Hubby is definitely going to kill me.  I can't believe I thought we could do this. Holy Cow! Yikes!  MOM!!
AL - Now for the chicks...what type do you want?  We have only a few left.  And the other choices aren't good for you because we can't tell if they are boys (roosters) or girls (hens). 
Me - ONLY girls, I must come home with only girls!  So that narrows my choices to these 2 bins.  Hmmmm....why is that little chick all by herself?  What is wrong with her?  How could someone just leave one little chick alone.  I can't leave her..can I have her?  We need to take her.  What is she?
AL - She is a Leghorn.  She will be long and tall and lean.  Really pretty.  If no one buys her today I was going to take her home.
Me - Consider her mine.  Will she get along with the others I pick.  I don't want them arguing or picking on each other.  (Yes, I did say that out loud) 
AL - She should be fine.  You will love her.
Me - Okay, now to pick 3 others......
AL - Oh, you have to buy 6 total.  We like to keep them together in groups.  Better for them as a flock.
Me - What?!?! I have to buy 2 more! 
Warning signals, Warning flares, Warning sirens....all in full force....MOM!!
AL - How about 5 of these Amberlinks...they are cute and will be white like the Leghorn.  They are going to be shorter,a little rounder...
Me - Ummmm.....okay.  Kids, you okay with this? 
AL preceded to put all chicks in a cardboard box.  Kinda like the type you put a 6-pack in.  I am in disbelief.  I can't believe they are going to just let me leave with them!  In a BOX! 
I have to tell you that what was truly going through my mind was almost identical to when I gave birth to my son.  I remember thinking at the hospital, "They are going to let me leave with this child.  NO books, no classes, just me and this child.  What in the world are they thinking?"  They aren't thinking...that is what is happening.
AL - Just a couple of items for you to get.  Wood shavings, get the big size so the chicks don't eat it.  You can order that up at the register.  Also, don't forget a heating lamp.  To keep them nice and warm.
Me - Okay, okay...I think I got this...we can do this.....we can do this.....  We can do this, right?

Baby chicks in the box for the ride home

**Side note:  Yes, I was silently screaming for my Mom!  I am not ashamed to admit it.  I don't know too many people that when faced with a new situation, an uncomfortable event, feeling ill, or purchasing chickens for the first time don't scream out for their Moms.  I feel it is a natural chain of events.  Moms are supposed to come running, ready to assist or rescue, no matter what.  Never mind the fact that my Mom is not a chicken owner, never took a class on chickens, or even knew I was calling for her.** 

Here We Go!

So, let me take this time to fill you in on our family story.  There are 4 of us.  My wonderful hardworking hubby, my creative and very analytical son, my dynamic and sensitive daughter and me, I'm a wife, a mother, and Jazzercise instructor.  We don't live on a farm.  We are not on an acreage, to be down right honest, I don't really care for "nature".  I am not sure I would want to live on a farm. Before you jump to conclusions, that just means that I am not a real outdoorsy person, I don't like to touch nature or have nature touch me.  I like to think we have an agreement.  We can discuss this issue at another time. 
We have started the road to healthy, organic, sustainable living for a few years now and lately it has truly become a life style for us. Cutting out processed sugars and meats, adding raw milk to our diets, kefir and the such. Bigger changes have been our garden in our backyard, which grows larger each year as we decide we want more and more veggies on our plates!  Our family has truly reaped the benefits of our efforts and in staying true to our choices we have been purchasing local, free range chicken eggs.  LOVE them! They are so yummy....so rich....so colorful (not in the colored Easter egg kinda way).
Needless to say the conversation of owning chickens has come up.  Never to be taken seriously, because #1 we live in the city limits, #2 we have 2 kids that drive us crazy already, #3 we don't have our property fenced, and lastly # 4 we have absolutely NO knowledge about farm animals etc.  I have a hard enough time going to the farm with my friend, Bernadette to get our milk!  Kid you not!!!  Did I mention I am a city girl?  Okay, just checking....  After a very eventful tour of the farm, I now stay in the car.  Again, we can discuss that at a later date.
We found ourselves visiting the local Tractor Supply lovingly admiring the baby chicks they had for sale.  Not the first time, mind you, and I am fairly certain it won't be the last. Aren't baby chicks the CUTEST things ever!!!  I mean really.....never mind they grow up...and POOP every where!  Just adorable.
But we would always leave empty handed.  Remember our list above as to why.
This year, well.....this year was different.
I did research.  Lees Summit can HAVE chickens in the city limits!  Not only can we have chickens, we can have up to 8 chickens.  ONLY condition they have to be all girls, hens, PULLETS as I am so now educated.  No roosters allowed.  Side note: That could work for other areas of women's lives...I just know it.  But again, we will have to discuss later, lest I digress......
Also, a wonderful church friend already had chickens and so wonderfully shared her experiences, her knowledge and all the reasons why we should make the jump to chicken ownership.
Easter was fast approaching, my Dad was scheduled for open heart surgery on Good Friday, what better time to buy chickens.  I mean, doesn't everyone make decisions like that under stressful conditions?  No? Really!  Perhaps my husband and I need to revisit this process for other life decisions we make....
In a very impromptu conversation on April 7th hubby and I decided we must either buy chickens now or by the time Easter is done there will be none left and will have missed out on another year.  Hindsight we have learned chicks are not seasonal and we can purchase them anytime, but hey, again let me refer to reason #4 above.
I load the kids up in the car, leave hubby home (cuz that seemed like a good idea) and off we went to buy chicks........