fly the nest...please

Today was the day we took Britney, Whitney and Barsco out to the chicken coop.  They were not happy.  In fact they keep trying to grab my cloths and hold on to us so we won't leave them.  While setting up their area in the coop Britney wandered outside into the chicken run with all the teenagers and when the older chicks started picking on her she yelled for mommy and daddy.  When I started toward the door Britt ran full blast at the door and as soon as I opened it she ran to my feet.  In earlier visits to the older chickens she would stand between my feet for protection from the bigger chicks.  I am worried but they are really old enough to head outside.  I am hoping to get a couple more chicks this week and really need the space inside for little ones. 

Definitely going to have to spend time with Britney and Whitney on a regular basis, I think Britney wants to be an inside chicken.  We have some juggling around to do with the girls this year.  Some are for just eggs and others are for raising meat chickens and eggs.  Time is getting close when we will start butchering the chicks we hatched in January...should be interesting. 

Always in my heart...

I have nothing but wonderful memories of you.  May you rest in peace Gordon.  I miss you already...

Turkey eggs

So, we started to get our first turkey eggs this last week.  Not sure who is the one laying or if more than one has been.  So far we have gotten one turkey egg every other day.  they are about the same size as our larger chicken eggs, but I am guessing they will get bigger just like the chicken eggs started off smaller than they are now once the girls get settled in.  From what I understand turkeys do not lay that many eggs during the year and they typically only lay in the spring, so we'll see how things go.  The guys love them and fight over who gets to eat the turkey egg.

They are a creamy white with brown spots

Just about the same size as one of our large eggs

The yoke is a bit larger as you can see here (turkey on the left) and the color was just a hint darker then the chicken yoke.

turkey egg is on the right showing the yoke is wider but not as round as the chicken yoke

The spot color is sometimes a purplish brown color.  I am excited to see if they get bigger as time goes by!

Heron on the House...

OK, actually on the barn...

He kinda blends into the trees but he is on the center line of the roof just about dead center of the photo facing to your left. 

Chrissy...aka Christmas

Who wouldn't just fall in love with this face?

Look at those dark brown eyes, they look into your very being and no words need be said...

Love on a farm

Romeo and Christmas were so funny today!  Every time Romeo would lay down Christmas would run over and cuddle up to him.  Once Thanksgiving even thought Romeo looked cuddly!

First it was just Romeo and Christmas...

Thanksgiving was feeling left out...

New friends

Oh no, Christmas might feel left out...

yup, didn't take long for Christmas to cuddle back down next to Romeo!


 

Bray asked what you call a turkey dog cross...of course if the offspring was male it would be a Tog, if female a Durkey!

The most beautiful chickie in the world!

I have fallen head over heels in love with my new baby!

This is Puff and we also have Fluff and Buff who are also Silkies.

I tried to post a video of her chirping away but I keep getting an error.  I will try again later.  Isn't she cute!  Silkies have blue skin and meat which is unique and a delicacy in Europe.  This is the type of chicken that was advertised in Europe as a cross between a chicken and a rabbit a couple hundred years ago.