Down Mulberry Lane

Peep Peeps!

Yes, that is what my little one calls our chicks.  They are growing alot.  Our black australorps are beginning to look like little chickens, all feathered out.  I didn't like them at first... thought they were a temperamental bird, but they are growing on me.  They all come when I go down to feed them (of course, I have food) but they no longer peck at me and jump at me with wild tendencies... they are more patient, I guess is what you'd say... looking at me with anticipation that food was on the way. 

They also are getting used to food scraps, which is nice.  I was reading the bag on the chick feed and see it contains animal products... Now what are they thinking feeding that to chickens?  UGH!  I will have to research some better feed options for the future, that just made me upset.  Yes, I've seen a chicken go after a mouse, but still... that isn't first choice for food. 

The little production reds seemed to have recovered from their plight.  The last 19 all seem quite healthy, now.  I am relieved.  I just was sick, going down to check and every time finding one more limp.  They are all happy to be back in their trough after our loss of electricity when they were boxed and placed near our wood burning stove.  They are quick little buggers when they are warm.  I easily caught them to put them in the box, as they were huddled together for warmth, but now... they zip across the trough like nobody's business.  I can't imagine catching them.  So, now again, I am wondering about their temperament.  Are they going to calm down when they are older?  I hope so. 

That's all my chicken news.  Well, I guess I have news about our big chickens.  Dh made a creep feed area for the lambs out of gates (I don't know what he was thinking!  LOL) Apparently he thought he had the gates close enough to keep the chickens out.  Whatever!  LOL.  (Love you honey!)  They love to perch on the gates now instead of the rafters of the barn, so the area is filling with chicken poo much to his disappointment.  They are perching on the feeders as well and filling up the feeders with poo.  And they are eating the creep feed as well.  All that work for nothing.  But the bottle rack works pretty good, so not all bad.  I think what is most disappointing is that he built it in the midst of his fever with his bug and he really wore himself out putting it together and to see it not working as expected and he's still sick and not wanting to do much about it right now.... Anyways, the big chickens are on his POO list right now.  LOL

Warmly, ~Melissa