[The Shire] Our growing flock!

[newchickychick]

They LOVE this. I’m so happy! We’re adding in some perch toys today! Our older ones were from our first batch of chicks so we figured it’s time for new ones with the new brooder. We’ve got a hunk that will be beginning introduction process soon to the big coop in about a week when they’re all fully feathered, and the oldest Bantams will go to their own coop as soon as it’s finished also soon, so there’s more chicks than we will normally have in there at once.

But gosh, the difference it makes! They’ve all got some serious zoomies this morning. It was just what they needed!

 

[newchickychick]

This is definitely a “should have stayed in bed” morning. Now, part of living deep in the woods of 29 acres is a guarantee that all things creepy and crawly have real estate there too. Which, fair, that’s their right. But I’m not sure how in the WORLD a bug SO MASSIVE made it INTO my car. I keep the doors CLOSED and windows rolled up. This guy was acting like I was his ding dang uber. He looked like a gargantuan cricket or something that aspired to be the Godzilla of bugs. Hanging out on the inside of the car, down like where the windows roll up and down like a kid in a car seat. Cue the nope nope no nope HECK no. Respectfully, he was large enough to apply for his own license and I am not about that. I got him out (alive!) and after a paranoid check through the rest of the car, deemed it safe to start the drive to go take care of my grandmother as I do every morning. Halfway down the drive to the main road, there’s a kitty slinking across the path. So me being the genius I am, park the car and get out and “pspsspps”. It looked like it was hunting but wanted to just MAKE SURE it wasn’t low like that due to injury. So I’m here looking at the cat through the bushes, going pspsps, asking if it’s hungry and talking sweet.
There was no warning. A little bunny FLIES out of the bushes and uses ME as a vault to safety. I, being graceful and composed in the face of any startle, let out a shriek I’m pretty certain only dogs can hear. It bounced off my chest and ran down the road as fast as its little legs could haul it.
I’m most definitely taking a nap today.

 

[newchickychick]

Nap achieved. Lockdown initiated for our first eggs! Fingers crossed!
Got posters up in here for the gaming room. So cute! I need more. Still gotta get the second table set up for the third and fourth incubators, but currently mid deep-clean of the kitchen so that can wait until after. At least today's been productive!

 

[thistlewick]

Can't wait to hear how the hatch goes, so exciting!!

 

[newchickychick]

Can't wait to hear how the hatch goes, so exciting!!

Thank you! I’m so stoked. I was anxious none would make it to lockdown, but we’ve got 6/21 so I’m pretty content since they’re shipped eggs and our first attempt hatching! We’ve got 5 Polish (1 GL, 1 SL, and 1 Candy Corn!), a Pavlovskaya, and an Isbar! The Candy Corn egg is so small compared to the others, and the Isbar/Pav had loose air cells, so I’ve got them setting upright to hatch. I cut out most parts of egg cartons outside of just little circles to go around (for good air flow/oxygen) so hopefully that will be what they need. If we get even one baby to fully hatch, I’ll be so happy, and blown away if all 6 do. I’ve started a show/movie playlist for Monday to try to be patient when pipping starts.

 

[newchickychick]

Our sweet girl Love Bug (kitty) has been SO curious about the eggs in the lockdown incubator today. I'm wondering if she knows what's going on! She's always an attention hog and is 24/7 by me/wanting pets, but she's definitely nosy about it today. The other night when my son handed me a chick to look after while I was in bed (got him some nutridrench and he ended up perking right up!), Love Bug jumped up, sniffed the chick in my hand, purred, rubbed against my hand, and laid down at my feet. We'd still never trust her around the chicks (sorry, Bug!) but she seems very curious but gentle about them. (Normally she just peeks into the garage to see them but of course doesn't have any way to get to them)

 

[newchickychick]

Mononoke and Carol are our first chicks born to our flock, a day early!

 

[newchickychick]

The trouble trio (Mononoke, Carol, and Loki) plotting the downfall of all humans. I love them so much! Candy Corn Polish (Chihiro) has pipped too!

 

[newchickychick]

Chihiro hatched earlier this morning!