Sunday, May 23, 2021

Chick Report, Plus More


As of about 10:30 this morning there were seven baby chicks. I think. Poor Darla gets frantic if we lift her up to see what's going on underneath her, and believe it or not, babies can not only hide under her wings, she can hold them so tightly that they do not fall out when you lift her up. Although sometimes they do fall out but they are so light it doesn't hurt them and they just bounce up on their little feet and continue on with their new lives. 



This little one is so curious that he poked his head out and then crawled out from under mama's feathers and came over to inspect us. They aren't old enough to be scared yet. I would say that this one's dad is Liberace but as you can see from the picture above, I think that Fancy Pants may have sired at least one. It's so funny to think that in all actuality, all of the hens could be new mothers as there was such an assortment of eggs in that nest. But Darla is the only one doing the work and the rest of the ladies are just going about their business like royalty of old who had their babies and put them in the arms of the wet nurses and nannies. 
Or something like that, anyway. 
We haven't been back out in a few hours to see if there are any more but we'll be checking again here in a few minutes. I'm taking them some of the oat bran cereal with hardboiled eggs in case they're peckish (another term we use derived from chicken tending?) and I'll take Darla some more cantaloupe and cat food. Chickens adore cat food and it's got lots of protein in it. Of course she may eat all the baby food but...whatever. Mr. Moon did go to the Tractor Supply and buy some chick starter and I think that tomorrow we'll move the whole circus to the little peep coop including any eggs that haven't hatched and I'll put their food and water in there. After a few more days we'll have to throw out the eggs that don't hatch and I always hate that. I mean- hell, I can barely thin my garden. You can only imagine how hard it is for me to throw out eggs that haven't hatched but reality must be faced. 

Jessie brought the boys out to see the babies this morning and I had just finished making our breakfast. Mr. Moon wanted to eat his first tomato with biscuits, as I thought he might. 


Look at that beauty!
So I made biscuits and cooked some of his Tennessee sausage and scrambled up some of our eggs and potatoes and banana peppers (which are also starting to come in) and two green onions. He took a picture and it looked like this. 


The boys and Jessie got tomato and biscuit sandwiches. They'd had their pancakes already at home but that was HOURS before. I love having grandkids that'll gobble up biscuit/tomato sandwiches. With Duke's mayonnaise, of course. 

It's been a fine day, we've moved slow and easy. We just went back out to check on the mama and babies and bring them some food. Still only seven chicks and that may be it. Darla has a veritable buffet now of regular chicken feed, fruit and cat food, and the cereal and eggs. She was eating when we left and look who else was inspecting the offerings. 


Little cuties. Just because they don't HAVE to eat for 48 hours doesn't mean they won't. 

The garden is so beautiful right now. We did a quick inspection there, too. We pulled one of the garlic plants to see how that's coming along. 


I'd say they're ready to pick. 
Even the roses are going crazy. 


Such a generous abundance of life. 
And forty-three years ago, I was in labor with May. Tomorrow is her birthday. Of course, I was in kindergarten when I had her. How else to explain the math of her age and mine? 
I remember that day and night and day like it was yesterday. Truly. 
And tomorrow we're meeting up for lunch. 

Abundance and sweetness. Love and glory. 
We are the lucky ones. 

Love...Ms. Moon

44 comments:

  1. you have made my day in the best way. That tomato is SO gorgeous......with the rest of breakfast. I can taste it just looking at its beauty. And the chicks.....be still my heart. What a full and bountiful day for you all- I'm sighing with joy
    Susan M

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    1. That tomato was insanely good!
      It was a good day, all in all.

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  2. That tomato is gorgeous! I could eat a tomato and anything sandwich….of course slathered with Duke’s Mayo. Our neighbor had a duck lay ten eggs in his flower box. Of course I worried how Mama would get those chicks to the ground. Sadly, we never found out. We found six dead chicks this morning. They had blood all over the backs of their necks. The parents and four chicks are missing. Didn’t you have chicks who died the same way? We’re wondering what could have happened.

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    1. Oh, no! Something must have been attracted by the sound or smell of the peeps. How sorrowful! I've never had a whole brood get killed along wit the parents. Raccoon?

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  3. That tomato is gorgeous! I could eat a tomato and anything sandwich….of course slathered with Duke’s Mayo. Our neighbor had a duck lay ten eggs in his flower box. Of course I worried how Mama would get those chicks to the ground. Sadly, we never found out. We found six dead chicks this morning. They had blood all over the backs of their necks. The parents and four chicks are missing. Didn’t you have chicks who died the same way? We’re wondering what could have happened.

    ReplyDelete
  4. That tomato is gorgeous! I could eat a tomato and anything sandwich….of course slathered with Duke’s Mayo. Our neighbor had a duck lay ten eggs in his flower box. Of course I worried how Mama would get those chicks to the ground. Sadly, we never found out. We found six dead chicks this morning. They had blood all over the backs of their necks. The parents and four chicks are missing. Didn’t you have chicks who died the same way? We’re wondering what could have happened.

    ReplyDelete
  5. That tomato is gorgeous! I could eat a tomato and anything sandwich….of course slathered with Duke’s Mayo. Our neighbor had a duck lay ten eggs in his flower box. Of course I worried how Mama would get those chicks to the ground. Sadly, we never found out. We found six dead chicks this morning. They had blood all over the backs of their necks. The parents and four chicks are missing. Didn’t you have chicks who died the same way? We’re wondering what could have happened.

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  6. I love all the little chick pictures and I am drooling over your tomato. My son will turn 44 on Thursday(yikes) but I only had 12 hours of labor. I too was in kindergarten!

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    1. We early mothers having babies! Pretty funny.

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  7. That little fluffy butt!
    And the tomato looks amazing. I've never had over like it.

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    1. They're an heirloom variety and so very, very good.

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  8. Those little chicks are so gorgeous.
    I am wondering what you mean by " biscuits". What I call a biscuit is what you would call a cookie I think, and your "biscuits" don't look at all like anything I know here.....if you get my drift? !!

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    1. Yes- what you call biscuits is what we call cookies. Our biscuits are a quick bread sort of thing with flour and baking powder, shortening or butter, salt, milk or buttermilk. A little bit like your scones.

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  9. Adorable, I hope you enjoy tomorrow!

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  10. Awwww! Cute little chicks and I am not talking about August and Levon though they are cute little chicks too. Birthday greetings to your first child - May who was born in May. Glad I am not called October!

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    Replies
    1. Well, I can't see how October would be a worse name than Mr. Pudding!
      And August of course was NOT born in August.
      So confusing.

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  11. Abundance and sweetness. Love and glory.
    We are the lucky ones

    Good words to start my day.
    And you're right - time flies.. but you know, it does so most when we are rich with joy.

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    1. It seems to me that time flies fastest when we're busy and lord knows that most of us are so very, very busy when our children are young.

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  12. Ever-increasing cuteness. Bless Darla. She's a champ.

    Hmm, since my oldest will turn 48 this year, and I never went to Kindergarten, I guess I'll just have to own up to being in my eighth decade. :)

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    1. Ha! I never went to kindergarten either! (Don't tell anyone.)

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  13. What a celebration this post is. All life all the time. Thst breakfast would last me three days!

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    1. It lasted Mr. Moon almost all day. Trust me, mine was not of the same proportions.

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  14. I don't even try to act like it is weird how much I love your blog. In fact it is clearly very normal to be thrilled to read minute details of the baby chicks hatching. I'm very excited about this new batch!

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    1. Oh, Jill! I'm so glad you love my blog! And I hope it's not weird. Thank you for being here so faithfully.

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  15. What beautiful diversity in the hen house.

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  16. Baby chickens are the cutest things, honestly. I wonder what would happen if the unhatched eggs just stayed there? Eventually they'd rot, I suppose -- but would Darla ever get off them on her own?

    Happy birthday to May! The garlic looks very promising!

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    Replies
    1. Well, we're going to let her sit on them for a few more days and see what happens. And then they have to go out because yes, they will definitely rot.
      I am sitting in a cloud of garlic aroma as we speak! Glen just pulled them all.

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  17. as many colors of baby chicks as eggs! and that tomato is gorgeous. as is the garlic. and the rose. that's the one I sent you isn't it?

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    1. You're right about the colors of chicks and eggs. So many!
      That is not the same rose but I swear- I think they are the same variety. Your rose is blooming too! They smell so sweet.

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  18. Babies in the house again, how lovely. Your tomatoes are amazing.

    Happy Birthday to May!

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    Replies
    1. It is nice to have babies around again.
      Thank you for May's birthday wishes!

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  19. WOW the over abundance rains it pours!! We are still barely sliding out the cold and rain- a week of it, wearing layers and furnace going full blast. Crazy spring.
    Baby chickens are unreal- they are magic, eggs are magic- I understand your love affair with your chooks, just do not kiss them, salmonella you know. Harvesting tomatoes and garlic already is astounding to me! They are magnificent.

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    1. Our air conditioning is going full blast. You are indeed having a crazy spring. I hope real springs reaches you soon.
      Baby chicks (and their eggs) ARE amazing. How can such life be produced in three weeks? Tiny down, feet, eyes, beaks- all of it! Three weeks! It's so crazy.
      I'm not too worried about salmonella. I suppose I should be. Thank you for the reminder.
      And yep- vegetables coming in!

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  20. I saw the tomato and the breakfast photo on FB and showed it to Gregg. We were both jealous! That was a fine looking meal!

    Baby chicks are so, so cute.

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    1. It was a good breakfast, Jennifer!
      Baby chicks are THE cutest. I swear.

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  21. Oh that tomato looks just glorious - but doesn't feeding hens hard boiled eggs smack of cannibalism, or am I missing something? (As you can see, I don't know the first thing about raising hens)!

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    1. Chickens will eat almost anything and the more protein, the better. They LOVE eggs. In fact, if chickens start pecking their own eggs to eat, it is a real problem because they won't stop. I won't even tell you how much they love to eat cooked chicken. So yes, they are definitely cannibals. I have lost all squeamishness about this subject.

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  22. Happy birthday May and happy birth day to you dear Mary. That tomato has such a deep color, I can almost taste it. Ours are just about done for the season. Such sweet little chicks! Makes me happy just seeing them. Hope it’s a great week ahead for you.
    Xoxo
    Barbara

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    1. Thank you, Barbara! Did you get many tomatoes? I hope so.

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Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.