Chicks, Chicks, Chickens!

Day one in their new home.

The girls have arrived!

They've been here for a week and we're having a blast with them.  We ordered six, but seven arrived.  She is a mystery -- not sure what breed she is.

In any event, she joins her sisters -- Buff Orpington, Blue Laced Red Wyandotte, and Barred Rock.  

Regardless of breed, just hoping SHE is a SHE!

Thus far our adventure has been eye-opening.  What we've learned so far:

1. Chickens are messy.  Wowza...I thought kids were tough to keep clean?  Kids have nothing on these chickens!  No sooner do they have fresh water than BAM, full of pine shavings!!!
2. Chicks fall asleep.  Fast.  Super Fast.  One second they're drinking water and the next they're face down in a pile of pine!
3. They need more room than you think they will ever need.  Yeah, that little brooder won't last long!  Two weeks in and hubby is off to build a larger one this weekend.
4. They have personalities!  We have the laid back chick, the bully, and the gal who just wants to lay under the heat lamp and get some rest.  Sometimes I think she looks like she is waiting for her cocktails to arrive!  
5. Love.  Yup. We're crazy about them.  In fact, even my reluctant husband has been caught fussing over them.

Chicken run is in place, the coop has been ordered, and plans are afoot for a larger brooder in the meantime.  I'd say things are running smoothly.

If anyone has questions about what to get me for Christmas, here's a hint.
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“Alvin smiled back, and kissed her. "People talk about fools counting chickens before they hatch. That's nothing. We name them.”   - Orson Scott Card, Alvin Journeyman

Getting Warmed Up

Today I'm sitting in front of a warm and toasty fire, watching the sun began its late-afternoon walk down the walls of my dining room.  The window in this room offers the only southern exposure on the main floor of the house.  I've often thought that it's the the abundant sunshine in hues of orange and gold that keeps me from succumbing to the winter doldrums.  I look for any reason to spend an afternoon there.  If we had a cat I'm sure he would do the same!

It comes as no surprise that the plants in that window do well too.  Thank goodness they are hearty.  I am a terrible indoor gardener.  (Truth be told, I'm only a marginally better outdoor gardener!)

I forget all about the poor window plants, but they thrive thanks to a bit of water and attention from my husband.  I've often thought this would be a good spot to keep those kitchen herbs growing all winter.  Maybe next year.  Of course, I'd rather grow herbs indoors like this.  Surely this must be foolproof!

Back to last years adventures in growing food crops.  We learned a lot!  For example,

• Cucumbers Should Be Staked.  Now it seems obvious, but it didn't last year!

• Label What You Plant.  If you think you will remember what is planted in which row, trust me.  You will not.  Many a parsely plant were lost due to forgetting where the carrots were.  (Are these carrots?  Yes, they must be!  Wait.  Oh no!  I pulled out all of the parsley!)

• You Can Never Have Enough Green Beans.  We ate them as fast as we picked them.

• Never Underestimate A Hungry Gopher.  Underground sound, though, does seem to keep them away.

• Tomato Plants Needs A Lot of Full Sun.  Of course, but I didn't really get what "a lot of full sun" meant so we would up with tremendous tomato plants with no fruit!  We cut the offending shade-producing branches out of the way, but too late in the season for the fruit to mature on the vine.  

• Make Do With What You Have.   Rather than lose out on  the promise of beautiful tomatoes, we picked the fruit when it was still green, but before it got too cold and kept them in paper bags on the counter in the kitchen.  They ripened slowly in the bags, but the result was garden-fresh tomatoes through October!  

So on to our 2013 plans.  First up is recognizing the need to organize my garden early this year.  

This year we're planting more green beans and tomatoes and adding red peppers, potatoes, and more kitchen herbs.  Who knows, we may even try carrots again.  I've also added two climbing rose bushes outside of the garden gate that I bought on the cheap at the end of the season last year.  The plan is to add an arbor for climbing that serves as the entrance to a small winding path, bringing you to the current garden gate.  Lots of work ahead for us.

We're also going to garden for the chickens!

We've gone chicken-crazy over here.  Well, at least the kids and I have.  Not so sure about my husband.  We're expecting our first chicks in May, but more on that later.

Don't you just love this chicken coop?!

Perhaps the chickens might help with the weeding.  As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "What is a weed?  A plant whose virtues have never been discovered."

Indeed.