Free Rangin'

This week marked the start of our chickens beginning to free range. We had a small massacre take place a little bit ago and the only survivor was the rooster, Lennox. After getting a couple of hens, I kept them in their run until they started bonding and becoming a flock because I was afraid that they wouldn't free range together and that they would run off. Also, I was training them to come to the sound of Cruz or I calling "chicken" which has been successful as they associate it with expecting scratch (dessert for chickens). And lastly, there are quite a few free range flocks on the neighboring farms who range far and wide and I wanted to make sure my ladies (and guy) were united enough that they wouldnt get bullied if/when they ran into other chickens on the road (only in the country do you have such worries!)

At first, everyone was a little unsure. The chicks didnt want to come out of their run and Cruz was not at all happy that his chickens werent where they were supposed to be. He was awfully confused and ran around yelling at them and pointing his finger telling them to get back in their coop. 

 *my 50 pd bag of feed that got left out in the storm and is now fertilizer. fail. 

Finally everything calmed down enough for Cruz to show me his belly and request a picture of his favorite rainboots. Funny guy.

And the chickens greatly enjoyed their free ranging and were back in their coop promptly at sundown. They are now enjoying a happy, leisurely life as one of the many free ranging flocks in these here parts. 

Chickens

I mentioned in my last post that we (Cruz and I, he is a super big helper) recently bought some baby chicks. we started off small with just two little ones. They were so very sweet and were slotted to lay blue/green eggs (chickens dont start laying eggs until they are between 4-6 months old). Sadly, they escaped on their first afternoon in the coop, but after many weeks in the brooder and plenty of time for us to get attached. I like to think that they now free range around the thousands of acres surrounding my home. Not likely (impossible) do to the robust amount of wildlife around here (foxes, mountain lions, etc) but its nicer to think of it like that. 

So I bought 4 more. 

4, this time, because the season is ending for local places to be keeping baby chicks for sale and to order from large hatcheries you have to place an order of 25 or more (they will die without each others body heat).  So 4 it was and is. We have two brown egg layers and 2 white egg layers. 

I am lucky enough to have a Dad who is an awesome (amazing, incredible) woodworker and he build me a very charming and rustic coop. Exactly what I wanted. We (he) used old wood from around our property which kept the prices to pretty much nothing (save latches, knobs, nails, etc). 

We are just loving our little ladies. So fun to watch them grow.