Three happy chicks OUTSIDE at last...

So....the chickens are officially outside. WAHOO! Our house was starting to smell like a giant coop.  On Saturday we were experiencing an american equivalent of an Indian Summer.  It was quite warm given the time of year.  Outside we went. We had a some company for the night and they were happy to help as one of them is a farmer.  I felt really stupid because I was actually worried about them being left outside all night.  It makes me chuckle to myself that I actually worry about my chickens. They are JUST CHICKENS!!!  When they were in the coop they found their way out to the run...and it was as if they had been outside all their lives.  They made out Just fine!

It has been a week since they were put outside now...well actually almost two weeks!  When I come home from work I straight out back to see what the ladies are up to...they are sometimes out and sometimes not but the minute they hear my "Hello Ladies" out pop their heads and they come and say hello.  It really amazes me that they respond to certain things.  They are just chickens...not dogs.  I suppose they are like any animal and will respond to anything if they have heard it long enough.  The other day I came home and Duchess (the white one) was sitting out all on her own in the run which was odd because she is usually the one who panics the most when the others are no where to be seen.  So I came up and said " hello ladies" and the other two stuck their heads out in greeting.  It makes me laugh.

In the mornings, the earlier we get out there to let them out the better.  They wake up a whole lot earlier then we do....sometimes....so it is best to get their door is opened ASAP.  I feel that sometimes I should be on a loud speaker shouting out that the race is about to begin and the contestants are Happy, Duchess, and Lady Blue.  Who will be the first out of the gate...we shall see ladies and gentlemen, a few more moments...as we wait to get a nod from their handlers..and there is the nod we are now ready to start.  LOL!  It is really funny because that is what it is like every morning...instant race to see who can get to the food first.

Happy

Duchess

Two days ago, I was really wanting to let them out and free range for a bit, but they can fly quite high and was worried....yes I was worried about the chickens AGAIN....they would fly over wall of our garden, which would not be good as I don't know what is on the other side of some of the walls.  So I went on the internet and found a you tube video of how to clip their wings.  Norman held them and I wielded the scissors.  Happy and Lady Blue were brilliant....but Duchess was more a challenge.  She doesn't really like to be held all that much and she panics easily and if you don't have a good grip on her she shimmies out of your grasp.  Finally we got her calm and I held her and Norman cut.  So the first time we let them out was really neat.  They ran out and then realized they weren't in Kansas any more. They don't ever ( well so far anyway) venture off to far...I always stay with them when they are outside.  They stay pretty close together.   I realized the also that Duchess has been miss named....she should be DART.  She stands quietly, pecking about...and all of a sudden she will tuck her head in and just dart ( for a lack of a better word) like a bullet.  She is so spastic....its hilarious.  I am telling you they are all really amusing.  I love watching them.

Lady Blue

Anyway.....Ta for now!