I got a box from the little store in town!
More chickens!! JUST WHAT I NEEDED!!!!!!
Two dozen baby Araucanas. These are “Easter-egger” chickens–the ones that lay the pretty blue and green eggs. They are my favorites!!! Can’t. Have. Enough.
It’s possible I have a chicken fetish.
A chicken addiction.
A chicken problem.
But I long for no cure from this lovely madness.
Please, don’t send help.
P.S. And look what 52 showed up with right after I (thought I) finished this post.
DUCKLINGS!!!!!!!!!!!! (Three Pekins, three Rouens.)
princessvanessa says:
Aaaaawwwwww. Does my heart good to see the sweet little peepers and quackers.
I remember one day when the post office in town called my folks and asked them to come in and get the boxes that were just delivered…..”They’re cheeping” the post master said.
We have a creek with a cemented trout pond so nature provides the ducks. They’re wild, of course. Each spring a mama mallard lays a clutch of eggs on the island and hatches out babies.
Your blog takes me back to growing up out in the country. Dad still lives in our childhood home.
On April 21, 2010 at 1:27 am
Thunja says:
SWEET sweet babies
On April 21, 2010 at 1:31 am
Charlotte says:
Yup, I have a problem too, and nope, I don’t want a cure. My next lot of little peepers are hatching in the incubator as we speak (er, write!). :chicken:
On April 21, 2010 at 2:02 am
Kathy says:
Your mail order peeps were strong good looking little things. And ducks! :snoopy: Hopefully all will go well, no racoons this year. Post more pics when you take them, especially when quacks hit water 1st time. It’s a wonderful spring isn’t it? 8)
On April 21, 2010 at 4:12 am
Rose H says:
Your post has left me with a big stupid grin on my face :o)
They are all SO lovely! And ducklings too! :sheepjump:
On April 21, 2010 at 4:48 am
carsek says:
My, but you are busy with all your new animals. Your peeps look really good and the ducks are adorable. Have fun!!
On April 21, 2010 at 4:49 am
CindyP says:
Wonderful! New babies all over the farm this spring!
On April 21, 2010 at 6:14 am
Lori Skoog says:
I can see why you have an addiction!
On April 21, 2010 at 6:48 am
Diane says:
awww cute.
On April 21, 2010 at 6:52 am
Johanna says:
I have a hen on chicks in the barn now — some mornings I just can’t pull myself away as I watch her teach them all the secrets of chickenhood! Congrats on your new girls.
On April 21, 2010 at 7:00 am
Carol Langille says:
Oh my gosh!!!! Beautiful baby peeps and gorgeous little quackers! And baby lambs in the meadow….you are a most fortunate woman, Suzanne…but you know that.
Every woman needs a man who brings her cows and ducks….again, a most fortunate woman is Suzanne!
On April 21, 2010 at 7:18 am
Tracey In Paradise,Pa. says:
:pirate: I AM STINKING GREEN WITH JEALOUSY!! lol
Hugs Granny Trace
On April 21, 2010 at 7:28 am
Julie says:
They are all so adorable!!
On April 21, 2010 at 7:38 am
Abiga/Karen says:
Getting more chickens definitely is addictive. We started with our original 6 red stars and love having them. We’ve since lost one hen and our wonderful Rudy the rooster disappeared with no trace. He was such a protector of those hens and nice to us, never attacked us at all. Now my daughter has those and some Americaunas(not the original Aracaunas), some Delawares from a neighbor, and just brought some chicks home from the feed store, Jersey Giants, CA Whites, something else I forget now, and of course more duckies too! Enjoy them!
On April 21, 2010 at 7:41 am
Patty says:
Seriously, how big is your chicken coop? When ours get to crowded they begin hurting\killing each other..even with free ranging.(they gotta be locked up at night for their own protection)
I agree..baby chicks are sooo adorable! :snoopy:
On April 21, 2010 at 7:43 am
Tovah says:
So cute! I wish I could come over and just play with them for awhile. I don’t need chickens (I don’t live in the country!) but baby chicks are just too cute!
On April 21, 2010 at 8:04 am
Mary from Baton Rouge says:
Hi Suzanne, I guess that I am guilty too! In addition to “my girls”, my flock of layers, I recently got 5 bronze turkeys! What a birthday present from my hubby!!
On April 21, 2010 at 8:17 am
melissa says:
Wow – what are you going to do with all the eggs? You need to start collecting egg recipes now.
On April 21, 2010 at 8:21 am
Jeanne says:
I’m so excited! Can’t wait to read more about them as they grow up! :duck:
On April 21, 2010 at 8:39 am
Beth says:
We got a call just like that on the 13th of this month! Araucanas, Barred Rocks, and Golden Buffs. Twenty five of them to add to our year old flock of 13 Buff Orpingtons! Yay! I’m a little obsessed with chickens too! We decided to share a few of them with our grandson who is also a chicken lover.
It’s amazing how fast they grow, in a blink of an eye their grown….ahhhh….just like our human kids…. Sorry, drifted off in beautiful thoughts. :duck: :chicken: :purpleflower:
Have fun!
Peace and Blessings!
On April 21, 2010 at 9:08 am
Carol says:
Wow! And ducks, too. Can’t wait to see them hit the water. Good going, 52.
On April 21, 2010 at 9:12 am
Michele Messier says:
Nice spring babies, it will be fun to watch them grow. :chicken:
On April 21, 2010 at 9:26 am
Jo says:
Suzanne, you are officially a “chicken hoarder”!!! lol Just kidding. :happyflower:
On April 21, 2010 at 9:41 am
Barbee' says:
Oh, my goodness! My mouth dropped open. I had just used the little duck emoticon in my comment on the Daily Farm Photo post. What a surprise! And, how are the little guineas doing? Growing fast, I bet. Whew! What a spring! Oh, just remembered: Baby ducks are prone to eating poisonous toadstools which make them sick and die. Oh, and they will stick their head up the gutter downspout when it is raining and they drown. Poor babies, it’s a dangerous world out there. I don’t know what to do about turtles in the pond. I used to shoot ours with 22 rifle, popped their heads that stuck up out of the water, but you have neighbors nearby, so ricochets off the water are dangerous. Wonder if there is a way of “fishing” for turtles, maybe with bacon. They say turtle soup is good, but I couldn’t get past the smell of the turtle cooking. Good luck.
On April 21, 2010 at 9:59 am
P.J. says:
I am finding it completely impossible to decide if peeps or ducklings are cuter. They are so adorable, anyone would have a problem resisting bringing more of these home. If that’s your biggest problem, count yourself lucky!
On April 21, 2010 at 10:04 am
Cate says:
Oh, more babies on the farm. They are just adorable. Can’t wait until I get a place in the country so I can have chickens and a goat!
On April 21, 2010 at 10:13 am
Elaine says:
Chickens are definitely an addiction! I don’t have a pond so I am not trying the ducks…I could have a fowl fetish…you never know!
On April 21, 2010 at 10:19 am
Grace Reynolds says:
I wish we were set up for chickens and ducks. Those babies are soooo cute!!
On April 21, 2010 at 10:19 am
pdelainey says:
They are so cute. Congratulations on your newest additions.
On April 21, 2010 at 10:21 am
JeannieB says:
I’m so happy for you–baby ducks!! Post Coco on lookout for the ‘bad things’ so you can keep your ducklings.
On April 21, 2010 at 10:50 am
Taryn says:
I love chickens, too, we have 14, and I am always on the look out for new babies at the local store. We have two young Americaunas that have not yet begun to lay, but they are the prettiest chickens. And, I recently acquired a duck that needed a home…it will be here this weekend…still don’t know if it is a boy or a girl, but I guess I need to get digging a pond!
On April 21, 2010 at 11:01 am
Jenny says:
They are addictive! I’ve got eggs pipping in the incubator today. They are taking forever to get out of their shells! The ducks are adorable as well. We had one duck hatch from some eggs last year, and one day it was just gone.
~Jenny~
On April 21, 2010 at 11:21 am
Victoria says:
They are adorable. How many chickens in total do you have now and how many ducks? :chicken:
On April 21, 2010 at 11:58 am
Nancy in Iowa says:
I’m so glad your lone duck will have company! And more adorable chicks – all of this and a cow? Wow!!! :heart: :moo:
On April 21, 2010 at 12:15 pm
marymac says:
Those ducks are the cuttiest things, but I only have chickens.
On April 21, 2010 at 12:17 pm
Melinda says:
Cute cute cute! I need a question answered if someone could help…….my chicks are 5 weeks old and are going outside today to their new home which consists of a pretty large run area and a 8′ x 4′ enclosed coop. I plan to only close them up at night in the coop to keep them safe. My question is this: do I need to put a waterer and food inside the coop? They will be shut away about 7 at night and let out in the mornings about 7 with free access all day to food and water. Any help would be great!
On April 21, 2010 at 12:19 pm
Susan at Charm of the Carolines says:
I want to live at your house!!!
Susan
On April 21, 2010 at 12:20 pm
Just Kris says:
I LOVE my Aruacana!!!
You are going to have an egg surplus – how many eggs are you yielding per day now?
I want to get more chicks this year since my older layers are over two years old now. They are slowing production down, thankfully I have the brood from last year taking over. Have you raised some Cornish Rocks yet for meat? You NEED to do this! They grow super fast and you will have fresh chicken in your freezer this summer. The best meat ever.
On April 21, 2010 at 12:36 pm
Suzanne McMinn says:
Just Kris, we’re getting at least a dozen a day, sometimes more. I’ve started letting some of them make nests, though, so I’m not picking up as many.
On April 21, 2010 at 2:45 pm
Sheila Z says:
Easter Eggers are among my favorites also! I just picked up 6 Black Copper Marans yesterday.
On April 21, 2010 at 12:59 pm
Lana says:
Wow. Just…wow.
Suzanne, you’ve got the birds. All you need now is the bees.
Whenever my husband would bring home flowers or open the car door for me I would tell him “Extra credit!” Every time I read about “52” bringing you rosebushes, a donkey, a milk cow, ducklings — well, just anything — I say to myself “Extra credit!”
On April 21, 2010 at 1:20 pm
Nona says:
:chicken: Spring babies are soooo cute enjoy!!
On April 21, 2010 at 1:22 pm
Nicky Hurt says:
I live in a city, and have no idea, so I was wondering how much it costs to buy chicks and ducklings. I think they are SO cute, but I’m not sure I could handle them, even if I had the space for them. 🙂
On April 21, 2010 at 1:36 pm
Suzanne McMinn says:
Nicky, it varies. Sometimes ducklings are as much as $6 each! Chicks are less.
On April 21, 2010 at 2:45 pm
Ulrike says:
Awwwwww!!! Quandary: do I go visit my godparents who have baby chicks and ducks so I can goo over them? Or do I stay away knowing they’ll try to ship the babies home in my kids’ bags?
On April 21, 2010 at 2:14 pm
Julie says:
I want ducks! (And more chickens, and a cow, and some goats, and maybe even turkeys)
On April 21, 2010 at 2:19 pm
Andrea says:
I picked mine up on Monday morning. They are really cute. And today I got a duck to go with my other 2 ducks. So now I have 11 chickens and 3 ducks. I have to agree it is very addicting.
On April 21, 2010 at 2:52 pm
Grandmatotwochicks says:
Oh Suzanne!
They are so cute and fuzzy, makes you just want to cuddle. I have the same problem, I would have a hundred cuties if I could, BUT there is only one problem the “HUSBAND” so I am left with eight, I will try and sneek in a few more. Just love the Easter Eggers, I have two, but they are babies, so I will have to wait for the pretty eggs. :duck:
On April 21, 2010 at 3:19 pm
Blessings says:
Isn’t clover getting jealous over all the newbies getting attention?
First Beulah Petunia and now the chick and ducks?
Would like to know how CLOVER FEELS about all the goings on….
~~HUGS~~
On April 21, 2010 at 4:29 pm
farmershae says:
Okay, out of sick curiosity….. what is the total chicken count up to? We cannot accurately assess how chicken crazy you are until we know that!!!! :smilerabbit:
On April 21, 2010 at 4:37 pm
Suzanne McMinn says:
farmershae–I have so many chickens that I don’t know how many!
On April 21, 2010 at 9:01 pm
Jessica says:
awwwwwwww look at the babies! I just want to snuggle them. :heart:
On April 21, 2010 at 7:31 pm
Wendy says:
And how are the Guineas?!
…or was that in MY dreams?!
=-)
:sun:
On April 21, 2010 at 9:11 pm
Suzanne McMinn says:
Wendy, I have guineas! They are doing good–right now they are in the brooder with the chicks and ducklings!
On April 22, 2010 at 6:43 am
Courtney B says:
I love chicks and Araucanas…even better!!!
:duck:
On April 21, 2010 at 10:03 pm
Lisa says:
Oh wow..just when I thought the chicks were the cutest things.. Ducklings!! I want one so bad… they are adorable! :snoopy:
On April 22, 2010 at 2:09 am
Wendy says:
You know i’m living vicariously through you, right?
…but you know the more animals you get, the less and less likely you’ll ever be able to take a vacation…
So again i say
I’m livin’ vicariously! :yes:
Thank you for such a WONDERFUL site!!!
=-)
On April 22, 2010 at 10:50 am
farmershae says:
Well, it’s official then. With too many chickens to count, you are now The Crazy Chicken Lady.
And I want to be just like you!!!! :chicken:
On April 22, 2010 at 11:16 am
MousE says:
YOu’re off to a busy spring and summer! Congratulations!
On April 22, 2010 at 12:39 pm
MicheleMomof8 says:
Hi Suzanne
I just got 6 pullets from the farm & tractor place – 3 Golden Comets and 3 White Leghorns. I’ve never kept chickens before. I guess they’re around 3 weeks old . . . they’re getting tail feathers and full wings, can fly about a foot off the ground, and are facing off to establish pecking order.
We put them outside in a pen on sunny days (we live in town) and they’re all doing this weird thing – laying on their sides and scratching at the ground with one leg at a time, kind of like a dog does when you rub its belly in “just the right spot.” It kind of looks like they’re scratching down to bare earth to nest or take a dirt bath.
Some of them are even stretching out on their sides to lie on the ground, and I just saw one of them lie flat on her back for a short time with her legs in the air.
This just doesn’t seem normal, but if you tell me that you’ve seen chickens do it (and they haven’t died immediately after) then I’ll be able to relax. I really don’t have anyone around here to ask.
On April 22, 2010 at 3:37 pm
Suzanne McMinn says:
Michele, mine lay on the ground sometimes and stretch out. I’ve never seen one get on their back like that, but I don’t know that it means they’re about to die. Did she get back up after that and walk around? On the other hand, I just can’t say that I know because I’ve never seen mine do exactly what you’re describing.
On April 22, 2010 at 4:40 pm
Melinda says:
(about chicks) My question is this: do I need to put a waterer and food inside the coop? They will be shut away about 7 at night and let out in the mornings about 7 with free access all day to food and water. Any help would be great!
I asked this wayyyyyyyyy up there in the post but I guess no one noticed, so I am asking again. I really need to know!
On April 22, 2010 at 4:56 pm
Suzanne McMinn says:
Melinda, I’m sorry, I’ve been having internet problems. I missed that! I’m not an expert so I can just say what I would do. I would make sure they had access to water at all times. If they go out from 7 am to 7 pm, I wouldn’t worry about food. But I always think they need free access to water.
On April 22, 2010 at 10:07 pm
Melinda says:
Thank you Suzanne. I put the water in their last night with them and they seemed fine this morning and not starving when I let them out. This whole chicken and duck and geese thing is new to me and I don’t have anyone to ask around here because they all think I am nuts for having barnyard animals!
On April 23, 2010 at 2:54 pm
Kelli B says:
Isn’t spring fun? Hubby got six ducklings to add to our three adult ducks. For now, we have the ducklings in a seperate fenced area that butts up to the chicken yard (where the big ducks sleep at night). The big ducks nip at them through the fence. I am wondering what kind of fighting is going to take place when we allow them access to each other… Guess we will find out soon enough. Sometimes the fighting between birds shocks me. I never knew they got so rough!
On April 26, 2010 at 7:41 am