They're Here!

Eleven little tiny black chicks have stolen our hearts. They are unbelievably adorable. For such tiny birds, they are incredibly loud. Their peeps are so welcomed, the kids can't keep their eyes off of them. The first three hours the kids didn't leave their side in basement where we have set up a temporary home; cardboard box, water, heat lamp, food. We are holding them lots, something our research suggests in helps create a comfort level for both of us.

They are incredibly entertaining. They were learning about the water, lifting there feet as they stepped in it, unsure of the feeling. Falling into their food dish, even sleeping in it. They walk on top of and into each like weeble wobbles. They often teeter, exhausted, trying to fight sleep, until they just fall over. Shai will then squeal in delight "chick ens sleep", but in a high pitched loud voice that wake them all up, and then they are on the go again.

There are a few chicks which peck the others, Ben in particular found this very difficult to watch. He would explain that they needed to use soft touches, comfort the chick on the receiving end. We talked to our friendly farm store, learning that this pecking is the beginning of establishing a pecking order. A very natural process, and unless the chicks are really being injured, its not something to worry about.

There is a sleepover planned with the chicks. They have instantly become family. While not all of them have been named, there have been some given to the chicks with more identifiable personalities. The tiniest one is Ewok, the largest Chewbauca. The two with the clearest white marks on their heads are Frodo and Bilbo, Millie is the timid chick and Billy Bully is the aggessive one. Shai named two of them; Digger and Banana. Three left to be named.

Their presence is leading to lots of research on chickens and birds in general. For now, holding them, feeling their soft down and listening to their sweet peeps are consuming us happily. While holding the little chicks Ben said "moving to the country is pretty great, I have waited my whole life for this". Funny enough, it is something he has asked for since I can remember.