Baby Puffballs
☆ March 24, 2014
The babies have arrived. Chicks! I seriously debated getting turkeys, and one day I will have swans, but this year I decided to be pragmatic and NOT add anything crazy to my plate and just get a handful of chicks. Mike and I decided on six more of the silver laced Wyandottes, who are so friendly and did so well through the winter (at this point, I will never buy chicks that will grow large combs; too many of the chickens we’ve adopted from other people have gotten frostbite).
Mike picked them up at the farm co-op when he was in town late last week, and called me on his way home. “They had a couple extra, so I got them, too,” he said. “But they’re a different kind.” He arrived home with FIVE additional chickies! So much for pragmatism!! So I have eleven chicks living in my bathroom. At least I don’t have to worry about frozen combs with the extra five. They are white crested black polish hens-to-be, and will grow up to look like THIS!
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31 Responses to “Baby Puffballs”
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March 24th, 2014 @ 11:52 am
I had a polish crested that looked like that when I was a kid. He was so great! His favorite perch was atop my dad’s head, and it became a favorite party trick at our house.
March 24th, 2014 @ 11:57 am
most excellent! this made me smile so big. looking forward to photos as they mature. thanks for sharing!
March 24th, 2014 @ 12:01 pm
The folks over at Love & Hisses have one of these guys and she named him the “Rock Star”. So cute!
March 24th, 2014 @ 12:04 pm
Awww! The local pet store has their stock of baby chickens, turkeys, and ducks in. I always have to snuggle them when I stop in for dog or cat food. It is so hard to resist getting one… or five.
Congrats on the new (and extra) additions! Looking forward to pics as they grow. :D
March 24th, 2014 @ 12:11 pm
Lovely! I will always love chickens. I can’t wait to have them clucking about again. They are like resident dinosaurs, in my honest opinion, and they can turn a batch of compost like no other.♡swoon♡
March 24th, 2014 @ 12:42 pm
When my son was in kindergarten, he used to call the little stripey ones “chickmunks.”
March 24th, 2014 @ 12:45 pm
very cute – chickens are in my future!
on a completely unrelated note – Thank you Shreve – for enlightening me on the whole gluten intolerant/celiac disease. I’ve been to the doctor more in the last 6 months than I have in my whole life. I’ve just been diagnosed celiac, and your book on gluten free eating is invaluable. I had read your daily coyote book over the winter (thought Charlie looked a lot like my red husky)and noticed your gluten free book, which brought me to all the doctors visits and finally a diagnosis. Also purchased some books for family. thanks for 2 great books – when is your next book coming out? Life on the Wild West Farm?
March 24th, 2014 @ 2:40 pm
So cute!
March 24th, 2014 @ 2:47 pm
I am in love with those rock star hair chickens!
March 24th, 2014 @ 3:03 pm
All the cresteds will have to be named after Hair Band members. Eddie (Van Halen), (Jon Bon) Jovi, Axel, Ozzy..
Dangit, now -I- want chickens..
March 24th, 2014 @ 3:59 pm
I was really admiring the silver lace birds in your picture so glad to hear that they aren’t just showy but have stamina as well. To think that this all started with one bumblefoot, how’s he doing anyway?
March 24th, 2014 @ 5:11 pm
I love those crested chickens. Chickens with white afros. Or Easter bonnets.
I like the lace chickens but these with the bouffant are cute too. Can’t wait to see them grow up.
March 24th, 2014 @ 6:00 pm
How about adding a silky to the mix? They would complement the crested beauties.
March 25th, 2014 @ 2:25 am
Ha – I sooo did not expect that picture of the crested black polish hen! Astonishing, beautiful and comical, all at once. Looking forward to seeing your chicks when they mature.
Was La Demoiselle a frostbite casualty? Her comb was large and imposing. Poor baby.
Are your gravid cows doing well through these last throes of winter? Hope so. :)
March 25th, 2014 @ 11:14 am
How adorable!!! and that one PUFFY BALL HEAD!!!!!! Oh how I love chickens..
March 25th, 2014 @ 11:36 am
So adorable!
I hope to one day have a small animal hobby farm with chicks part of my farm.
The best of luck with names, oh to fun it would be to think of them!
March 25th, 2014 @ 2:20 pm
I want chickens again, but the last two batches of chicks I got, my dog liked them better than I did and after they were full grown decided that they were similar to KFC just made for his prey instinct. He killed the whole lot. Now, I am scared to get anymore as I don’t have a place where I feel they are secure enough from him.
March 25th, 2014 @ 2:22 pm
Yay! So happy for you! Those crested polish hens are so extravagant! Can’t wait until yours are fully grown and strutting around your pasture. So cool!
March 25th, 2014 @ 4:59 pm
D ~ electric netting fence around the chicken area? it’s kind of pricy but SO effective and very easy to install. Kencove & Premier fencing sell many versions – google will give you their websites.
March 25th, 2014 @ 9:03 pm
So awesome….we have huskies so chickens are a no go where I live. Maybe in another life.
March 26th, 2014 @ 6:24 am
it’s not a party until you have an electric fence. now they ALL are going to imprint on you and follow you around. lol. eleven? GAAAAA
March 26th, 2014 @ 7:15 am
Wonder what those chicks think of the red planet they’ve landed on …
March 26th, 2014 @ 2:21 pm
I have a friend, Linda, @ Prarie Home Farms in Coeur d’Alene Idaho. She gets baby turkeys and raises them organic, free range, fancy stuff don’t you know. She gets orders from folks before ordering and them has them slaughtered for the holidays. Idea? Anyway, your chicks are too too cute.
March 26th, 2014 @ 4:02 pm
Have you seen the Chicken Beauty Pageant Photographs? http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2014/03/the-bizarre-world-of-chicken-beauty-pageants-photographed-by-ernest-goh/
March 26th, 2014 @ 4:51 pm
I saw someones comment about resident dinosaurs! Ha, that’s what I call mine too. I let one of my broody hens sit on 4 eggs last spring. Having her run around the acre with her babies in tow was adorable, an experience I will never forget. I ended up with a baby rooster. His name is Bam Bam, he has his own area separate from my other rooster, after all, I knew him when he was a “puff ball”
March 27th, 2014 @ 4:16 pm
That picture of the white crested black polish hen made me think of Phyllis Diller. Maybe one of them could have her namesake! Those crested ones are just too much!
March 27th, 2014 @ 5:04 pm
OMG!! SO jealous.
March 27th, 2014 @ 5:54 pm
I’m rather fascinated that your baby chicks will grow up to look like Phyllis Diller! I would want all of mine to look like that. I’d name them Andy (after Andy Warhol), Phyllis (obvs), Einstein….
What is the chance you would post a tiny video of those little puffballs in action?
March 30th, 2014 @ 7:52 am
I hate hens that have better hair than me!
They are beautiful Polski babes.
March 30th, 2014 @ 5:09 pm
EEEEEEEEE!
They are so adorable!
I wish I could keep chickens where I live. They’re really a lot of fun.
April 11th, 2014 @ 11:44 am
Yay for chicks! I’ve loved having chickens; we just got our first rooster recently and I actually enjoy hearing his crow – it sounds like he’s saying, “Ermagerd!” The photo of the crested is ridiculous in the best way!
We just got some baby turkeys, and I’m interested to see how they turn out. Always an adventure!