Cloaca Riot

First, a long-overdue ovation to your band name suggestions! Brilliant. Hilarious. I will be using them all when referring to the chickies from now on. Thank you for the laughs – I’m in awe of your brains.

The Bawking Heads are still living in a 3′ x 5′ crate in my bathroom, but they are on the verge of outgrowing that, too. When the weather is beautiful, I’ve been moving them outside – first, for just a few hours, and, most recently, all day. I built covers for some of my raised beds last year, and have taken one out of the garden to use as a temporary OeufSpring habitat. This way, they can safely get accustomed to the outside world with plenty of room to stretch their wings. They love it.

Chloe loves it, too. She is obsessed with chickens. She doesn’t chase our free-roaming hens and has never tried to nab one; her actions are best described as “following chickens closely.” When the Fustercluck is outside, she will stand beside their enclosure, her nose inches away from the chicken wire, for HOURS.

It’s almost time for Cheep Trick to permanently move outside. I’m going to miss their songs coming from my bathroom.

We Need A Band Name

I could use some laughs. And you all are the cleverest.

So name my band of punk chicks!

Baby Puffballs

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!