Good Golly Miss Molly

This is Miss Molly. Miss Molly loved to fly the coop everyday. It didn't bother me but the neighbors dog as well as a few coon were enjoying my chicken for dinner far to often. The Farmer added Cattle panels to the fencing to make it taller in an effort to keep the chickens in. They all stayed in the run after this, all of them except Miss Molly.

Everyday, I would see her strutting around the yard, pecking and scratching for her dinner and every night I would see her back in the coop roosting with the rest of the chickens. I couldn't figure out how she got out or back in. I tryed to find and plug the holes but the next day, she would be out again. And then one night I noticed that Molly wasn't in the coop with the other birds. That was almost a month ago and I hadn't seen her since. I wrote her off as dinner for some predator.

Then this morning I was on my way back into the house when I passed by a fir tree out in the yard and heard some clucking noise and there she was, Miss Molly, coming out from under the tree with a brood of seven chicks.
I was dumb struck.

It didn't take long for the cats to find the chicks and we had to rescue two of them from being coming lunch. As much fun as they were to watch parading around we decided to move them into this little hutch.

 The family seems happy in their new home.

 I noticed that Miss Molly had left behind several eggs- when we picked them up we could hear chirping inside and one of the eggs was beginning to crack.

 This little guy makes the 8th chick.

Miss Molly made my morning, heck she made my week. We are all enjoying her new babies and marvel out how she managed to survive underneath that tree.

Once again, I can't help but marvel at God's creations.

~ Kathy

Chickens - not just for laying eggs

The weather here in Illinois has been unseasonably warm. The high was about 58 degrees today and we were cruising around the farm today with out a coat. The chickens too, have been enjoying the weather and they are still free ranging which works great for me. I started a flower garden right outside their run this fall.(Yes, I did say outside the run- they fly the coop on a daily basis, cause the grass is always greener on the other side, you know. In this case it really is!) Instead of removing the sod I laid cardboard down and have since been piling on the leaves, manure, and used straw bedding. The chickens have been doing a great job of turning it all over for me.

Trio of Americanas purchased from County Line Hatchery
She has the prettiest birds

This guy needs a name- any ideas?

Easter Egger

Easter Egger

Guess its time to brace myself, looks like by the end of the week our nice weather is going to disappear and winter will finally rear its ugly head. I know all of you with animals outside are feeling the same as me, but with any luck spring will arrive on time.

easter chicks

Finally, I break from the rain. It has been a miserable spring here in the midwest. No complaints today though. Beautiful! I was up at 4am to drive an 1.5 hours to Freeport Illinois to the small animal swap with my friend Tamara.

Anna had inquired a week or so ago when we were going to have some baby chicks.Well, I wasn't planning on hatching or getting baby chicks this year but who am I to deny my 4 year old the pleasure of having baby chicks. So, my goal was to get some 1 or 2 Americana bantams for her to enjoy. Plus, I had to pick up a Rhode Island Red Rooster from Trisha of County Line Hatchery. I've purchase from Trish before, hatching eggs and chicks. Her stock is so nice.

So.....Here is Mr. Rhode Island Red Rooster

 Here is one of the lovely little bantam chicks - I ended up getting 3.
You never know

you might lose one and then you wouldn't want the other to get lonely

Then I decided I should really get some standard size Americanas. I was just going to get three, really I was. I couldn't decide between the blue, black or splash. So, thought I should have one of each and then you know what are the odds you would have three hens? Better get 6 to increase the odds.

 Here is Anna- she is thoroughly enjoy her new babies.
In fact she was very quick to name 2 of them.
Remember Anna has a talent for coming up with unique names?

This is Shirley Temple.

This one is just Shirley.

Happy Easter Everyone!

This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad.

Many Blessings,

Kathy