June 29, 2014

Chris installed a perch for the girls today.  They thought it was the greatest thing since towel time.

 The perch immediately made Bonnie and Molly very sleepy.  They couldn't even keep their eyes open.  But that wasn't the case for Penny...

 As you can see, the other two are knocked out, but Penny continues to keep a watchful eye on us.

But eventually, even Penny could not resist the powers of the perch.

June 26, 2014

Penny, Bonnie and Molly on June 26, 2014

 

Here were the girls last night...  Eating, again.  Well, they have a lot of growing to do in the next few months so it makes sense.  The night before last we invented something really great for the girls.  It's a chance for them to stretch their legs and wings, get stimulated, explore and forage...  We call it, "towel time".

As you can see, the concept is quite simple.  An ordinary towel is laid out on the bed (to catch their many poops) and the chicks are placed on top.  At first they just stand there, confused, but within moments the fun begins.  Here you see Penny, discontent to simply forage for crumbles like her sisters.  She is on her way to explore new, unchartered territory.

 Pecking at the crumbles we've sprinkled out for them.  Notice Penny in the background now going off to explore in the other direction.

 

 Chris sprinkles out more crumbles for the chicks.  Pecking and scratching ensue.

 

Foraging...



June 24, 2014

 Bonnie, Molly and Penny on June 24, 2014, the night we brought them home.
 

So, after talking about getting chickens for a few years, Chris and I finally took the plunge on June 24, 2014.  I found these sweetie pies at Bradshaw Feed & Pet Supply in Sacramento, and snatched them right up and brought them home.  It was difficult to choose between all of the great breeds, but we ended up choosing an Ameraucana (Molly), New Hampshire Red (Penny) and Light Brahma (Bonnie).  As you can see from the photo above, Bonnie is the youngest, with the fewest amount of feathers.  Below are a few more photos from that night.

Here's Penny scoping me out on the drive home from Bradshaw Feed & Pet Supply.  So far, we've noticed she is the most alert and the most curious.

Chris and Bonnie immediately fell in love with each other.  Here's Bonnie taking a snooze on Chris' chest.

 Here's Molly and Penny with Adam.