A Chicken Lady is Born

Brand New Babies, 2 days old

On March 31, my life changed forever. All I did was get into my car, drive to the feed store, and retrieve some chicks I'd ordered weeks before.  Simple. Profound.  

I received: 3 Australorps, 2 Buff Orpingtons, and one Black Sex-Linked. Though my thoughts on names swirled, I finally decided to name them each for an important female character on Dr Who.  River Song, Rose Tyler, Martha Jones (Australorps) Amy Pond & Donna Noble (Orpingtons) and Harriet Jones, Prime Minister (or MP Flydale North, only elected official in the brood, depending on the day; Sex Linked).  

My Girls, Day 5

Rose Tyler, an easy favorite, even at 11 days

For the first many weeks of their lives, they lived in our living room. Where I lovingly socialized them, hoping for a Reptile Gardens worthy chick (Read: able to play tic-tac-toe).  

Martha, Donna & Amelia  15 days

First order of focus, however, was acclimating them to my interference in their business & busyness.  The Hand came down regularly to hold, groom & reward the chicks.  It was clear from the beginning who liked it (Rose & River), who tolerated it (Harriet Jones, PM & Donna), and who avoided it (Martha and Amelia).  

First Roost, 22 days
Amy, Harriet Jones-PM, Donna,
Rose, Martha & River 

Around 5 weeks, they ventured outside to play. Well, they went outside and stayed in their box the first few times, THEN they ventured out and about... And Amelia went missing.  We live where there are prey and predators. I knew it was a risk, I knew it could happen (counted on it) and it did.  

30 Days Old! <3
(notice the yellow on the Australorp girls is fading!)

42 Days Old, River Donna Rose Harriet Jones PM Martha

  Eventually, the girls were big enough (had enough feathers) to move from the comfort of our living space, to the back porch. There they would stay until their transition outdoors.


...Stay tuned for part ii