Week 3--Baby Chicks Update

They are growing daily!! They enjoy their larger home, the rabbit hutch. But they tend to escape through the cage. That will stop so, when they get to big. The Araucanians are the friendliest. The barred rocks are the loudest. They all are so curious. They love to peek out the cage at us. Who's watching who?

Here are their pictures at three weeks.

Week 2-Chicks Update

The Araucanians are growing the fastest with their feathers. The light Brahmas are the largest birds.

Jack loves the brown Araucanian, it sits on his arms every time he takes him out. Kyle's fav is the yellow Araucanian, but that is Ryan's and my favorite, too. We'll all have to share her.

Tonight we moved them into a bigger home, an old rabbit hutch I got off freecycle. Lined the bottom and sides with left over dry wall sheets and topped it with savings, added their light and food/water. Much more room and they can see outside, thought the box would make them stir crazy. Plus they were trying to fly out. Now when we walk by they peek out and follow us. The cat doesn't even seem interested.

Chicks Week Old

The little babies are growing fast. They have their wing feathers, some even have tail feathers. The araucanas'feet color have darkened and the feathers around their face are puffed out. The light brahams have their feathers on their feet. They all are fling, well jumping with a flap of their wings, around each other. We have them in our school room (true homeschooler), so the kids go in all day checking on them. Since there are four (five during the week) kids and one mom, they get checked on often.

New Recycled Plant Nursery

Today I (ok Patrick, nailed them together) made raised gardening beds from old wood. I have two large retaining walls on both sides of my house. I but two compost bens on one side (made out of recycled pallets). Well, what to do with the other wall? Helen, my gardener advisor (new title) suggested I make that whole wall into a kind of nursery (raised beds) for young plants. WOW, what a great idea, the area is perfect.
The people who owned the house before us collected old lumber. There is a pile of 2x2s, 2x4s, 4x4s and even a old phone pole. Last year, I made two raised beds out of some of this lumber. Right now they house, my blueberries, blackberries, and butterfly bush plants. They will stay in this nursery until ready to plant.
Today, I found the lumber I needed and hauled it up to the house, this is a hard walk. Then I had to pull out all the old nails. Then laid it out, this is where I asked Patrick to use his handy nail gun, made things so much faster. When I nailed to other two beds together...my thumbs hurt for weeks. I am not a carpenter, gardener, farmer, etc....but hey I am faking it and having fun trying. They do not look perfect or beautiful but they are made and made with recycled wood. I so love to recycle!!
Then I started filling the beds with dirt from around the yard. I shoveled and unshoveled six wheelbarrows full of dirt. I got three beds out of the six filled. I will continue to fill in with dirt. Then will add some compost and topsoil. After this is finished, I can go around my yard and take cuttings of all my plants. Then I can put them in my new recycled plant nursery.
I'm very proud of the day.

Love our Home and Land

Today the kids went back to the creek. Shannon had a friend over and they all played so well at the creek. It's so peaceful at the creek. It's cool under the shade of the trees. The water sounds nice going over the rocks. Best of all I love to hear them laughing (and yelling) with each other. Ryan, the toddler we watch loves throughing things into the water and watching it float away...joys of being almost 2.

Makes for a restful day.

Gardening Today

Yesterday, I weeded more blackberry bushes off my hill next to the driveway. These guys are strong and multiple fast. My hill project will be a long and painful one. When we moved in the hill was overgrown with wild weeds of all kinds. I am slowly clearing it.
Today my friend, Helen brought me several different types of tomato plants. Got them planted in the garden area. I also found some bean and cucumber seeds, planted them. We'll see if the grow??!
Added a thornless blackberry plant in the baby bed (a small raised bed for young plants) along with the blueberry bush babies. These will be planted this fall if strong and large enough.
While in the garden I noticed our 1st strawberry is ready. I planted 8 strawberry plants given to me by my friend Claudia. Well after the snow blizzard, rabbits trying to eat them, sheep trying to eat them and me hacking them with a hoe...we finally got ONE. I hope more are to come.
Yesterday

Today

I am such a BAD gardener....thanks Helen for all your patience!!

More Chicken Photos

On day Four...growing nicely. They are starting to have real feathers on their wings.