These adorable day old chicks arrived at our post office on Tuesday morning, They are araucana's, and lay eggs in cream, green, and pale blue and thus are nicknamed Easter Egg chickens . We have been preparing for them for awile now.
My inspiration for the chicken coop came from a local birdhouse builder. Sort of like Dr. Seuss crossed with Alice-in-Wonderland. My marvelous husband built it for me, and helped install the enclosed pen. Here is the area we cleared for the girls and the birdhouse. The photos below show the stages of construction. I was a good cheerleader, and made loads of iced tea!
Jeff, my husband used paint stir sticks to make the roof, and he hinged it on one side so I can clean it out, and get out eggs. Very clever. He also added some fun doors.
Currently, the girls are inside under a brooder heat lamp. They need the temperature at 95 degrees the first week. If it gets too cold they huddle. When it is too warm they seperate and move away from the heat source. It requires constant adjusting of the lamp, but they are such tiny, sweet things, it is fun to watch them. I am thinking of naming them Poppy, Petunia, and Posy. But, Violet, our lop earred bunny might get jealous.I hope that none of them ends up being a rooster! I think the neighbors would frown on crowing.
I will post more information about the babies as they grow. I think they already look bigger in the photo where they are drinking from a wee tea cup!
