Almost a year ago we brought home our first chicks from Meyer Hatchery.

We chose six different breeds. My son picked an Easter Egger, my husband selected a Silver Grey Dorking and I chose Black Copper Marans. We also decided to get a Golden Buff for our everyday layer and a Buckeye for color, hardiness and state pride. Finally for friendliness and snuggles we all agreed we should have a Buff Orpington, a breed we had read every family flock needed, she has certainly lived up to that reputation.


When we got home Baby spent most of the day under the warmer while some of her sisters explored


Eventually she wandered out and discovered the food and water


On the second day I did a photo shoot of each chick, while her sisters posed for the camera...


She just took a nap


Day 3 The Golden Girls, she is in the middle


Baby Buff, the Buckeye and Amelia looking more distinct from the side


By day four I knew she was different, she was constantly tapping and peeping to come out with me


She found her love of snuggling


And selfies


And perching on my shoulder


And falling asleep on my lap


Day 6 I introduced them to dirt and greens to peck and scratch through


Day 8 she met our cat, Pan


But when she tried to peck him it became clear their friendship as not meant to be


Day 9, a stump and perch were introduced to their environment


When my parents visited the chicks my dad observed she was a bit of a loner


But she just prefers human companionship


Day 10 pecking at her shadow


Practicing dust bathing on the rug


And napping in between


She grew beautiful angel like wings


Though she didn't grow as quickly as her "big sister" Amelia, the leader of the chicks,
but I knew one day she would be bigger than them


Posing with the Buckeye, I think she looks like a toy or muppet in this picture


At 2 weeks old the girls had their first day out


Keeping close to me at first


Then exploring the world, my son picked the daffodil for her


Growing bolder, jumping on the edge of the warmer


Getting some time to perch alone


Day 20 still small and scoopable


3 weeks old, little shoulder bird


And chest bird... I'm standing straight up here


Visiting with Rowan


And running back to momma


Such a cutie


Staying close


Sweet girl


Hanging out with Victoria the Dorking


One month old, listening to the birds outside


Selfie


Little ham


The girls at just over a month old


Snuggling with Amelia


Baby in the hand


Hamming it up, day 45


Perching on the woodpile


Snuggles


On the way outside, Baby took a detour to perch on a thin dowel rod, day 50


When I couldn't supervise free ranging the girls spent most of their summer days in their movable pen


Sometimes they had a small human visitor


Digging in the yard


Day 55, waiting for the food to be refilled


Mint and peas ice cubes on a hot day


Cooling her feet


Victoria showing her how it's done


Two months old


In the wild carrots, aka Queen Anne's Lace


Bedtime snuggles in the brooder, while the coop is being finished up


Frozen banana with Amelia


Starting to get a tinge of pink


Walking on top of the brooder


Dust bathing


In the creeping charlie


First day out in the coop


Staying in for a few days to learn home


3 months old, out in their run playing with their new treat toy. This is when the pecking order was first established.
Baby and Amelia found themselves at the bottom with Morgaine bossing her way to the top.


But as Baby became possessive of my attention she slowly began her climb toward the top.


Snuggles, snuggles all for herself


Gotta love chicken hugs


Posing with mom


A peck on the cheek


4 months old


Baby Buff was only supposed to be her chick nickname, but Baby just seemed to fit


Starting to fill out and get that nice Orp shape


Inside for a visit


Week 19 hanging out in the coop, where things are soon to get exciting


Week 20 Clara and Amelia are about to start laying and as their hormones start to change and they become more submissive, Baby rises to second in command under Morgaine. I wish I could have captured her ridiculous kung fu bunny moves that slowly wore them down.


Trespassing in the garden


Week 26 Look at that pink comb and little wattles


Hanging out in the coop more


Baby in the nest box!


Where she would go on to spend a lot of her time


Baby's first egg, peach with with speckles


Baby, Amelia and Clara's eggs


Snuggles please?


Week 28 selfie


Week 29 hanging out with me while Morgaine lays her first eggs


Week 30 stealing the middle nest box when Victoria tried to lay her first egg


Week 31 mid-November brought early snow


Week 32 the snow melted and we had a last bit of sunshine and warmth before the bitter winter set in


Sometime in January


February


March 1st Baby's fabulous fluffy butt!


Finally all the snow has melted!


One year old! Baby and her sisters are officially hens!


Baby got back, April


Baby grazing by the fairy garden in May


Baby in the warm morning glow

What is this egg doing here?


13 months


Snuggles, please?