Fantastic 4 1

Describe 'Fantastic 4+1' here

I had been wanting chickens for several summers, but being a full-time college student and working made it hard to get started. Finally, I recieved my degree in December 2011 and the following Spring my plans for a backyard flock began to take realistic shape. We live in the city so Roosters were not an option, but I had been in contact with the local feed store and they let me know when they would be getting their first shipment of pullets. I was so excited I could hardly wait! I began planning my run and getting a brooder and supplies together. My uncle is a contractor and he even built me a beautiful coop!

I painted it myself! When I got to the feed store later that week, I could hardly restrain myself to just four chickens; four adorable, fuzzy, multi-colored cotton balls just begging to come home with me! I decided to get one of each of the breeds they had.....and who can POSSIBLY resist baby waterfowl? So I scooped up an adorable fuzzy yellow duckling to add to my treasure box! Even as day old chicks, the boisterous little buggers began to distinguish themselves. Meet Xena, my little Ameracauna warrior princess! She is second in command in our flock and doesn't take crap from anybody!

Daisy, my little Leghorn was also quick to name, she too is a princess, but with a whole other meaning! She is the leader of our flock!

Ginger the Rhode Island Red was the third to get her name, and has always been such a sweet, calm, happy-go-lucky chicken!

My little Barred Rock was the hardest because she was so personality-less at first, but my boyfriend decided to call her Petrie after the Pteradactyl on Land Before Time who was always falling instead of flying. My mother called her "stoner chick" for a while because of the way she would sleep all the time and stumble around a lot. We thought she maybe was one of the last to hatch.

And last but certainly not least, Paul my Pekin duckling. The ducklings weren't sexed when we bought them so I hoped and hoped he would turn out female and we could call him 'Pearl' instead! Alas, I also had to give him up recently because he was getting tooooo friendly with my hens. The lady at the hatchery he originally came from said she would take him for her home duck flock. He was such a sweet, and friendly guy I was sad to give him up, but I know he went to a good home. Here he is with the group, and those chicks LOVED to follow him around!

As babies so often do, they have grown up so fast! They are 3 months now, and going strong! We are hoping for eggs in a few more weeks! For those who are wondering, even though Paul has left us, the flock remains Fantastic 4+1 because a day later, an old friend of mine contacted me about a lonely, older hen of hers she was looking to rehome. Meet Silver, the Silver Laced Wyandotte!

Even though she is 5-6 years old and her laying is slightly declining, she is as pretty as a new penny to us! She is very friendly to humans and even after a couple weeks of living around my 'teenage' hens, she is fitting in nicely! Here are a few more recent shots of the girls!

Little Daisy has the most beautiful tail! And she looooves Watermelon on a hot day! She is also the only chicken who sports her little white 'bermuda shorts' every day!

Nothing like a good sunbathe after a days "hard work" for the little warrior. We just love her little mutton chops! With her absent comb and wattles, she looks wilder than ever!

Little Ginger has grown up to be quite the beautiful chicken! She puts on the biggest ruckus in the morning if I don't let them out into the yard soon enough! Some of us like to sleep in!

Even Petrie has grown into a beautiful (and fat!) little bird. She preffers to spend her time chasing the doves out from under the bird feeder so she can eat the seed herself.

Silver is sportingly showing off our backyard setup. The tan and brown dog house will be a duck house in a few weeks! Thanks for a taking a few minutes to meet my eggcellent little flock, they sure are entertaining and we love em'!

Here's one more picture of Paul with the girls a few days before I had to give him away. What a handsome boy!