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?
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?