The day after Ruby passed away in my hands, this little gal became listless. She didm't walk much, but sat with her feet curled up, rocking on her haunches. We started all of them on antibiotics. I discovered that if I left the area, she would try to find me so I encouraged her to walk, but the next day she was worse. I had separated her from the other chicks. I didn't know if she was contagious or if they would try to do her in.

Finally, February 22, the chicks had arrived at Atwoods. I was so excited. Our brooder was ready for them. Arkansas required that we buy 6 chicks whereas our city, Arkadelphia, required that we max at 4. We bought the 6, but we had no idea what bread they were at the time. Eventually, we learned that we had purchased one Delaware (left) and 5 Buff Orpingtons. They were so cute and so small.

When I was a little girl, I had some relatives who had chickens. I love to feed them, find the eggs, and play with them. I always wanted a few chickens of my own and at age 67, I now had a chicken coop given to me by my husband for my Christmas present. I could hardly wait until March to get my chicks.

The chicks had their brooder, floor covering, food and water. I felt they needed some stimulating entertainment, so I bought them a toy. Don't all babies need toys? When I put their toy in their box, it was run for your lives into the corner as far as you can get from that THING.

The day after Ruby passed away in my hands, this little gal became listless. She didm't walk much, but sat with her feet curled up, rocking on her haunches. We started all of them on antibiotics. I discovered that if I left the area, she would try to find me so I encouraged her to walk, but the next day she was worse. I had separated her from the other chicks. I didn't know if she was contagious or if they would try to do her in.

Introducing Ruby, the first to get her cone. Two named, four more to go. The chickens love to play four games in their box: Keep Away, (Have something in your mouth and run around the box trying to keep it away from the other chicks. Other chicks decide to play and chase you. If another one gets whatever, chase that one.), King of the Hill (Fly to the top of feeder and be yanked off by Diva Della), Statue (See who can be the stillest the longest.) and Follow the Leader (If one does eats, drinks, plays, the others must join in as well.) Being girls, they also love diamonds. They work so hard to steal mine.

March 28, 2015, We lost Ruby this morning. Don't know why. RIP, Ruby.

I would take out three chicks from the box everyday for visitation and for them to get a change of scenery. Diva Della had more visitations than others because she was the only different one. After I had put the second Orpington back in the box, I would not know who had been out or in of the box.

Just one of the cute pics I have taken and posted on FB because it inspired comments to go with the picture such as , "Just LOOK at those nails!"; "YOU missed one!" "What ARE those?"

The day after Ruby passed away in my hands, this little gal became listless. She didm't walk much, but sat with her feet curled up, rocking on her haunches. We started all of them on antibiotics. I discovered that if I left the area, she would try to find me so I encouraged her to walk, but the next day she was worse. I had separated her from the other chicks. I didn't know if she was contagious or if they would try to do her in.

Cajunfilly
Apr 6, 2015

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