I'm Jes, from central VA, I'm new here and to chickens. (Fairly certain this is the first time anyone in my family has been this close to a chicken that wasn't on a dinner plate). That said, I have spent countless hours devouring information on BYC (and other sites) in preparation for our latest arrivals.
This past Monday, my husband, son, daughter, and I (and our dog Crash who acts as if he is the one who hatched these little fuzzy creatures) became the proud owners of what we are currently calling "The Four Hens of the Apocalypse". There is Death/Hemlock our silver lace cochin, Famine/Nightshade our silver cuckoo marans, War/Arsenic our easter egger, and Pestilence our other easter egger.
Unfortunately this joyus time is overshadowed by the cloud of death that is hanging over poor Pestilence. She has become extremely lethargic since 4 days of age, and is only getting worse. (See my post here https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ick-chick-or-just-a-sleepy-baby#post_11526576 for more info on her downward spiral). In the event that we loose her, we will most likely rename the others (hints the dual names) as you can't have the "four horsemen" (or hens in our case) with only three.
Despite the downfall we are still excited about our new adventures in chicken raising and having our pets make us breakfast, and are in the process of building our own frankenversion of the garden coop for our girls.
------------- PHOTOS -----------------
Death/Hemlock - Silver Lace Cochin: Our adventurous one. LOVES bug hunting and is curious, but pretty laid back. Fluffy feet!!!!
<- Napping after tummy rubs, not dead.
Famine/Nightshade - Silver Cuckoo Marans: Our queen bee, who has pretty much been at the top of the pecking order since they arrived and is the most skittish and feisty one in the bunch.
War/Arsenic - Easter Egger: Pretty chill, personality that fits in between Famine & Death. Our "chatty/vocal" one. I just love her puffy cheeks!
Pestilence - Easter Egger: Pre "illness" she was just like War as far as personality goes. Totally bummed about her condition. Hoping she recovers, but not holding my breath.
^ again, napping after tummy rubs, not dead (yet...
)
Some miscellaneous photos of the gang...
<- the day they arrived. All of us just gathered around the brooder watching them. (Featuring our dog Crash and my son).
<- beards are excellent brooders! (Featuring my husband).
This past Monday, my husband, son, daughter, and I (and our dog Crash who acts as if he is the one who hatched these little fuzzy creatures) became the proud owners of what we are currently calling "The Four Hens of the Apocalypse". There is Death/Hemlock our silver lace cochin, Famine/Nightshade our silver cuckoo marans, War/Arsenic our easter egger, and Pestilence our other easter egger.
Unfortunately this joyus time is overshadowed by the cloud of death that is hanging over poor Pestilence. She has become extremely lethargic since 4 days of age, and is only getting worse. (See my post here https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ick-chick-or-just-a-sleepy-baby#post_11526576 for more info on her downward spiral). In the event that we loose her, we will most likely rename the others (hints the dual names) as you can't have the "four horsemen" (or hens in our case) with only three.
Despite the downfall we are still excited about our new adventures in chicken raising and having our pets make us breakfast, and are in the process of building our own frankenversion of the garden coop for our girls.
------------- PHOTOS -----------------
Death/Hemlock - Silver Lace Cochin: Our adventurous one. LOVES bug hunting and is curious, but pretty laid back. Fluffy feet!!!!
Famine/Nightshade - Silver Cuckoo Marans: Our queen bee, who has pretty much been at the top of the pecking order since they arrived and is the most skittish and feisty one in the bunch.
War/Arsenic - Easter Egger: Pretty chill, personality that fits in between Famine & Death. Our "chatty/vocal" one. I just love her puffy cheeks!
Pestilence - Easter Egger: Pre "illness" she was just like War as far as personality goes. Totally bummed about her condition. Hoping she recovers, but not holding my breath.
^ again, napping after tummy rubs, not dead (yet...
Some miscellaneous photos of the gang...
