Feathered Friends

Since our flock was taken out by a mink we have to build a new one.

We got six new chicks today.

Isn't that a cute little take-home box?

It has windows!

Now we are in cuteness overload again.

We got three Araucanas, one Rhode Island Red,

one Black Jersey Giant, and one Black Australorp.

All of them are hens.

We plan on getting a rooster sometime in the future.

It's so good to hear the cheeping again.

They're quieter than the ducklings.

The chicks are soft and gentle while the ducks are rough and rugged.

We are enjoying them both!

Speaking of ducks, they're about 4 1/2 weeks old.

We moved them outside a week ago.

They were getting too big to be inside.

They thought I was going to give them peas.

They're not dirty.

It's the fawn coloring coming in.

If you look at the duck on the far right, you can see

the whitish neck while the rest looks brown.

Eventually, the rest of the white feathers will grow in.

For now, the yellow down still shows.

We've learned that ducks love snow.

They do have a heat lamp inside the coop...

they just preferred to be out in the snow.

 She's not feathered but she's still our friend.

She was spayed a few days ago.

She is an outside dog but for the next 10 - 14 days she'll be inside.

We're supposed to keep her from running, jumping, and doing fun doggie things.

The vet tech actually told me, "Good luck with that."

So we're doing the best we can.

We keep her confined to the utility room at night.

During the day, we've been letting her in the kitchen and

part of the living room (as long as she stays on her rugs).

And she hasn't had any accidents!

We have an awesome dog.

Poor Pepper just wants to be outside.

I think the novelty of being inside with her people has worn off.

It will get really hard when she starts feeling better.