Cinda Webb

The dog crate (minus the tray) is a great substitute for a chicken tractor so that the new babies can live in the middle of the chicken yard without being harmed by the older birds. And this way everyone can get accustomed to each other because eventually they will all get along and be one flock. The babies only stay out during the day – they come back inside to their plastic home during the night.

Slowing down and weeding brings certain rewards besides cleaned up beds. This caterpillar was on the fennel plant that is quickly going to seed. It is not exactly the beauty yet but will be after a sojourn in a chrysalis. The spider below, the beast, made its web in front of the gate. By Wednesday night I hope it will move as I will need to take the trash cans out through the gate.

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We have three new chicks to the “farm.” Pictured above from top to bottom is an Americana, a Buff Orpington, and a Maran. We should expect eggs from them in a few months. For now they are living in a plastic container in the extra room and will soon graduate to the dog’s old crate in the yard during the daytime. They will return to this tub for the night. When they are big enough and the other birds in the flock are accustomed to the sight of these three, then they will move to the roost one night and, hopefully, be considered part of the flock. This technique worked in the past and should work again with these three.