Here a Chick, There a Chick, Everywhere a Chick, Chick

When raising laying hens, it becomes an issue at some point to think about replacing them after they reach their peak productive years. It has been suggested by the "people in the know" to seek replacements after the hens reach 3 years old. Seems kinda of young for burn-out to me, but I guess if you are cranking one out a day it wouldn't take long to wear you down. We have 44 hens laying at different times right now, blessing us a whopping 3 plus dozen eggs a day! Most of them are under the one year mark, with only a dozen or so going into their third year. They are not a spring chicken,but not a slacker either. With the abundance of eggs we have found ourselves with at present we had decided to wait about raising any replacement chicks this year. Or so we thought . . . .

I had a dear friend call just the other day to inquire if we had interest or room for a couple of baby chicks. Her son and fiancee had purchased them for her daughter's two girls for Easter. Not knowing the amount of care they would require. Rene's granddaughters were thrilled, but their mommy wasn't too sure. For she works full time as a nurse and often at night. Caring for two peeping fuzz balls didn't quite factor into their lives right now. So knowing the country girl that I am and that we are already raising chickens ~ the call was placed. Lon agreed to take in the two, as we have a hen trying to go broody on us. The peeping package was delivered to him after work the next morning and made the ride to Alabama without a problem.

The problem came up when he took off to the feed store to buy them some chick starter feed. I then get another call, this time it takes on a different but familiar ring. Our favorite feed store has gotten in some baby chicks, Rhode Island Reds. Yep! He was calling to see if we needed to get some, since they were just sitting there in the store. Stating, "we are going to be raising 2, it wouldn't be any more work to add a few more, don't you think?' "I'm thinking a couple will do." Which by this time I've been bitten by the same bug and I'm not even in the store looking at them. To which I replied, "might as well get four so it will be an even half dozen." Now what is it about the number 2 that is not even? And how did we make the jump from no baby chicks, to 2 baby chicks, to 6 baby chicks? I understand the Easter chick thing and I admit that they are the cutest little things when first born, but what makes two grown adults do the very thing that they decided not to do? I can only suspect that the "farmer genes" are coming out in us. At every feed store around the country USA right now, these little temptations sit waiting for us to come in to buy our feed and supplies. And if by some chance you happen to miss out on these cuties, there are the ever present hatchery catalogs sitting in your mailbox to order from. It appears that they are just as much a part of Spring passage as the flower & veggies plants, seeds, fertilizers, gardening gloves and such. It is part of the Country life. Just mention their name and there will sure to be someone telling about the new chicks they just got. Then asking you if you've gotten yours yet. YEP, got that one covered.

We had our first April shower today. The old rhyme I've heard for years goes like this ~ April showers, bring May flowers. After the dry spell last year, we truly can't complain. Even though we have had more than our share of rain the past few months. When I see it coming, I keep reminding myself of this little jingle and that we are storing up water for our vegetable garden to come. All those little tomatoes and peppers will need plenty to drink. I had been using the two rain barrels we had set up to water the transplants and the fruit trees we've planted. Their level dropping almost to low for me to reach. Now they are topped off and I can use this abundance on more things around the yard. I love flowers and knowing that the rain helps them to bloom makes it easier to watch it fall to the ground. Especially when I rather be out digging in the dirt. I've been shut up in the house for too long this Winter and have a serious need to be out in the sunshine. But rains will come and rains will go and we will be the better because of their appearance.

Our Bourbon Red Turkeys are reaching their prime this Spring and the mating calls have been sounding. Thomas has been waiting for his girls to get old enough to breed. From all the activity it appears that all 4 may be laying. We have found one egg in a hen's nest in the silo and one in a brush pile by the creek. But the biggest mystery was the location of a nest that belongs to the hen who keeps disappearing for days on end. We were afraid that she had stayed out of the pen too long and has become a dinner for something. We are hoping that she has a nest that she is watching over, but where? And if we find it, then how are we going to move her to a safe location to raise her young? We lost Pearl, a Royal Palm hen last year when she made her nest too close to the creek. It would be great if this one could hatch out and raise her brood for us. There would be young birds ready for Thanksgiving this Fall. But in the meantime we've decided to try hatching out a few turkey eggs ourselves. A family friend has said we could use his incubator to hatch them in. We haven't done this type of hatching before and will be curious about it's outcome.

I have been keeping a list of first sightings this year.
Like the first time I saw~

~the Canadian geese return, a sure sign in my book that Spring is on it's way

~the first butterflies in the yard (they were Spring Azures), a lovely lavender blue

~first daffodil to bloom, usually showing up around my birthday in March

~first bat in the evening sky, sweeping around to catch the newly hatching insects

~our first Whip-poor-will call of the season, a spotted brown bird with a name sure to have a story attached to it

~first pair of Mourning doves, I love their cooing calls to each other and it always reminds me of my granny.

We were sitting on the porch last night and Lon spotted another first. Surprised by it's appearance as it is only April. I couldn't recall ever seeing one this early in the year. The first lightening bug of the season had arrived. I know we have been having some hot days lately and I wonder if the temperatures have called it out of hiding to seek a mate. Do you know that it is only the females that flash? Creating a sparkly seductive dance in an effort to find a mate.

Now when I stop to think about it, we've had baby chicks of some sort for the past 2 years every Spring. The first 16 arriving as my birthday present in 2008. Another batch last year before moving to the farm. So why break tradition? Hadn't realized we had one but it appears we do.

This chick is loving Spring and all it has to offer. Hope you are taking time to enjoy yours.

Deborah