Monday, May 14, 2012

5 things I've learned about chickens in 4 days

The chicks are here! 

Our adventure in raising backyard chickens has officially begun.  I've only had them a few days but I have learned a few things already. 

mother hen, oil on canvas.  ©2010 Kristina Wentzell

Want to see more chicken paintings? Check out this fun video I put together.



1. Chicks sure are messy. I read this beforehand, but boy has it proved true. Tiny chicks are impossibly cute balls of peeping fluff that also possess remarkable athletic abilities right from birth.  They scratch and shuffle and peck around in their brooder like little possessed demons scattering pine shavings in a three foot radius in the air and all around their box.


coming home from the feed store!


2. Chicks start their flying lessons early. We learned this quickly, when opening the door to their brooder (in our case, a wire guinea pig cage) and a couple of them came running and flapping towards the opening and actually got a little bit air born.  Luckily, we were able to stop them in their lemming like leap to certain death.


unpacking the little peepers

3. The contended peeping of baby chicks is the best sound.  It lets a person know everything is all right with the world.  I’ve taken to bringing my laptop in their room to work while listening to their happy little cheeps and shuffling noises.



4. There should be a yoga pose called the chick. My chicks do this hilarious stretching exercise of extending one leg waaaaay out straight behind them while simultaneously leaning sharply forward and stretching the same side wing out. There are cat, cow, and cobra poses…why not chicken?



5. A chick can fall asleep like a drop of a hat.  My chicks can fall asleep in about 1.5 seconds. They will stand still, close their eyes, and slowing fall face first into the shavings…staying there sprawled out like a drunken sailor. Once I realized they weren’t dead, it became quite funny.



Do you have your own flock of backyard chickens?  I'd love to hear from you!  Tell me your chicken stories. 








10 comments:

Frances Clements Fawcett said...

Hi Kristina,
I wonder if you can hear my laughter all the way from New Hampshire?! I'm going to add "The Chick" to my yoga (limited) pose repertoire! ; )
Your chicks are adorable....and the last line about them falling asleep like drunken sailors? Hilarious!
Thanks for the Monday night smile!
Hugs from over way out west!
Frances

Kristina Wentzell said...

Frances,

So glad I gave you a chuckle. I can tell already these chicks are going to supply us with endless amusement.

cheers,
Kristina

Anonymous said...

Kristina, thanks so much for the real world view of new chicks! I'm so tempted to get some, but for now am busy with beekeeping ... At least they don't mess up the house, but I'm jealous of the comforting peeps and the chick's antics! Sounds like you'll really have fun with this. MJ

Kristina Wentzell said...

MJ--Bees have been on my dream list for a while! The two seem to go hand in hand.

Gabrielle said...

Hi Kristina,

I just found your blog via Art Biz Blog and I am hooked. You've been bookmarked!

We rented a basement apartment from a couple who had chickens and our cat loved to sit and watch what we called "CluckTV". They had a silver-laced wyendotte who was just gorgeous. She inspired a few paintings.

Your CSArt idea is brilliant, by the way. We're about to move, so I may steal your idea as a way to break into the art scene there!

I look forward to reading more about your chicks and your CSArt projects!

Kristina Wentzell said...

Gabrielle,

Thanks so much for the kind words!

My cat is also hooked on watching our chickens...endless amusement for him. Not sure how the chicks feel about it though! LOL

The chicks are getting big, very fast--I'll be posting an update soon.

cheers,
Kristina

Sara said...

Hello Kristina,
No chick story, but when they get bigger watch out. Driving to school today I had 3 ducks and 2 turkeys (pets not wild) in the road and I couldn't go anywhere. I wasn't the only one. A car (and a bus) in the other direction had to stop too. We looked at each other and just laughed. The turkey kept going back and forth adn the duck was just hollering at us...
How is everything? I am loving being a mom, Tucker is so big already. He likes to go hiking. I got a real good running stroller that makes this possible. He hates teh carrier ;(.
I think I have found my creative outlet (I use to paint and draw, but have not been able to get into it again since college)... QUILTING! I am really enjoying it.
Whoopie Pies...I found a cookbook that makes a ton of different types. Alot like the cupcake book!
Well have a great summer... Book Club book: Anna Karenina!!!
Sara K

Kristina Wentzell said...

Hi Sara,

Nice to hear from you! Your turkey and duck story is hilarious--too bad you couldn't have gotten a video.

Glad to hear you and Tucker (he is so adorable!) are doing well.

Miss you guys!

Kristina

Kristina Wentzell said...

Oh, and Sara--not that I need it but what is the title of the Whoopie Pie cookbook? :-)

Anonymous said...

Whoopie pies...isbn: 978-1-4454-2877-2