We've got girls!

Chickens

Well after all these years of boys boys boys I finally got some girls!  We have ten girls.  Five are Buff Orpingtons and five are Barred Rocks.  They are good for both meat and eggs and are good natured chickens.  We started them in the house in the dog crate.  The boys were all in love from the beginning and have held them everyday. Cooper has taken to telling people he has ten girls in his family.  Marshall loves to catch worms and bugs for them.  They boys have taken care of the girls by keeping them with fresh food and cleaning out their water.

  

BUT...when they were about three weeks old I had to move them outside to the garage.  The dust from the pine shavings was too much to have in the house.  

Robert was tasked with building their coop.  We are going to have them free range within electric netting with a mobile coop that can be moved around the acreage.  That way the girls gets to eat bugs and fertilize the ground and they are safe from predators. He came up with a plan based on what I told him the girls would need.  I think he did an awesome job!

Flamingo Flock pink!  Because something at my house should get to be pink.

They should start laying in July.  I have the date circled on the calendar and I just can't wait to get that first egg!

Cub Scout Fall Camping Trip

After three years of watching Rob and the big boys drive off with the vehicle loaded up with camping stuff, the twins and I joined them this time.  We spent three days and two night at Brazos Bend State Park and everything went surprisingly well.  We only had one incident with the fire (Graham touched his hot stick and burned his hand) and the mosquitoes were only bad one night.  Although Robert bore the brunt of bites as he obviously tasted better then the rest of us. 

Mmmmm. there is just something better about perked coffee.

We heard hoot owls at night and the crows woke us up.  Graham woke up saying "the birds won't be quiet!"  

They are making what they call "smoker sticks."

Egg burritos for breakfast

This tree was the envy of all the boys at the camp out.  We had several visitors who all tried to climb this tree and swing on it's low lying branches.  It was like a built in playground at our campsite.

Barrett at the actual playground.

Look we are camping and happy about it!

Playing Batman even in the wilderness.

Speaking of birds, we were very fortunate that there was a birds of prey exhibit at the nature center.  We got to see a a falcon, a hawk, an Andean Condor, and an owl.  It was so very interesting to see them so close and to watch them eat chicken legs in a matter of seconds (the condor).  

They loved the birds but alas sleep won out. 

Marshall was awarded his Bobcat Saturday night.  He even did his good turn the next morning by helping me make breakfast.  

 

 

Nature Study Monday - Mary Jo Peckham with Daddy!

We had a special visitor with us this Monday since it was Labor Day.  Robert wanted to come see what we do on these nature walks and of course I used that as an excuse to let the big boys go fishing.  Since fish hooks were going to be involved, I was happy to take the twins around the pond to look for baby ducks.  Rob and the big boys fished for awhile and then we played on the playground.  We had to leave after a couple hours because it got too hot but I think fun was had by all.

Cooper caught a perch and got a lecture about using too much worm on his hook.

Rob showing the twins the worms.  Graham: "They have dirt on them!"

They really wanted to see the baby ducks and pet them.  I told them they could but Mamma duck might peck them since those are her babies.  They decided to not chance it.

Marshall wore all black and soon was very hot.

They were fascinated with seeing the sunlight through the trees.

Graham wanted to know if the duck nest he saw three weeks ago was still there. It was although, the eggs were not.

Barrett: "It like Daisy duck!"