The chicks have moved out to the big coop! They are excited, even though a bit overwhelmed sometimes, at their new space. We moved the dog crate they were in, along with their heater, so they can feel more comfortable and be able to get some warmth too.
They are still filling in their feathers and the nights are still cool, so they’ll keep their heater for a while longer. At night they stay in their crate, but during the day they are let out in one side of the coop, once all the big birds have gone out to free range.
They’ll slowly get used to each other from a safe place until the little ones are about the same size as the big ones. That way they are less apt to get picked on. I think I’ve mentioned before that the big chickens can be “mean girls” sometimes, and the guinea hen boys can just be brats. 🙂 It’s worth taking the time to integrate them slowly, and it’s nice we now have the extra space out there. After they’ve settled in for a week or two, we’ll put them in the outside run for a while each day too.
While our weather has still been kind of up and down, the warmer days in between rainy days have been helping things grow. I’m very excited about all the lupine we have this year – last year we only had one or two blossoms.
We have a lot of these big irises starting to open now too.
The barn garden is filling in very nicely!
“Don’t forget me!” says Luke.
Luke still likes to go outside even on the rainy days, though he’s definitely more of a sun-loving boy. We are still working on his new recall cue, I picked what I think is a fun word for it and we’ll tell you more as he comes along. It’s a slow process, because the trainer is a busy lady! 🙂 I think he’s learning well though. Now that the gardens are all planted (and everything is popping up!), I’ll hopefully have more time to devote to that. We get lots of time to practice the cue when we’re on our walks too, so with a little bit here and there, it’s being reinforced. I’m trying to stick to the schedule in the online class we took, and not rush things along as I’m often tempted to do, especially when Luke is doing so well.
Summer will be busy too, with weeding being an ongoing battle and lots of other projects around the house and farm. We also plan to enjoy a lot of that sunshine, the growing chicks, and a lot more flowers to come!
Thanks to our friends The LLB Gang for hosting the Nature Friday blog hop. Please visit them and other blogs through the links below!
Such lovely gardens. And those babies are sure growing like weeds!
Thank you. They are starting to act like belligerent teenagers now though. LOL
I LOVE your iris and lupines together. Wowzers. What a green thumb you have. And I also love how carefully you integrate your chicks. You are so thoughtful nd careful.
I really can’t take credit for the flowers….they were all planted by the previous owners of the house, and I basically have to do nothing with them!
Thank you…I try to do things right so that everyone stays happy.
The chicks are just so darn cute!! I wonder if the big chickens think, “Oh great! A bunch of young ‘uns to keep us up at night!” Cluck! Cluck!
Your lupines are fabulous and everything is looking very pretty.
That might be exactly what they think! LOL…egg production went down for a few days after we brought them out there!
Thank you – I love the flowers here and how they require so little care. They do well just doing their own thing! 🙂
The chicks are getting so big. Beautiful flowers. I hate weeding, my gardens look like someone doesn’t live here.
Weeding has to be the least enjoyable thing about gardening! I’m trying to stay on top of it this year…but probably by the end of the summer they will have won. LOL
Beautiful flowers. Glad the girls are doing well.
We’ve been so lucky! Most people tell me they lose at least one chick out of a new group, and are always surprised that we haven’t.
My dream is to someday have my own chickens – But until I can, I live vicariously through someone like you who has them, and knows what they’re doing and won’t let the new kids get bullied! 🙂
All the best as you work with Luke! I had no idea that there were online classes – I love that idea!
Enjoy your weekend, your garden is lovely and I can’t imagine a better place to spend a sunny day! Take care!
Thank you so much! When you ever are able to get chickens, I’d be happy to give any advice you need! It’s been such an enjoyable learning experience for us.
Online classes are an introvert’s – and a procrastinator’s dream! 🙂
Your lupines are really amazing! Our lupine season wasn’t as good this year as it has been in the past. It’s so fun to watch the chicks growing!
We definitely are having our best lupine season so far – maybe they like all the rain and cool weather that the rest of us don’t. LOL
The chicks are coming along nicely. Good on the move.
All that and there is Luke too. Excellent.
Have a fabulous day and weekend. Scritches to Luke. ♥
Luke always has to be included. ♥
Lovely lupines, or lupins as they are called on our side of the Pond. One wonders why the difference!
Toodle pip!
Bertie.
That is quite interesting – I wonder as well! Thanks for coming by, Bertie!
How cool to see the chicks getting ready for free range life! Have a terrific weekend. Howdy Luke!
They are definitely getting ready for some more space already!
your barn garden is just great… and I like the idea to make a garden inside of the old barn… do you have old pictures how your farm lokked once as it was brandnew?
No, we don’t. I sure wish we did!
Aw, the chicks are so cute! And growing so fast!!
The lupine and irises are beautiful!!
And you know I wouldn’t forget Luke! I still think he and Ducky are related somehow. 😉 Our #freshairaddict dogs! And I want to know that recall clue – I need a fun one for Ducky!
I need to write that post soon too!! Glad I was able to give you the inside info though. 😉
Awwww, so nice. Love the flowers.
Thank you!!
Those chicks really grow up fast. Hopefully they will all integrate well. It is cool here too, but we don’t mind since we are not fans of the heat.
You’d be happy here lately, that’s for sure! I think we’ve only had about two days so far where I was able to put shorts on.
Love the way the chicks are standing on their tippytoes to get a drink ☺ Your Lupines and Iris are just beautiful!
Thank you! The chicks have their own waterer too, but they definitely wanted to use the big one!
I bet Sam is watching over your new chicks with keen eyesight and no pain except in not being with you and them. I like the thought anyway.
💟🐱☺
I LOVE that thought….thank you so much. ♥♥♥