Spring Chickens

Upon our return from the land of red rocks, our first order of business was to pick up Bambi & Forbes. They had gotten so big that I couldn't believe it. But still so cute and expectant for that bottle! Love those little waggly tails.



Amira went to her first poultry show with 4-H.



And this week we finally received our Red Rangers from the hatchery. These are not show chickens or a 4-H project. These are future dinners.

I received the call about 7am from the post office. We piled in the Swagger Wagon and hauled down to the loading dock at the back of the post office by 7:30am. A box of peeps was promptly handed over. That's right, teaching the kids how to pick up chicks.

After I dropped all the kids off at school I swung by the feed store for an impulse purchase. It has been two years since we kept turkeys. So the utter annoyance of keeping them was sort of a distant memory. I guess it's sort of like forgetting the pain of child birth. We just remembered the entertaining parts. I suppose that's the royal "we".

"I say, Sir! I'll have 5 of your hardiest broad breasted bronze!"

"You gotta watch those turkey poults. They'll look fine one minute then be dead on the bottom of the cage the next."

"Yessir. That's why I'm taking FIVE. Of your HARDIEST. Put that skinny one back and grab that big bruiser, please."

This afternoon when the kids got home from school they ran to the box in the garage to hold the chicks.

"Hey, why do some have spots?"

"Yeah! Why are some ugly?"

"Oh no! These aren't TURKEYS???"

Well, perhaps I was the only one who forgot the turkey peril. I of have a rather selective memory. It's what allows me to ... get through each day.

Below is a short video of the brooder box. Notice how the chicks are eating and drinking and chirping. Notice the poor dazed and confused things amongst them. Yup. Turkeys!