Five years ago, I started seriously exploring the possibility of getting a backyard chieckn flock. I was also pregnant and told by my very wise husband that I couldn’t get chickens and a baby in the same year. (I’m sure someone reading this has proved it’s possible, but I think he was right where we were concerned.) Tonight, I’m typing to the mostly sweet sound of our two-week old ladies cheep-cheeping away in the basement.

We got 6 chicks – 2 Buckeyes, 2 Dominiques, and 2 Golden Wyandottes. We chose these breeds for their hardiness, productivity, and variety of feather patterns – I wanted a flock with some visual diversity…

It’s been an amazing two weeks watching them transform from sweet little puff-balls with feet and beaks to the gawky teenagers they are now.

Day one. Undeniably cute and fluffy.

Feathers coming in…

Thigh muscles developing…

And necks stretching.

It’s been a lot of fun watching them explore the great outdoors,

And make new friends.

Looking forward to reporting on their progress another two weeks from now. By then, they might just be living outside!