.

This weekend, though, it was such a nice day that we decided to let them out in the main yard. We weren’t sure how the big chickens would treat them, and I was (am) a little overprotective of them. They are still only about 5 weeks old. But they are looking little miniature chickens now already! They grow so fast!

The chickens were much more interested in their food than they were in the chicks themselves. It does look as though we have one that will be competing with Henrietta as the top chicken. She is the barred rock (black and white one) in the video. She is still being told who’s the boss of the yard, but it will be interesting to see how that pans out as she gets bigger.

Also, here are a few pictures from around the yard. This weekend we finally got some nice weather -it has been so windy for all of April.

I think these are called grape hyacinths

The tulips have been blooming for about a month!

So have the dandelions

Smile!

Hiding out in the cinder block

They are so funny how they flap around, peck and Britton said he even saw them dust bathing! We also found that they scurry around and hide if I talk in a high voice as you can see in this video. They must think it’s a hawk or something. The black one doesn’t care as much. Everyone wanted in the greenhouse to see what was going on-Kitty, Schnoodle and the big chickens. The only one we trust completely with them at this age is Schnoodle. She could care less about them.

One day when it was really warm in the room when they were just a couple days old, I turned off the heat lamp for a little while. When I returned they were all huddled together, and one was in the water dish shivering. I had to hold her and fluff her up under the heat lamp to get her back feeling good. I was scared there for a moment! But everything’s good now and I am not quite as concerned. Each day they are a little stronger and more independent. Right now, they are peeping contentedly behind me.

Just thought you might like a “little” chick update.

Hanging out in their box under the heat lamp

Britton holding them

But ever since she started laying strange, shell-less eggs, then stopped laying completely, and finally being mean and broody on a nest of unfertilized eggs, we decided she was ready for a new home. We posted an ad on Craigslist and found a home where chickens like her can live out the rest of their days on a farm scratching around.

The person even told us to come visit the farm and see her there. You never know if they are actually going to eat her, but that is always a valid option. I eat meat, I even eat chickens. I just haven’t gotten up to the actual killing part. So this worked out really well.

…And in with the New!

Britton said if we got rid of her that we could get some new chicks. That was another motivating factor. We thought we would just get 2 more, but the first store didn’t have any Ameraucanas/Americanas, so now we have three! They are so sweet.We have a Barred Plymouth Rock, another Leghorn (Omelette 2), and the Ameraucana. Take a look!

The three chicks on a chair

Two in a bowl -Yin Yang -esque

One miniature Omelette

But sometimes going to the same old parks gets, well, old. Today was lovely weather so after we did a few errands we decided to take a walk. But where? I told Britton I wanted to go to a park I hadn’t ever been. Was that possible in Greeley? He remembered a park that he had been to as a kid, and I’m so glad he did. It’s called the Josephine Jones Park in Greeley after an active Greeleyite. Here’s a little history of Josephine B. Jones.

Me at Josephine Jones Park

It is a beautiful expanse of xeriscaped land (apprx 36 acres) that stretches from the former home of Jones at 2631 52nd Ave Ct in Greeley (now the Greeley Forestry Department’s headquarters) all the way nearly to Highway 34 on the south. It crosses the ditch and has a small pond, playground area and a gravel walking path. Quite a few joggers were zipping past us enjoying less impact on their joints and the natural area.

Park looking southeast toward the pond and playground equipment

It was a happy surprise similar to Houston Gardens or Evans Riverside Park. I definitely think we’ll be back! What a nice park.

Britton moving the coop with the help of Kitty (standing looking into the coop), Greenfoot and Football

But then we have to drag it back out (by we I mean Britton of course) in the spring. This is nice because we get our greenhouse back, but it also kind of stinks because that means opening them up in the morning and shutting them in once the sun goes down. We didn’t use to do that but we learned our lesson after the hen house attack last summer.

But all the hassle is ok because like daylight savings, it’s a sign of finally moving out from under winter’s long grip, and I’m all right with that!

Another sign of spring: white crocus

So with all this inside time, we’ve been cooking up some really good food!

We’ve had Mexican food night with tacos and burritos filled with seasoned lean natural beef, refried beans, sliced red bell peppers, jalapeños, lettuce, cheese, whole wheat tortillas from a local Mexican food shop, avocado slices and greek yogurt (same great taste as sour cream with more protein and no fat! I highly recommend it!)

Britton enjoying his Mexican food meal

We’ve also made chicken with mushrooms, a veggie mix, cous cous and sliced oranges.

Chicken dinner

I’ve been working as an interpreter with a nutritionist at work and she’s been teaching people the “plate method”. This chicken dinner is a great example of this. Take a small plate (this is a salad plate), fill half with vegetables (the mixed veggies, mushrooms and oranges), one forth with a starch (cous cous) and one forth protein (chicken breast). Tastes great and good nutrition to boot!

Our weekends are our favorite for food because we can lazily sleep in and then make a great breakfast. Britton had been making some fantastic pancakes, and so I thought waffles would be really good continuation of this. We didn’t have a waffle iron, however. So we went down to a thrift store on their 50% off day and picked one up for about $4! Now we’ve been eating waffles every weekend (and sometimes I’ll have one for lunch if we have leftover batter).

Waffle with strawberries, blueberries and our chicken’s egg