Leeks In Our Vineyard: Our Newest Arrivals (Surprise!) :)

Our very own laying flock of Buff Orpingtons! We weren't going to get chickens until next year, but Mick saw an ad on Craigslist for four hens and a rooster, one year old. Why wait for eggs when we can get eggs now? :) We enjoyed meeting Kathy, their former owner (who incidentally lives in view of a home we had looked at when we were house-shopping, go figure). The beautiful birds quickly made themselves at home.

As you can see, the rooster looks out for the hens. The hens don't seem to concern themselves in the least about predators. He always had his eye on us and takes good care of his girls. I was pleased that it's not as one-sided a relationship as I had thought (although he certainly takes his "payment" from them according to his pleasure).

One of our concerns was how the chickens and ducks would get along. Well, the chickens arrived to their shared pen in cat carriers. The ducks were quacking riotously, as usual, as we set the carriers down and opened the doors. The first hen walked out of the cat carrier -- not maliciously, not noisily, not particularly quickly, not particularly near the ducks and certainly not with any sort of deliberate motion in their direction. At the first sight of her, the ducks absolutely freaked out! They ran faster than I have ever seen them run, and our Khaki flapped her wings so furiously that she actually achieved lift-off! It was the funniest thing -- they've never acted so frightened of human or dog. Apparently chickens are ducks' most-feared predators. :) Too bad we couldn't get that on video!

In all of our readings, we have encountered many descriptions of otherwise dignified human beings chasing chickens around a yard attempting to herd them. Well, now we can sympathize! Herding chickens is (apparently) NOTHING like herding ducks. For one thing, they don't tightly flock together like ducks do. They also run FAST!!! It was an experience that I can not describe in words, but I will now read chicken-herding stories with a much deeper level of empathy. It certainly kept our minds off of Mick leaving for pre-mobilization training! :) Once we finally got all 5 chickens into the tractor (no idea how long it took, but I wouldn't be surprised if it took an hour), we decided to keep them in there for awhile. At least until they recognize it as home, a source of food and security, and choose to come back to it on their own. At the very least, until I have someone else to help me herd them!

After all of yesterday's drama, I was amazed by the sight that greeted me tonight!

I had a grocery-store coupon for a dozen eggs this week, but I don't think I'm going to need it. I am thrilled (and surprised, particularly after such a traumatizing herding experience!) that at least one of the hens already seems to feel comfortable here. The shell is a beautiful light brown color.

So in our current arrangement, the chickens have displaced the ducks from their tractor (where the ducks used to be shut in for the night). The ducks don't seem too pleased with this new arrangement -- tonight they were running in circles around the tractor hoping to find a way in. I guess their homelessness is beginning to overcome their terror of the Big Scary Chickens.

These pictures don't do it justice, but the ducks are beginning to develop beautiful colors in their feathers. It is amazing. I don't know why ducks have beautiful feathers, but we certainly enjoy it!