Kricklewood Farm

I’ve always been a ‘Tree Hugger’ so last year we contacted the local Conservation Authority about tree planting programs.  I once read: “The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago and the second best time is now“.  After a site visit and a couple of meetings a plan for about 2400 seedlings was in place. The objective was to increase the diversity of species along the hedgerows to encourage wildlife and improve the windbreak.  The emphasis is on conifers with a mix of Cedar, Tamarack, White Pine and White Spruce.

Planting trees any day is a good thing, for Earth Day even better. Wherever you are, in the city or in the country there are organizations to help.  In our area it’s the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA.ca) but all you need to do is google ‘Trees’ and where you live and something will come up. Earth Day is about action so do whatever you can and Happy Earth Day!

The chicks and Mama Hen made their debut in the chicken yard yesterday!   I think the Mama was ready as she was climbing out of the box that had been home for the past couple of weeks.   We’ve had some nights near freezing this past week so decided to wait for things to warm up.

It was quite a sight watching them discover the outside world, never straying too far from Mama.  The other chicks and ducks were curious but she wouldn’t let them near her charges.

The first job was to find them some food and show them
how to scratch for themselves.

They quickly got the hang of it and gobbled down
pretty much everything they could find.

We’re not sure what caused them to get scared but they seemed
to feel more comfortable under or on top of the Mama Hen!

We were amazed at the mothering instincts that she showed.   As it got darker she rounded them up and took them into the dog crate that we had put out for her.  The door was locked and she and the chicks spent the night in the coop with the rest of the flock.   This morning they were ready to go and start discovering their new world all over again.

I’m not sure how the Easter Bunny got into the chicken coop as it’s locked  at night.  In any event, this is what we found Sunday morning!  I’m just glad Rusty, the mean rooster, didn’t attack.  If he did, she may not come back next year! 

We finally got a good look at the chicks, they are just a few days old but active and I presume eating well.   The mother is protective so you don’t see them eating but bits of feed on their beaks says that they are getting fed.  I presume she taught them how to drink too so that lets some of the pressure off.  If you get day old chicks from the hatchery, they have to be shown how to drink by dunking their beaks in the water until they get the hang of it on their own.

These photos were taken in less than a minute as the mother hen is
quick to puff up her body to scare me away and take them under her wing.

Right after this was taken, Shirley, Lorraine and Helga all disappeared under the mother hen.  We’re hoping that they are all grow up to be hens, hence the names.  I realize that these are not common names for chickens, but there is some reasoning…however, the person after who they are named may not appreciate the honour so we’ll leave it at that to protect the innocent!