These baby girls are enjoying their first day outdoors, in the chicken pen. There are six in this new flock: 2 Buff Orpingtons, 2 Rhode Island Reds, 2 Barred Rocks. (The little Rock in the lower right is fine--she's just stretched out her wing to get some sunshine on it.) They're about 5 weeks old now, have their first set of feathers, and are almost ready for the big move from their plastic bin in the bathroom to the chicken coop/pen. I would move them today, but we're expecting some heavy weather (wind, rain, colder) on Wednesday, so the move is delayed until later in the week. In the meantime, they can spend the afternoons outdoors (if it's not too windy) and the nights indoors.
Our 2 elderly hens, both Barred Rocks, haven't yet met these little ones. Sometimes it can be a bit of a challenge for all to get along, but we have a net "fence" that divides the chicken pen--half for the seniors, half for the juniors--so they can get acquainted without actually mixing and mingling. Until they move outdoors, the chicks are a lot of work--but lots of fun to watch, too. And there will be plenty of fresh eggs in five or six month.
Book report. There's another novella available for pre-order in the Crystal Cave trilogy. You can find SomeBODY Else on Kindle, Nook, or iBooks. Launch date: May 14. Several readers have written to ask whether there will be only three of these half-size mysteries--or if there will be more. I'd love to do more, if enough people enjoy them, so be sure to let me know. Meanwhile, you'll soon have A Plain Vanilla Murder. (Be sure to let your librarian know!)
Here at Meadow Knoll, life is busy, fun, and full of springtime projects. Hope spring comes quickly for you, wherever you are.
Reading note. It is spring again. The earth is like a child that knows poems by heart.―