And their Cousin Scarlett. . .
And they just kept growing and becoming more attached to us as we began to love them more and more each day.
Our cat Caspian was extremely interested in the chickens. She really, really wanted some chicken nuggets!
On Easter Sunday, the girls took them outside for the first time. They were 19 days old and so full of personality. The first time we put them on the grass, they hopped right back up onto Tara and Madeline's laps. But soon they were exploring the grass while at the same time staying very close to their human family.
They had progressed to the awkward dinosaur stage where they were growing feathers but still had their peep fuzz.
I loved hearing their peep, peep, peeps in the house with me as they grew. While the girls were at school, I'd take the chicks out one at a time to hold, cuddle, kiss and talk to them throughout the day. They were just so darned cute!! When anyone put their hand in the brooder, all the chicks would run up and even fly onto our arms.
Each day after school, the kids would play with and take the chickies outside.
When they were newly hatched, we put a colored zip tie onto the ankles of 3 of them. That way, we'd always know who was who, and not get them mixed up. It turned out to be a great way to keep track of our girls and they still wear them to this day. Our hens think they are pretty bracelets.
At three weeks old, they were just so adorable and fun to watch and play with.
And Caspian was still hopeing to nab a taste of these chickies...dipped in ranch!
Baaaaaad Kitty!
But unfortunately for her and her sister Faline, the chickens had grown and were no longer really veiwed as prey.
I knew I should have eaten you when you were younger!
Me too!!!
So quickly, they went from looking like little chicks to looking like little hens. Here they are at only 4 weeks!
At 5 weeks, Madeline was teaching them to "fly like a birdie".
On their 6 week birthday, our girls were given an official formal photo shoot!
This is Dixie. She is at the top of the pecking order and also our biggest little pullet. Tara thought she looked like Albert Einstein at this stage.
This is Daisy and she is number 2 in the pecking order.
Here's Jasmine, number 3.
And last, but certainly not least is Lily. Our sweet precious Lily. She was the smallest of the girls and she was my favorite. She was so sweet. She loved to be held and had a great personality. She was Tara and Madeline's favorite too. You just couldn't help it!
Finally, here are all the girls with Madeline on their six week birthday.
Now also at six weeks, they began to outgrow their brooder. . .
. . . while daddy slowly but surely worked on their new home. . .The coop!
But true to the nature of this wonderful breed, they tolerated the confinement well and rarely squabbled with one another. It is really a joyful journey raising chicks from day old peeps. In the next post, I'll try to catch the chickies up to present day. See you soon!