Tonight when Alan and I went out to check on the cows we noticed that Queenie is now showing signs that she may be calving soon. Of course, the signs she's showing are the same signs that Dixie teased us with for 3 weeks before having Dixie Cup. It's perfectly normal for what we're seeing to show as late as 24 hours before delivery, or to show for weeks before delivery (as Dixie proved). I noticed similar signs several nights ago as well. Tonight, things were a little more obvious so we decided to separate Queenie from the rest of the cows.
Alan and I moved Dixie and Cup into the side barnyard, and moved Queenie into the front barnyard where she has access to the barn and she's isolated from all of the other cows. We'll be keeping an extra close eye on her. Last year Queenie lost her baby after less than 12 hours after delivery (for unknown reasons) so we're not taking any chances with her this year. We'll keep you posted as things progress. Let's hope she doesn't keep us waiting as long as Dixie did!
CHICKENS!
As if another calf joining the farm soon isn't enough excitement, tomorrow morning around 7am we're expecting to get a call from the post office letting us know that our first order of baby chickens has been delivered to the post office. A couple of weeks ago, we (umm, I mean "I") ordered day-old chicks from Ideal Poultry. They shipped today and will be delivered tomorrow morning.
We'll be getting 4 Red Silkie Bantams, 6 Buff Orpington Bantams, and 6 Red Frizzle Cochin Bantams... and whatever else they decide to send along. Sometimes they add extra chicks to small orders for extra warmth during shipment. I borrowed the images below from the Ideal Poultry website to show you what the chickens will look like when they're adults.
Silkies are kind of different from your standard chicken. Instead of having regular feathers, their feathers are very fine, and "silky" like hair. They also have black skin, small combs, five toes on each foot, and turquoise colored earlobes! We haven't had any Silkies here on the farm, and I don't remember raising them when I was a kid, but I've always thought they were really fun! We'll see how they do! They are available in various colors (Red, Black, Buff, Partridge, Blue, Grey and White). I ordered red Silkies from Ideal, and next week will get a couple of buff colored Silkies from McMurray Hatchery when another order arrives.
Buff Orpington Bantams are the kind of chickens my Mom always raises. They lay beautiful brown eggs and are very sweet, gentle chickens. They'll be fun to have around. Hopefully we get mostly hens. I can't remember if I could just order hens, or if I had to order what's called "straight run" which means you could receive male or female, and no set number of either one - just whatever is picked for your order. If we do get "straight run" selection, hopefully we'll get lots of hens who will lay lots of beautiful eggs for us!
The third breed of chicken I ordered from Ideal Poultry is Red Frizzle Cochins. This is another breed we've never had here on the farm, and one that I don't remember raising as a kid. Frizzle chickens have feathers that curl out and forward, making them look like they're standing backwards in the wind ALL of the time! Not all Frizzle chickens have the forward curling feathers, though. According to Ideal Poultry, about 75% of them do have the forward curling feathers, and 25% of them will look fairly "normal" even though they still have the Frizzle gene. I am excited to see if the Frizzles we get have the true "Frizzle" feather-do! They are going to CRACK me UP!!
Should be a fun batch of babies! Next week we have an order from McMurray Hatchery arriving with even more variety of breeds! Wait until you see them! All of this in addition to the turken babies that the hens hatched out this past week. Oh my! Babies, babies everywhere!
Anna, these chickens are GORGEOUS!! My favorite is the Black Silkie because that little bit of turquoise is mesmerizing and the feathers must feel wonderful!!
My next favorite is the Red Frizzle Cochins...I would LOVE to see those feathers IRL.
Thinking about your mail reminds me of the "Old McDonald Had a Farm" song, "with a chick, chick here and a chick, chick there", LOL. Have fun with all the babies and TFS.
Posted by: Juanita | May 10, 2008 at 09:10 AM
Wow, what gorgeous hens!! What fun you'll have raising different kinds:) I would never have guessed that they would send the chicks through the mail. I hope they don't toss the boxes that the chicks are in like they toss other boxes!
Posted by: Cindy H. | May 09, 2008 at 05:31 PM
Not wishing to "vent" to much family history and risk the rath of my daughter, I will say this much. Anna's Great Grandfather was a "subsistance" Rancher, that means that we raised livestock for our living. Cattle Horses Hogs Rabbits and yes Chickens lots of chickens. They used to send fertilized eggs throught the mail, but with the faster mail now they do indeed send live chicks and they even "sex" them for you. If you order hens you get hens! So she gets her "nesting" habit from family.
Pigs, I must say were the most fun and playful. Love, Dad
Posted by: DK Wight | May 09, 2008 at 11:10 AM
I am a farm girl and I love reading your stories. We started lambing last Tuesday and we are up to 34 today (mostly twins). There is nothing more precious than watching them run, play with the others and just laying in the pasture with their moms. They will always bring a smile to our face when you are having a bad day. Thanks for sharing your stories. Judy
Posted by: Judy Christensen | May 08, 2008 at 07:37 PM
Anna - I am loving reading about your animals...as is everyone else. Thanks for sharing all your stories and stuff w/ us. I am a little jealous about all the new chickies you've ordered... I am wondering if regular people can have chicks in their backyard??? What do you need for them? My husband would totally DIE if he came home and I'd ordered baby chicks. =)
Can't wait till a new baby cow is born!
Kerry
Posted by: kerry davis | May 08, 2008 at 12:22 PM
ooooooo, i love Silkies! :) can't wait to see pics of them as chicks.
sounds like you are already taking baby steps to keep from stepping on all the babies underfoot. :)
i did some reading on Turkens (also called Naked Necks and Transylvanian Naked Necks). they originated in Hungary, but, and this is a quote from someone else, "perfected in Germany." they were bred to be easier to dress. imho, the best way to find chickens easy to dress is to dress out some muscovy ducks first. after that, anything is easy! :)
Shala
Posted by: SWJC | May 08, 2008 at 11:59 AM
Anna...I'm with the rest of the folk on shipping...you can "really" receive chicks thru the mail?? That is totally hilarious! Do the boxes have special vent holes etc.??
Posted by: dawn | May 08, 2008 at 08:48 AM
How the heck are they delivered???!!
Posted by: Lisa | May 08, 2008 at 08:46 AM
Chicks in the mail! What a novel idea. I would have thought they would send them on a chicken truck. Those look like the most interesting breeds of poultry I've ever seen. Amazing! I really like the look of the Buff Orpington Bantams. They even look sweet. I guess it will soon be time to select a name for Queenie's baby. Here's hoping it's a little heifer. You must be overwhelmed with all the feeding and caring for all the new arrivals.
Posted by: Barb Hardeman | May 08, 2008 at 08:01 AM
I love these updates & info. Oh, the pictures! I'm getting attached to these critters and I'm thinking I know them personally. Keep it up. Diana
Posted by: diana | May 08, 2008 at 07:32 AM
Wow how fun! Loved the info about the chickens and will be looking forward to a happy healthy new calf! We found out yesterday that one of the donkeys is much further along than we thought... so we will be watching her close =) Don't cha just love livin on a farm!!!
Posted by: Michelle Oatman | May 08, 2008 at 07:13 AM
Wow, I never knew all these varieties of chickens existed! We raised leghorns many moons ago, but these new breeds are unique! Looks like you're about to have many "mouths" to feed soon:) Have fun, and TFS all these wonderful stories about farm life. I so enjoy it!
Posted by: Carol | May 08, 2008 at 06:08 AM
They are so cute and so pretty! I would love to have chickens running around and fresh eggs! What fun to have all of those babies! I can't wait to see pictures of them!
Posted by: Danielle | May 08, 2008 at 05:35 AM
Well it sounds as though you'll be busy caring and nurturing lots of babies real soon. You definitely don't sit still much, now do you? I can only imagine the schedule you keep with life on the farm. I thought I was busy with 4 kids but I do believe you have me beat! I can't wait to see the pics of all the new baby chicks. Being a city girl I have to admit I thought a chicken was a chicken. I never realized how many different types there were. Amazing how much a person can learn by just opening their eyes and ears. Thanks for all the knowledge about life on the farm.
Chris
Posted by: Chris Hauck | May 08, 2008 at 05:06 AM
They send chicks throught the mail? yikes!
Anna, even though I'm a city girl, I love reading about your life on the farm! The combination of your gorgeous photos and stories make it seem like such a fairy tail (although I'm sure it's quite a bit of work!). You should write children's books! Oh wait.... that would take you away from designing stamps/cards. NO DON'T!
hb
Posted by: hb | May 08, 2008 at 04:11 AM
They all look so fun! I hope they arrive in excellent condition and they all turn out to look like their pictures! They are all beautiful!
Posted by: Viv (VivLyn) | May 08, 2008 at 03:33 AM