Mopsy and the Chicks

It was time to get the chicks out of the tub--too many tub cleanings, too much dust, too much smell! Not to mention, that they were only about a week away from flying out of the tub, and that would have been more mess than I want to handle!

So, we put the old camper shell under our deck for shelter, tacked up some netting, hung feeders, waterers, and a heat lamp, and voila! We have a home that is a perfect transition from the indoors to the outdoors! Eventually, all this tackiness will be removed and the chickens will move to the barn with the rest of our farm animals, but for now it works!

We have some friends that were given a gift of chickens--three of them. Unexpected chickens are not a fabulous gift idea, in case you were wondering. ;) Unless, of course, you are a dog! The fate of two of the chickens (Flopsy and Cotton Tail) was that of being an unintentional dog present. Mopsy, the third chicken, was lonely and had an affinity for the nice patio furniture. She needed to go! So, our little chicks have a new pal, who is just a few weeks older, to show them the ropes of outdoor living. She has shown them that bugs, dandelion greens, and larger waterers are all very good things. The little ones follow her around as if she's the mother hen! They are so much fun to watch!