Fluff-Ball the Cutie
If you follow our Facebook, you know we hatched chicks for others who pre-ordered them. We had some families fall through on that commitment (I get it - life happens - no hard feelings) so we now have the 10 leftover chicks in a brooder. They are so fluffy and cute! Since they are barnyard mix, but we know our hens pretty well, we can figure out whose is whose. I think the family favorite is the chick with the Cream Legbar ‘mohawk’ and the Easter Egger ‘beard’. (Google those breeds if you aren't sure what I’m talking about…)
Her name is Fluff Ball. At least we HOPE it’s a hen!
I didn’t plan on doing the brooder thing this year. I really hoped to keep things clean around here, and to lower the electric bill after that cold winter we had. I’m not the only one trying to lower expenses across the board…right? Living in a tiny house in the spring and half the summer we can get away with zero heat or air. Fans are enough to cool it down, cracking open windows when it’s cooler and closing them when it’s too warm or humid. Running heat for a brooder is NOT energy friendly. But dang it if they aren’t the most precious little things…..
Another reason doing a brooder is a little bit of a chore is it has to be fully enclosed and super protected. Mostly from the barn cats. But also from the other chickens. Our wonderful German Shepherd loves to guard them while I’m working in my office, as if he's the only reason they are still alive! They really are so vulnerable and breakable at this age. The temperature has to be just right…no draft. They have to have fresh, clean water, along with water with nutrition, along with clean, dry food. They need to have a clean place to walk and lay down, in a place that isn’t horribly stressful.
Everything just kind of gets a little wild in the Spring. The animals and bugs and noises come back. Neighbors come outside. Pigs & cows get out. There’s new life. Weeds show up and take over… However, we will get through the ornery…the mud…the challenges that come with the new season. Just like every other season. Life is so fragile.
Easter weekend was a reminder that new things come and old things pass away. That we aren’t to be lost in our struggle, but that it’s an opportunity to reach out for help, or reach out TO help. To love others like Christ loved us. That was extra heavy on my heart as I worked a booth at Evergy Plaza all day Saturday. Just to smile at someone could be their only positive interaction that day. Just to compliment or listen to someone; showing them love and support. Meeting someone where they are. THAT is what it’s all about. What an incredible gift and opportunity.
Love ya,
Katie Jo Rauch
