The Littles

Melanie and I headed into the Pen of the Black Australorps. We wanted to spend some time with these lovely growing Girls. Melanie brought some freshly picked Pink Clover Flowers. I brought my camera and lawn chair. The Littles didn't know what to think of the lawn chair and were a little reluctant to approach. My large brimmed hat and my silver camera were not exactly draws either. The luscious Pink Clover Flowers changed that.

Our 6 little Black Australorp Pullets are growing quite nicely. They have been separated from the Little White Rock Cockerels and are now at home in the little Brooder House. The Littles are now feathered out in more mature feathers, except for their heads. They are completely black, again, except for their heads.

Melanie has named 5 of the 6. Or rather, she reminds me, they named themselves: Isabella, Eleanore, Ava, Amelia. Yes, that is only 4 names. I shall have to ask Melanie the name of the 5th. Isabella is the largest, and from the start, she was more approachable to her Human Companions here on the Farm. Amelia is a bit flighty. She was aptly named after Amelia Earhart.

As a rule, the Littles seem rather shy and gentle in comparison with previous Flocks of Littles. They also settle in earlier in the evening in their little House. Their little Brothers in the Rooster Pen next door and their Bigger Sisters and Brother are still pretty active when they are snuggled into bed. We wonder if their habit of roosting earlier will carry over into adulthood. If that happens, they may be perching on roosts that seem to belong to others. Yikes. We will deal with that when the time comes. Or rather, they will deal with that when the time comes.

Richard fixed things up so the Big Chickens (from 2007 and 2008) can come by to observe the doin's from outside the fence. Since the 6 Littles will be added to the Big Flock by the end of the Summer, it is important for them to begin to get to know each other. We often observe the Big Chickens peaking in on the Littles from outside the Fence. In the beginning, the Littles hid in the tall Grasses of their pen. The Big Chickens sometimes line up outside the Littles' pen, as if watching a new program on the Farm Channel. They are curious.

The Buff Orpington Hennie who is looking in is "Olivia". She has the loveliest comb. It stands tall, has a lovely shape, and looks like it is been cut very carefully out of the finest of felt. She reminds me to tell you that when this picture was taken, she was on the outside of the pen and I was on the inside with those Little Hennies who are not quite grown up.