Woke up, got outta bed......

And, no, I didn't drag a comb across my head.  What I did was the norm - start the java, let the dogs have their morning constitutional, and tend to the girls.  But, I had a bit of a surprise this morning.

Before I go down to the coop or the new chicken tractor, I stand on my back porch and just breathe.  I take a moment to appreciate the morning.  As I did so this morning, I heard a faint, new sound coming from the chicken tractor.  After I heard this sound, I stood in disbelief and thought to myself - uh,uh - no way, I'm just not awake yet.  As this thought exited my sleepy brain, I heard the sound again.  I opened the back door on the porch which leads into the kitchen and softly tell the hubsters to come here and listen.  Of course, the hens didn't oblige.  After several minutes of waiting, I tell the ole hubsters never mind, I'm just hallucinating.  No sooner had the words left my lips when the sound happened again.  The sound not unfamiliar to hear on a farm or homestead at first light. 

It was the sound of someone trying their first cock-a-doodle do's.

Bloody hell... they are supposed to be pullets.

I think Queen Maeve or Queenie, as we've been calling her, may be a Roo, and hence shall have the title of King, not, Queen.

 I think she's the culprit.

Sorry about the poor quality-it was shot through chicken wire



We had suspicions earlier by the way her/his tail feathers seemed to a bit more glorious than the others and longer, too.  It also appears the saddle feathers are long and flowy as what you may find on a roo.

I'm looking forward to first light tomorrow to listen for the "sound" at first morning light.  I know hens can crow if a roo isn't present, but, I think it's pretty unusual.  At this point, it's a waiting game.  I hope for her/his sake it is a hen.  'Nuff said.

Here's the finished chicken tractor that hubsters built to temporarily house these girls until they are big enough to go to the coop with the big girls. 

We move it everyday to a fresh spot of ground so the girls can dig around for bugs and grubs and other buggy delights.  If hens can look happy, these six are in their glory!

Spring has finally presented herself here at the homestead, although she has begrudgingly done so.  It's been cool and very wet - circumstances that make gardening of any type hard to do.  On top of this, add a very hectic work schedule, and, at times, it feels nere impossible to get anything done outdoors! 

Steady on, is all I can say....



Hubsters getting ready for the second tilling on the big garden.  It's taken weeks for it to be dry enough to re-till

I hope to post about the gardens soon and what all we've been up to, including the happenings at this years Faerie Festival. 

I need to catch up with everyone - I'm missing my blogging buddies!