Every few days we post a short clip from the farm on YouTube. Here are all twenty-eight from February in one place — tap any of them to play it right here. The chickens were still indoors as a bird flu precaution, and the month brought some exciting firsts.
First eggs and lovely hens
Vicky, our big Easter Egger, laid her very first egg, and the hens let us know they’re doing well with a lively egg song — though the eggs keep rolling around, so the nest boxes need some improvement. Pachita is so cute I wonder whether she lays eggs, Shiratama is a beauty who’s popular with the boys, and Ivory is a graceful lady. We also met Uchinomaeko, a sweet wild hen whose name means “in front of our house” — because that’s where she was. And hens’ faces are so different: just look at Taiyo, whom I raised from a chick.
The rooster corner
Grey’s two sons are both roosters with plenty of personality. Marron wants to watch whatever I’m working on, Raven really, really wants to be in the nest box (a little annoying!), and Charles has grown into a handsome rooster with a crow to match — volume warning. Nishiki has been acting bossy at mealtimes, Hiyo-chan got into trouble and was scolded, Cheese sprouted a funny “antenna” that makes him look like a wise old wizard, and our strong, cute leader Flute took a rest.
Cats and kittens
Chai is the kitten who fell off the balcony, and Chibits doesn’t mind getting dirty at all (I wish he’d mind a little). Husk and Fukumaru, rescue kitten brothers who almost didn’t make it, are growing up healthy. One kitten wants to go in but is too scared of the geese, Captain Natsu moves like a ninja, and one cat did something odd for an animal I thought was a meat-eater. It all makes me wonder whether a cat’s coat color has anything to do with its personality.
Ducks and a goose
Big news from the goose side: Fifi laid an egg — our very first goose egg! The ducks love nothing more than a meal of wriggling worms (skip that one if worms aren’t your thing), and they’re getting bigger and bigger and aren’t fluffy anymore.
Storms and hard work
A winter storm hit Hawaii, and I never thought a banana plant would fall. Then it was time to cut trees — farming really takes stamina!
Thanks for following along with life at Chicken Paradise. New clips go up every few days on our YouTube channel.