Checkers

An exciting chicken development for the boys these days is "Checkers", our newly beloved pet. Three days ago he started letting me pick him up and snuggled down in my arms for warmth. Yesterday I played with him in the yard a few times in the sunshine and trained him to stay on my shoulder while I walk around. He only flew off once, and that was to do his business, which I was absolutely cool with.

Since I ordered a rare breed assortment of chicks of any sex, I have a limited idea of what their breeds are. I was guaranteed 10 different varieties from 15 different breeds. I spent a few hours one evening when they were a few days old trying to figure it out and decided to wait until their feathers grew in to give it another go. Checkers is almost certainly a Dominique, which turns out to be the oldest American breed. The first settlers brought them from England since they were cold hardy, good foragers, decent layers and meat birds, and very docile. Then they used to produce crosses like the Plymouth Rock and the Barred Rock, which became so popular that the original Dominiques became rare - down to only 50 breeding pairs at one point.

This morning he came over when I cleaned out their never-endingly-disgusting food and water, so I carried him out to the garden to hang out while I watered. Turns out he doesn't like me being more than 5 feet away, and will follow me around without any thought of escape. So he foraged for bugs and I taught him to drink from the hose. He's in training to be my new King of Insect Control, and I'm hoping he will recruit others as time goes on.

So now I'm on a quest to see how much I can teach a chicken, including potty training, which will consist of- I don't care where you go as long as it's not on me.

They're almost ready for their big move to the coop. And slowly the weather is allowing for more gardening so things are busy around here for all.

Checkers pics to come soon!