Sun power!

I gotta thank my pops. He had our solar water heater system installed decades ago, back when our electric company offered incentives and tax breaks. Maybe he believed in renewable energy back then or maybe he was just interested in the cost savings. Either way, I reap the benefits now. With an electric bill of only about $90 per month (was $45 before the recent price hike) and knowing I am taking advantage of the abundant sunshine we have, I consider that a win-win. :) Thanks Pops!

An hour for a cause

I spent my Earth Hour last night imagining the world we are leaving our children. I don't know about you but I want to leave it better than it is right now. I think this is the year to do something about it.

Earth Hour 2010 ... tonight, 8:30pm-9:30pm

Show your commitment to living a more sustainable lifestyle. Join hundreds of millions of people world wide for Earth Hour 2010, where we turn off our lights for one hour, 8:30 - 9:30pm on Saturday, March 27th, to show our support for actions that address climate change. It's a simple act of solidarity and a reminder to all of us that positive change starts with a single person. Check it out on Facebook too.

Sufficient Self - a forum for the energy conscious

A sister forum to Backyard Chickens is this one, called Sufficient Self. If you're looking for a community of like-minded individuals looking to become more sufficient through renewable energy, recycling, hunting and gathering, organic consumption, etc., this is the site for you. Check it out!

The awkward stage

19 days old ...

Tulip, Buttercup, and Camellia had their first independent adventure into the yard today. They somehow got themselves down from the top level of their coop in the morning and after much squawking, made their way up the ramp and back upstairs at the end of the day. It took much prodding from their mommies but they did it themselves. The life of chickens is amazing to me. They were tiny eggs just over 2 weeks ago! Now they look like awkward teenagers growing into their feet and wings!

12 days old ...

Twelve days old and their feathers are growing in.

4 days old ... Fluffy butts

From egg to this in 21 days. It just amazes me!

2 days old ... Camellia has two mommies

This little one is named Camellia. I think she's a splash-colored silkie, which is essentially spotted.
Daisy and Lily take their responsibilities very seriously ... I mean VERY seriously.

Hatch Day (Day 21): One fluffy butt!

All three silkie chicks have hatched! YAAAAYYYYY! Two are this color (blue, probably) and one is buff. More pics will be forthcoming as soon as they start venturing from under the mommas.

Day 20: Happy Birthday Tulip!

Found this little thing at 4:30 pm today (so that's 31.5 hrs since it pipped). Since then Tulip's been joined by another one! So, now I have two little fuzzy butts and maybe one more on the way!

Day 20!!!! We got pipping!

WOOHOO! Two of the 3 eggs have started to pip! That is, they have broken through the eggshell! Daisy and Lily have been fighting over the eggs so I took the dud one (the 4th) and placed it under Daisy to settle it. I'm a little worried this jostling about is not a good thing but watching the hens carefully and may have to separate them if it goes on. I got this shot of one of the pipping egg right before Lily slipped it under her. If you look carefully, you can see the crack in the shell.

Day 17

I guess hatching could take place from tomorrow through Thursday! I candled the 4 eggs last night and one unfortunately died. I haven't removed it yet because I have not fully acknowledged that one of the precious eggs has stopped developing! I am an optimist after all. The chicks are taking up most of the space in the egg with an air pocket at one end ... and not moving around at all so I am hoping that is a good sign. I will keep my fingers crossed that at least 1 will hatch. I took this pic today. Don't they look so SERIOUS?

Day 12

Just 7-9 more days to go. I tried candling the eggs tonight but it is already too dark to see anything. The air pocket is on the fat end of the egg but that's about all that's visible. I didn't see any movement but my guess is that it is a pretty tight squeeze in there right now so maybe I ought not see too much movement. The wait is killing me! I hear that Daisy and Lily can feel the chick's heart beat now. I wonder what they are thinking ...

Day 10

It is Day 10 (of ~19). Checked 2 of the 4 eggs last night and this is pretty much what the eggs look like now (the video's not mine; it's from YouTube):

*fingers crossed*