Sounds a little like the name of a dinosaur. I guess that’s not too far off. It’s a type of chicken. It’s the type of chicken I brought home today as an early birthday present. Two 4 week old australorps. Good layers, of light brown eggs, friendly and passive, black with an irridescent green and purple sheen. Beautiful chickens.

Until we build them a coop they have a run during the day along the side of the house, and at night they are sleeping in the shed. They were skittish when we picked them up early this evening, but a couple of hours in the sunshine with me relentlessy trying to make friends was succesful. The ticket to a feathered friends heart is through ear and neck scritches. When they figure out your little monkey fingers and nails can exquisitely massage and manipulate their itchy little heads with amazing skill and dexterity they become chicken masala in your palms… well, not quite.

They got very happy when they discovered a dusty dirty patch in chicken alley in the sunshine. They had vigorous dust baths for quite some time, I got in there and raised some dust myself. Trying to get them accustomed to me, my hands mimicking their behaviours. Soon they were seeking out my fingers and grooming me and each other as we tossed around a lot of dirt!

They’ve now been re-named Eloise and Madeline, which I think is an improvement from the names they came with, the little girl whose family was selling them had named them Sticky and Lulu.  I’m looking forward to a lot of chicken snuggling, and very fresh eggs. Though we have a while to wait till they’re old enough to lay.

Plans for a chicken coop at the end of ‘chicken alley’ ( the run area we’ve designated for them), are under way.

They were an early birthday present, I turn 40 in 9 days… Some women might dream of expensive luxurious gifts, jewellery, or a day at the spa. Me, I can’t think of a thing I’d want more right now than those two cute little chicks.  The last puppy leaves tomorrow, but tonight I got a couple of baby chickens.. that softens the blow. I get to be a chicken mama too.

pock pock pock -pu-CAW!