... for the winter.  These are my beautiful, "Calico Cochins" (the ones I used to refer to as "Candy Corn Cochins" ~ we've chosen an official name for them).  Each evening, I lift Opal and Crystal and Scarlet and Red ... closed the doors to the barn and tucked in all the Mille fleur cochins and my Backyard chickens.  It wasn't until I went back into the ...

... turns a shade of gray and backs into an obscure corner. I've felt this way for days. So much I want to do, and so unsure where to begin. I keep walking outside and staring at the chickens. The cochins run up to me, chickens in poodle pants, and crouch down at me feet begging to be picked up. I pick them up and stroke their fluffy necks. I bring them fancy food from the refrigerator. Right now ...

... spending 14 weeks of your life in a dark barn with recycled air :( But they're home now and as spoiled as the rest of the flock. This is Kiwi, a blue cochin: This is Violet, a lavender cochin: Cochins are typically pretty large and fluffy birds so it'll be interesting to see them grow up :) In other news, I'm in a cooking slump. Like, totally. Can't think of anything to cook ...

... merged with the forest), removed during his lustful moments. I now have a total of 41 hens, and two roosters. They are learning to fluff up their built-in down jackets as they roost for the night. The Cochins have become popular roost partners as they are very fluffy. Last night as I went in to turn off their light and do a head count, one of the Aracaunas actually had her head buried in the ...