Dank. That’s was this week in a word. The temperatures were relatively mild, so the flockers took advantage of the opportunity to be outside despite the fog, drizzle, wind and ubiquitous grayness. The challenge this week was to figure out what to do about the one Black Copper Marans chick that hatched Thanksgiving night whom I named Kris Kringle. For once I was without a broody hen to rely on to raise it. The chick seemed content underneath its EcoGlow brooder, but I know that it needs other chickens to thrive and that raising it alone inside the house could result in major problems come time to integrate it into the flock.  So…I threw up a Hail Mary pass to Freida.

Freida, my White Silkie and Flock matriarch, was perfectly happy to be roosting with the rest of the ladies when I plucked her from the roost and introduced her to Kris Kringle.

Lola (Columbian Wyandotte hen) was significantly less enthusiastic about being photographed this week as she trudges through a most hideous molt.