The Newest Arrivals 2025 | Clear Countertop Sol

Raising Baby chicks (hatched to 12 weeks) is a big responsibility. But a labor of love, for sure.

Paul actually initiated this newest batch. He really wants a variety of colored eggs now. So, we found a couple of Ameraucana baby chicks at the chicken gettin' place, as well as an Easter Egger. I found a cute gray chick which turned out to be a Blue Plymouth Rock. So, we went home with our new babies. This will add a shade of green and blue and another brown egg to our already various shades of peach, tan, brown, speckled and white eggs.

Of course, I kept all the previous water bins and feeders, warmers, toys, etc. from the last brood who are now almost a year old! Because we moved to our new home with an excessive amount of black and yellow totes, we have a surplus of "chicken bins" to accommodate our new chicks. I have a great method of raising chicks for the first twelve weeks hassle free cleaning and gives them a change to spread their wings when needed.

I almost forgot what a real chore it is to take care of these little guys. They can only drink room temperature water. I am constantly checking that their poopy is not runny because that can signal an issue. I'm always picking them up to look at their little feathery butts.. Libby had a clogged vent from the store. Once we were able to check her over good at home, that had to be addressed immediately. She is doing fine now, but it can be deadly for these little ones.

HI. I'm "GiGi". I am a Blue Plymouth Rock

I am a mix of a Blue Australorp male and a Barred Plymouth Rock female. I will have a blue-gray color with blue legs and feet and lay 300-340 Large Brown eggs every year if my mommy takes good care of me. I am very docile and rarely get broody. I am heart hardy, but I don't like the really cold temps. But I'm sure mommy will let me go inside if it gets too cold.

Hey Folks! My name is "Libby", short for Liberty. I am an olive egger hen and I will lay green eggs one day.

I am a cross between an Americauna and a brown egg layer breed. I am docile and a strong egg producer. I also have blue legs and blue feet, eventhough I might lay green, olive or aqua eggs. My eggs won't taste any different from any of my other coup sisters.

Howdy! My name is "India". I am an Americauna pullet.

I have an unusual look because I have a tuft of feathers around my face. It looks like a beard. I will have triple pea combs, crests but no wattles. I will lay about 250 eggs per year. I am calm and friendly. Right now, I am living inside, but it's getting warmer, so I may be able to go outside soon! Sprng is right around the corner!

Hello There!. I am Delilah. I am Paul's favorite pullet.

I am an Araucana hen. I am the biggest girl in this batch of pullets at the Harper's Hens House. I am also the bossiest, most inquisitive and I only like Paul. II's because that "lady harper" is always looking at my butt.

Bucket 'o Chicken

This is our sweet girl "Buff-Buff" who found the feed bucket for the outside girls. Of course it was empty, but she still wanted to check it out. She is such a stinker.

She managed to snap Paul's 3-year-old majesty palm tree in half yesterday (Jan 30th), because I was not giving her proper attention.

I was re-homing the baby chicks from the tote to the cage which isa long process (for me).

All went well and now the babies are in a larger area with less ability to make messes that could make them sick if left unattended for many hours.

Backyard chicken home.

Everyone wants to know where the babies live. They have a 20' x 10' chicken run with a 10' x 10' enclosure which has five laying boxes, a small coupe that Rocky and his girls tend to stay at and then a large triangle wooden structure that Zeus and his girls stay in. It is really windy on this mountain, so they need the protection. They have three feeding troughs inside and one watering egg outside their enclosure. There is netting on the top of the 20' run to deter any flying predators.

Roaming the yard...

I try to make sure the girls get time outside of their run as much as possible, especially on the weekends. It is important for them to "hunt, scratch and peck" the ground. This gives them nutrients and ability to find their own food. I feed them organic food, vegetables and fruits, but they also need meat (worms, crickets, spiders, and even mice. BY THE WAY ... If you see an egg carton that says, "VEGAN EGGS", don't buy them!

This is a marketing ploy. Chickens NEED MEAT! A healthy chicken has a plethora of food available to them.

Eggs are different, just like the hens laying them

There are no two eggs that are exactly alike. Color and size vary. The super large egg in this picture was a double yoke and was delicious (according to Paul). Double yokes occur more in Rhode Island Red and Orpington hens. We have five laying hens of these two breeds.

It is impossible to feed a hen a diet or supplement to induce the double yolks. Two yolk eggs are an anomaly usually reserved for new pullets or older hens.

Libby Helping

Libby wanted to hang with me while I'm updating this website. Of course, I had to take the opportunity to snap a picture of her cuteness.

It is amazing how the baby chicks get used to us so fast and realize we are only here to nurture them. One day they will give us food and we will share with others.

Matthew 14: 16 - But Jesus said to them, they need not depart; give ye them to eat.

New Pictures from the Harper Homestead

Our newest editions are now eight weeks old and are gleaming with their own little personalities. India is the shyest but will let me hold her as long as I am singing to her. Delilah is a daddy's girl for sure. She stays on his lap as long as he will allow it. GiGi is neutral. But "Libby" is now called "Road Runner" and is a super intelligent little girl. She does her own thing. She is the smallest but was the first one to learn to roost on a tree limb; the first and one to find Buff-Buff's food and treat stash. She is not easily swayed, and she has to decide to jump on my lap. I cannot hold her. She is independent, but very sweet and sociable. She has a long skinny beak and body, with the mohawk the cream legbars are known for which makes her look like a small roadrunner.