Yesterday at Faithful Flock Farm was what we like to call a “count your chickens twice and check the fence three times” kind of day. It is a season of growth and high energy around here, and sometimes that means we have to move a little faster than the local roosters crow. We have been so blessed with a busy spring, but with a busy farm comes the responsibility of careful chicken care and stewardship.
It all started when we noticed the Silkies were getting a little too rambunctious for their own good. Silkies are wonderful, fluffy creatures, but they don't always realize how big they are compared to our tiny Seramas. We suspected the Silkies had accidentally trampled two of the smallest Seramas, and we knew we had to act fast to keep everyone safe.
Yesterday morning, we caught one little Serama getting squashed into the corner of the brooder. We scooped that tiny chick up so fast you would have thought the coop had caught fire. That little one spent most of the day tucked safely near us while we worked on fixing up a brand-new, protected space. Now, the Seramas have their own little sanctuary where they can grow without fear of being stepped on, and the Silkies are happy staying together in their own group.
While the chicks were getting settled into their new arrangements, the rest of the farm was buzzing with activity. It was a beautiful day to get things done, and we had a long list of chores. We spent the morning doing laundry and watering a whole lot of plants. We have been preparing our raised beds for the summer season, filling them with fresh dirt so the vegetables can finally get planted.
We have high hopes for the garden this year. We are putting in tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and chives. There is something so peaceful about working in the dirt and knowing that these small seeds will soon provide food for our family and friends. With the weather climbing toward 87 degrees, we made sure to stay hydrated with a cold fruit smoothie while we worked. It was the kind of heat that reminds you summer is just around the corner.
Uncle Bernard came over to help us out, and John and Shannon arrived to help fix the fence. For a long time, the old fence was more of a polite suggestion to the chickens than an actual barrier. They treated it like a hurdle to be cleared whenever they saw something interesting on the other side. John and Uncle Bernard spent most of the late afternoon tearing down the old wire and replacing it with something much more secure.
The new fence stands tall around the run now, built like the one around Mimi’s Coop but much bigger. They stretched the fencing wide so the girls and boys would have plenty of room to roam, scratch, and chase bugs. It is so important to us that our flock has room to stay cool beneath the shade trees, especially as the temperatures rise. Life at Faithful Flock Farm is always better when the animals are comfortable and safe.
While the fence was being built, our dogs were right there to supervise. Milo, our white Maltese, and Panda Bear, our black-and-white Shih Tzu, take their roles as farm guardians very seriously, or at least they like to look the part. They spent a good portion of the afternoon finding the best patches of shade and making sure no stray squirrels interrupted the hard work.
Yesterday was also a very big day because John and Shannon are officially starting a flock of their own. It was a joy to watch the process of picking out which birds would head to their new home. At first, Jacob really wanted Big Red. Now, Big Red is a handsome rooster who walks around Mercy’s Coop like he pays the mortgage and owns the feed store down the road. However, we were a little worried he might be a bit too much rooster for the little ones to handle.
After a family discussion that went in circles about three separate times, we all settled on one of the colorful teenage boys from the House of Joy. That unnamed rooster puffed his chest out afterward like he had just won a major election. There was a lot of compromising and a whole lot of "chicken math" involved. Jacob picked a few hens, Shannon picked a couple of others, and before we knew it, a new flock was born.
We remember Shannon chose one of the Mama Lovely girls and Mama Comet, but honestly, between carrying feed buckets and chasing thoughts around, we forgot exactly which two Jacob picked. We are fairly certain the hens remember, though. They tend to keep very detailed records on everyone who visits the farm.
Inside the house, things were just as busy. Uncle Bernard helped move a recliner downstairs and brought a desk upstairs because our emergency chick rearranging required some extra space. It is moments like these where we are so grateful for family who is willing to jump in and help with whatever needs doing, whether it is moving furniture or building a coop.
As the evening chores were winding down, Mama Janice walked over near Mercy’s Coop. She kept looking from the coop back to us, and then back to the coop again. It was the kind of look that only a chicken person truly understands. She was healed, healthy, and very ready to return to her friends. We carried her over and gently placed her on the roost bar inside Mercy’s Coop.
This morning, we checked on everyone first thing. Everyone was alive, moving, hungry, and very loud. That is exactly how chicks should be. Then came the moment the House of Joy had been waiting for: Freedom Day. We think the chickens must have been listening through the walls because, before sunrise, the entire farm was carrying on like someone had announced free worms for life.
Milo and Panda Bear, however, were not quite as excited about the early start. Milo was found upside down in a blanket, and Panda Bear opened one eye, sighed dramatically, and decided that the morning chaos simply did not involve him. They eventually made it outside, but they certainly took their time.
We started at the JS Coop, letting the girls outside, and then moved to Mimi’s Coop. The chickens were already lined up at the door like impatient shoppers waiting for a store to open on Black Friday. The moment the door swung wide, they exploded outside in a cloud of feathers and dust. Nobody cared who tripped or who yelled, they were just happy to be out.
At Mercy’s Coop, it was the same story. The flock burst into the woods, yelling what we are fairly certain translates to "Freedom, trees, and bugs!" Finally, it was time for the House of Joy. We opened the coop door slowly to test the new fence. At first, they just stood there staring suspiciously, like tiny feathery bank robbers checking for traps.
Then, Mama Lovely noticed that we had stepped outside the fenced area and the door was staying open. She started clucking loudly to let everyone know it was real. The girls rushed out first, followed by the two teenage roosters who were trying their best to act brave. One of them immediately tripped over a rock but pretended it never happened, puffing his feathers back out as quickly as he could.
We stood there for a long time just watching them spread out through the grass and stretch their wings under the shade trees. It was a beautiful sight to see them enjoying the space that John and Uncle Bernard worked so hard to build. We walked back over several times throughout the day to check the fence, mostly because if those chickens get into the garden after we spent all that time planting tomatoes and peppers, there might be a very long sermon delivered before supper!
Later in the afternoon, we let the garage babies outside to enjoy the sunshine too. It has been such a wonderful couple of days filled with the simple blessings of farm life. We are reminded that the Lord keeps teaching us that sometimes blessings look like sunshine, strong fences, and the sound of happy chickens in the grass. We would love to hear about the small blessings in your own life lately, so feel free to reach out and contact us to share your stories.
If you are interested in seeing more of our daily adventures, you can always browse our photo gallery or check out our latest farm updates. We are so grateful you are part of our journey here at Faithful Flock Farm.
"This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." ( Psalm 118:24)
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