A few more new kids on the block

Look at these beautiful lilies! (No taste-testing, Emily! Don't worry, I moved them out of her reach after this photo was taken.) They smell divine.

They were a gift from a lovely couple named Arja and Tim. On the weekend, they sent me a very nice email asking if we'd consider taking in their four beloved Plymouth Rock hens.

I didn't need much convincing. Nor did Gordon! So today the girls arrived. Arja is Finnish, so she gave the hens have pretty Finnish names: Nelli, Pulmu, Tilda and Alma. 

Errol Flynn, our gentle Plymouth Rock rooster, wasted no time in getting acquainted with the ladies. He was very polite and gentlemanly!

When Arja and Tim got the girls from the hatchery, their upper beaks were already trimmed. But they do just fine. Aren't they pretty gals?

They are lovely, friendly little birds, just under a year old.

I'm not sure which one this is, but their legs are banded so I will soon get them figured out and remember their names. Anyway, she decided to venture out with Errol Flynn for a little while. He's keeping close tabs on his new lady friend. That white rooster in the background was one of the chicks Charlotte raised last summer. In fact, I think this might be him with his dear departed surrogate mama...

(Sigh... we miss Charlotte.) The rooster needs a name! I have to get on that. 

Anyway, the new girls are a great addition to the flock. Thank you, Arja and Tim, for trusting us with your girls. I got a wonderful information sheet on the hens: what they like to eat, what their favourite treats are,  how they feel about being handled, etc. I will enjoy getting to know them better over the coming weeks! They seem quite content already.

And while I was doing chores today, I crouched down to fill a bowl with scratch feed and Debbie the OSPCA hen jumped up on my back.

Can you see her? She's playing coy.

(I REALLY like the way the iPhone camera erases wrinkles, and smoothes skin!! Ha!)

Peek-a-boo, Debbie, I see you!

You may note that I am not wearing a coat in these photos. It was 10C today with warm sun, and the snow was melting like crazy. I got too hot doing my afternoon chores and had to take my winter jacket off! Considering that it was -30C when we woke up a few days back, this feels pretty darn warm!

It has been a while since the chickens got any air time on the blog, so I'll work on that, and let you know how the four Finnish beauties are doing. :)