Chickens

We were peacefully working on finishing school around noon today, when someone knocked on the door.  It was our next-door neighbor, and she had 8 chicks in a bucket.  Something had killed their mother this morning, probably a stoat, and she didn’t have time to raise them.  Did we want them, and two more that were running around in their paddock?  Sure–we’ll take any unwanted animal! (Except a dog.)  She took two of the boys with her to catch the last two chicks, and ran to town for me to pick up some feed for them, because I don’t have the van today.  I worked on fixing up a home for them.  We couldn’t find the hanging light socket we’ve used before for baby birds, so I improvised with a couple of hot water bottles.  The younger boys found wood chips and made a water and food dish out of peanut butter jars (plastic) and we are all set!  There is a cheerful cheeping sound in the living room now.