We're out!

At long last, the chickens are out of their too-small brooder. It was probably a week overdue - their peep-peeps are gone, now they sort of croon (although I heard some clucking out of our suspected rooster when Dave picked him up). They've had feathers and combs brushing the roof the brooder for days, and whenever I went into the laundry room I saw little yellow heads peeking out curiously at me. Dave made a superhuman effort to finish the coop this weekend, and though there is still quite a bit of finishing that needs to be done, it is now habitable for birds. They are so happy!
Those are nest boxes on the right, spots for future egg laying. We put their food and water inside the coop for now. I'm not sure if we'll keep it in there, or if that will go outside, but since they're still so young, we want to make sure they have access to everything they need. Dave put up the heat lamp out there; it makes the coop glow like a jack o'lantern! I can actually see it out the window behind the computer desk. I wonder what the neighbors think...

It got too dark for more photos. Jonah and I will bring the camera out tomorrow for the chickens' first full day outside.

And, Monday news: Our rooster is officially going to be picked up today and taken to his new home on a farm with lots of hens. The man who is picking him up told me that he'll take photos of his new home and e-mail them to me. I'm so happy, even though this was the chick that completely grossed me out a few posts ago, he's grown into himself and he is lovely, and I'd hate to think of him going off to his death. So after today we'll have four birds, two of each breed. A nice number.