Chicken fun facts

I thought we would share a few fun facts about chickens you may or may not know..... For example, like the sign in the photo states, it takes about 21 days for an egg to hatch!

Here are a few more interesting and maybe odd facts for you:

1. There are more chickens on earth than there are people, over three billion in china alone.
2. Recent evidence suggests that domestication of the chicken began in Vietnam over 10,000 years ago.
3. A chicken's heart beats at an amazing 280-315 beats a minute.
4. Chickens can run at a speed of 9 mph.
5. Chickens are the closest living relative of the tyrannosaur.

Today (3/19) is National Poultry Day

Today is going to be a most egg-cellent day! I have lot of fun poultry related things to share with you. Makes sure you have your scrambled eggs and get ready to do the chicken dance. Stop over and visit our friends at Fresh Eggs Daily to get in on even more poultry fun. Cock-a-doodle-do, rise and shine and let’s have a fun old time!!!

Critchlow Alligator Sanctuary

If you have been around MAD for a while, you have heard of the great mid-Michigan, Critchlow Alligator Sanctuary. We have shared our visit with you before. With spring right around the corner they are gearing up for another wonderful summer. Currently they are still on winter admissions of just $3 a person.

The big Gator Release Days are coming up April 7 & 8 and 14 & 15 (weather permitting) from 1-6pm. We actually got to help on release day last year and it was amazing.

Our little Fun Tester wrangling a gator

So why am I telling all about Critchlow's again? Because they are offering a great price for a family season pass. For $50 you get a year of gators and Mr. C (which I promise your kids will love just as much if not more then the gators!!!) AND their mini-golf is FREE to all season pass holders. Now you do the math because taking a family out for a round of mini golf adds up.

So, you can get a great pass to a great place and throw in some mini golf, but also keep in mind, that $50 goes to help am amazing place. Did you know it is still legal to own a gator privately in Michigan? Do you know Critchlow's is one of a VERY few places these great critters can go to once their owners realize the do not make good pets! Critchlow's does an amazing job giving there beasties a place to live out their lives in a healthy and enriching environment.

Recycle, grow, share

Looking for a fun project? Why not plant an indoor “garden.” You don’t need an expensive planter to do it either. My hubby had made monkey bread he had bought in the frozen department at the store. The pan it cooked in was this cute plastic bunt looking pan. After a quick scrub it was ready to be recycled into a garden planter.

We glued a $1 mushroom on the center bunt pan portion, filled with dirt, added seeds, and a $1 gnome. Now if you notice in the photo the seeds we picked are cat grass. When this thing starts to grow, not only will it be cute, but it will give our kitties a treat!

So be creative and make your own recycled indoor garden.

Learn About Butterflies Day

They have a day for everything don't they!!! And today is Learn About Butterflies Day. So let's learn a little bit about them, shall we?

Here is the anatomy of a butterfly:

So how do you know if it is a butterfly or a moth?

Most butterflies primarily fly during the day  and many moths fly at night.

Butterflies have knobbed antenna and moths have feathery or straight antenna.

Butterfly bodies are usually slim, while moth bodies are plump and hairy.

Moths usually spin silken cocoons to enclose their pupae or burrow underground to pupate.

Butterflies form chrysalises.

What do Butterflies eat?

Butterflies dont eat like we do, they get their nurishment from drinking. They have a long narrow tube in their mouth called a proboscis that acts as a straw. They usually set on top of a flower and drink the nectar. And did you know, butterflies can taste with their feet!!!

Coffee Filter Butterfly craft

 

What you'll need:

• 1/2 of a pipe cleaners 
• Paper coffee filter
• Water color paints
• Paint brush
• Water

How to make it:

1. Flatten the coffee filter and place it on a newspaper, the paint and water will soak through. Set aside on paper towels to dry.
2. Fold the pipe cleaner in half.
3. Fold the coffee filter accordion style.
4. Position the coffee filter into the bent end of the pip cleaner.
5. Twist the pipe cleaner around the filter.
6. Bend the tips of the pipe cleaner over about ¼" to create the antennae.
7. Fan out the butterfly wings.

Umizoomi Spring Color by Number

I don't know why, but my son loves to do color by number. Some day I am sure we will have to get him a paint by number!!! But for now, these Umizoomi Spring Color by Number pages will have to hold him. I hope you children enjoy them half as much as are Fun Tester will..