Dominique a rare breed we will have. |
The "Nursery" scrubbed spotless |
The "nursery" is actually a rabbit hutch I put wooden sides on, that is completely locked up ALL the time. They will have a heat lamp, and a very good thermometer that I will check constantly for the first week. I am keeping the nursery on the patio. Bob spent hours attaching fencing on the wall around the patio to make it higher. We have coyotes. And we have an electric fence that will be electrified every night (which we have to figure out VERY soon!). More on Fort Chicken later.
"Fort Chicken"
Baby chicks can be ordered on line, over the phone, via catalogue. Day old chicks need no food or water for the first 72 hours. They get sustenance from the yolk inside the egg prior to hatching. This gives them a few days to get aquainted...or travel, as in our flock's case. The post office usually calls at the crack of dawn to tell me they have arrived. I have warned my local PO who ships all me Etsy orders to keep an eye out. I think my post office is as excited as I am! They should arrive with their fuzz on, and start feathering out in a week. I will keep a photo diary and share it with you readers. Below is a link to MurrayMcMurray Hatchery of Buff Cochin Chicks on youtube. A breed we are getting.
Buff Cochin Chick |
Buff Cochin Hen |
Box O Chicks |
I'm so excited, I can't really express it in words. We will have a "Chick Party" the day they arrive. I invite neighbors and friends to come see them and celebrate all this new life. I promise I will be sharing pictures daily. Baby chicks have always meant a physical form of hope that Spring brings to me. It's my favorite time of year. If you are close and reading this, know you are invited to join us next week.
The Chicken Catalog |
Thanks for reading.
Each day is a gift, open now.
xo,
Suz
Yay, Suz! You beat me to it. We have been thinking of keeping chickens for a couple years now, but still haven't taken the leap. It is a lot of preparation to keep them safe from neighboring dogs and wildlife, but I still so want to do it! Until I do, I will live vicariously through you... so you better keep me updated with photos and more photos! Enjoy those chicks!
ReplyDeleteAfter reading your blog post my heart is yearning for baby chicks! I grew up as a child with chickens in our backyard. There's nothing like having fresh eggs! When I saw your title - I assumed your chicks were going to be made of metal - I was pleasantly surprised that they were real chicks! Right now, I am up to my ears in rabbits - Easter bunnies - only mine are coming from my sewing machine. I won't need to feed them before they find new homes to go to. Wishing you all the best in your chicken raising endeavors - I'm sure your grandson will love them, too!
ReplyDeleteOh Suz, what fun! I'm so enjoying your chicken saga and can't wait for the next installment! I keep pestering Joe to consider keeping chickens, but we too would have to built a fort against the fox, the bobcat and (yep, here too) the coyote. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat fun, I love my banty chickens! There is nothing more peaceful than watching chickens wander around the yard! We usually hatch a couple of eggs every spring, my daughters are already planning on it! Last year we had a fox family living in the field behind our house, poor chickens had to spend the summer days in their coop, scratching in the dirt instead of the grass :( Hoping the foxes relocated this year... :)
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