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Babies came early...

post #1 of 6
3/17/12 at 10:52pm
Thread Starter 

I had a plan...

 

Notice I said "had." idunno.gif

 

I'd done my research.   My feed store would have the breeds I wanted on March 31st.  I'd have to get my SLW the following week, and I was just out of luck on the speckled sussex I REALLY wanted, as they wouldn't be in until July.  But I decided my day woult be March 31st.

 

So I went by the feed store today.  You can see what's coming, can't you?  They had not only a bin of SLW's, but also a surprise shipment of speckled sussex!  So I did it!  I'm now the proud mama of a buff orpington, a barred rock, an easter egger, a SLW, and a speckled sussex!  (I'll have to go back for my dark brahma on the 31st, though.)!!!!!!

 

So much for cold logic in the face of warm fuzzy butts!  love.gif

 

Fortunately, I'd already assembled my brooder gear.  I need to up the wattage on my heat lamp, as it wasn't staying warm enough in the garage, but until then my bathroom is doubling as a chicken coop.  (light hanging from bungee cords from the curtain rod...you get the idea)  I'm glad my husband is more spontaneous than I am, and he's handled it in stride.  The Big Girl Coop is half finished, so he's not too stressed out.

 

So starts my first journey into chicken mothering.  Wish me luck!

 

--Nervous mother hen, Nikki  jumpy.gif

 

p.s.  I'll post pictures if I can figure out how.  I know it's simple, but technology and I don't always see eye to eye.

 

Adoptive mom to 3 cats, 1 rabbit, and a 9 year old human boy, and bio mom to a 5 year old girl. 

Mother hen to 1 buff orpington, 1 buckeye, 1 silver laced wyandotte, 1 barred rock, 1 light brahma, and 2 easter eggers.

Our cardigan welsh corgi, Maddie, is sweet, but is currently in the doghouse for unnecessary roughness with the chickens!

 

You can't scare me!  I teach 6th grade!

 

 

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Adoptive mom to 3 cats, 1 rabbit, and a 9 year old human boy, and bio mom to a 5 year old girl. 

Mother hen to 1 buff orpington, 1 buckeye, 1 silver laced wyandotte, 1 barred rock, 1 light brahma, and 2 easter eggers.

Our cardigan welsh corgi, Maddie, is sweet, but is currently in the doghouse for unnecessary roughness with the chickens!

 

You can't scare me!  I teach 6th grade!

 

 

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post #2 of 6
3/17/12 at 11:04pm

I wanna know, how did you ever buy just one of each breed?  You must be strong, cause I have to have at least a couple of each....congrats, sounds like you were close to ready anyway, eggs will just come a few weeks earlier!  Have fun!

2 workin folks, 2 amazing daughters, 2 cats, 1 dog, 2 Nigerian Dwarf Goats,19 chickens!  Lovin every minute of it!   "Life isn't about how to survive the storm but how to dance in the rain."
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2 workin folks, 2 amazing daughters, 2 cats, 1 dog, 2 Nigerian Dwarf Goats,19 chickens!  Lovin every minute of it!   "Life isn't about how to survive the storm but how to dance in the rain."
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post #3 of 6
3/17/12 at 11:06pm
Congratulations! I'm sure you're going to have a lot of fun on the way. wink.png

Our second group of chicks was pretty spontaneous too. It wasn't time for a renewal of the laying clan yet, but one day we were making a trip to the beach, which is past the feed store, and we don't go that way very often. (A friend was visiting from overseas) So, we stopped by the store on the way and picked up the chicks.

Immediately after we got home, we discovered it was not a good decision. In all the heat of the moment, we'd forgotten it was the middle of winter and we were going on a three week holiday in a couple of weeks' time. lol.png

But everything worked out well in the end. Good luck with your new additions!
"It's great to have allies... but true character shines through when a man's got to fight for himself, and he becomes the start of something great."
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"It's great to have allies... but true character shines through when a man's got to fight for himself, and he becomes the start of something great."
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post #4 of 6
3/18/12 at 7:08am
Thread Starter 

Thanks!

 

Got through the first night fine.  I FINALLY went to bed at midnight after nervously monitoring the temperature for a couple hours.  (Everything is fine...)  Then, I had dreams about chicks until my daughter woke me up at 6.  (4 year olds just don't understand the concept of "sleep in."  Sigh...)

 

Everyone is happy and chipper this morning.  The barred rock makes me laugh!  She's always watching me, as if to say, "Whatcha got for me?"  Very curious bird! 

 

Anyway, thanks for the well-wishes! 

 

--Nikki

 

p.s.  To lclough:  The only thing that kept me from going berserk with the buying is that I know how big my coop is.  Just right for 6.   Those little chipmunky speckled sussex girls were speaking to me, and I knew all their cheeps meant "take me home, take me home!" but I just didn't have the space.  I hate being practical!

Adoptive mom to 3 cats, 1 rabbit, and a 9 year old human boy, and bio mom to a 5 year old girl. 

Mother hen to 1 buff orpington, 1 buckeye, 1 silver laced wyandotte, 1 barred rock, 1 light brahma, and 2 easter eggers.

Our cardigan welsh corgi, Maddie, is sweet, but is currently in the doghouse for unnecessary roughness with the chickens!

 

You can't scare me!  I teach 6th grade!

 

 

Reply

Adoptive mom to 3 cats, 1 rabbit, and a 9 year old human boy, and bio mom to a 5 year old girl. 

Mother hen to 1 buff orpington, 1 buckeye, 1 silver laced wyandotte, 1 barred rock, 1 light brahma, and 2 easter eggers.

Our cardigan welsh corgi, Maddie, is sweet, but is currently in the doghouse for unnecessary roughness with the chickens!

 

You can't scare me!  I teach 6th grade!

 

 

Reply
post #5 of 6
3/18/12 at 8:01am

happy chickie day!!! i love my fuzzy butts! so glad I am not the only one who refers to them as that! love.gif

Robin, mommy to two awesome kids, and wife to my sweet country boy prince. Crazy chicken lady and waiting for my big forever farm, Lollipop Farm!! https://www.facebook.com/LollipopFarm

 

I MAKE HAIR BOWS! Come see me at Chicken Butt Bows 'n Thangs!

https://www.facebook.com/CBBNT

 

my swap page: http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/gapeach717-swap-offers

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Robin, mommy to two awesome kids, and wife to my sweet country boy prince. Crazy chicken lady and waiting for my big forever farm, Lollipop Farm!! https://www.facebook.com/LollipopFarm

 

I MAKE HAIR BOWS! Come see me at Chicken Butt Bows 'n Thangs!

https://www.facebook.com/CBBNT

 

my swap page: http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/gapeach717-swap-offers

Reply
post #6 of 6
3/18/12 at 8:54pm
Congrats on your new chicks. I have to wait until Apr 6 to get mine and there is not getting them early. I am going to try a Speckled Sussex or two again this year. I have tried to get one twice in the past and both times they turned out to be Brown Leghorns. Hopefully third time is a charm.
1 Silver Laced Wyandotte, 2 Gold Laced Wyandotte, 1 BLRW, 1 Columbian Wyandotte, 4 Rhode Island Red, 6 Easter Eggers, 3 Barred Rock, 3 Welsummer, 2 Buff Orpington, 2 White Leghorn, 2 Brown Leghorn, 3 Gold Sex Links, 2 Delaware, 1 Mixed Maran.    And a partridge in a pear tree... (just kidding on the partridge).
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1 Silver Laced Wyandotte, 2 Gold Laced Wyandotte, 1 BLRW, 1 Columbian Wyandotte, 4 Rhode Island Red, 6 Easter Eggers, 3 Barred Rock, 3 Welsummer, 2 Buff Orpington, 2 White Leghorn, 2 Brown Leghorn, 3 Gold Sex Links, 2 Delaware, 1 Mixed Maran.    And a partridge in a pear tree... (just kidding on the partridge).
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