A newbie diary—CRISIS MODE!

The great adventure begins.

Payday happened today, so on the way home I'm stopping to pick up all the necessary items for my very first brooder. The little ones should be arriving next week ... but as the breeder has informed me: don't count your chickens before they're hatched. Perhaps that is very wise ... but I'm counting all the same.

I've spent the day scoping out all the various bits and bobs I'll need—thank goodness my boss was out today as I've accomplished little else. I've read and re-read all the good things I'm supposed to do and all the bad things I'm not supposed to do. I promise I will check for pasty butt every morning and every evening. I will faithfully monitor the temperature and make sure to dip each beak in the water (gently) upon arrival.

I will make a special place for dust baths. And, most important, I have acquired my first synthetic hen (see below) for the brooder. I know she looks out of place in the office (please note bar graph to the right, at the rear) but once at home and neatly ensconced in the brooder (far away from the heat lamp) I am sure she will perform her duties well. She took care of a number of young humanoids for more than several years; I know. I checked her references.

More adventure this evening as the vast array of stuff finally is transformed into a home.

 

**blush**

 

Ok. Ok. Ok. So, it's not Friday night. What WAS I thinking ... far too ambitious!

Saturday: It took five telephone calls to WalMart and a conversation with the assistant manager, who personally reviewed all available plastic boxes, and told me about all 15 of them. I drove home from work ... and stopped first at Starbucks. This was NOT a job I could possibly attempt without caffeinated support.

I could see the huge Walmart sign on the horizon (the sun was slowly sinking in the west behind it) ... but PetSmart was in view so I stopped there first. I had decided—after a massive amount of research at my part-time job on Saturday—upon a small heat source as my house actually does get quite warm during the day. Plus the little ones will be in the sun ... kind of. I will shade half the box so there is a cool spot. A 50 watt red heat bulb was $10.00! What a ripoff! So, while I do have the lamp, alas, it does not yet have a bulb.

Ok. So, I head over to Walmart (in the background, the Dragnet music plays: DUM de DUM DUM. DUM de DUM DUM DUUMMMMM) park the car and trot into W-M. Find the boxes...Lord there must be 50 sizes. Ok, the choice is between 90 quarts and 105-107 quarts something like that. Why in the heck don't they just say gallons? The 90 is longer,...but not as deep. I go for the 90, assuming my little chicks will want room to run. The Box—soon to be The Brooder, being totally ignored by Molly the cat (one of four.) Oh, and by the way, that teeny tiny speck of gray at the top is a horse. Who'd a thunk it?


Oh, did I mention I also bought a feeder? I sneaked over to Tractor Supply at lunchtime ... here it is, posing in The Box—soon to be The Brooder. What a show off. It does look a little sad, doesn't it?


Well. Hopefully, more tomorrow. But don't hold your breath ... I'm going to the DMV tomorrow... heck, I may never post again. Next hurdle: hardware cloth ... and the saga of the BULB!