Mahonri: I wouldn't worry about it too much, you should get a chick or two at the very least. While I don't *regret* getting the chicks because, hey, fuzzy butts, as things turned out I really didn't need to.
Speaking of fuzzy butts, I started to get worried this afternoon, because the chicks still hadn't arrived. So I called the Mesa PO, the person I talked to was very friendly and helpful, but no chicks. I called the main Phoenix PO, again, everyone was friendly and helpful, but no chicks. Then, at 6:30, I got a call from the Phoenix PO, the chicks had arrived, and would be at the main counter. So we hopped in the car, drove down, and picked up the chicks.
Once we got home, I picked out 8 to put under the broodys. Working on the theory that it might be better if most of the chicks were chipmunk striped, I picked out 4 EEs, a Brown Leghorn, as well as what I'm pretty sure is a White Leghorn, a Blue Andalusian and an Australorp. Once it was fully dark, I snuck into the coop, tucked the chicks under the broodys and removed the unhatched egg and waited to see what happened. It seems to have gone well, the broodys heard distressed peeping from the chicks and started making comforting clucking noises and calmed the babys down. I waited for a few minutes, and then came back about 15 minutes later, and everyone was sleeping. I'll have to see how it went in the morning, but so far, it looks like it worked.
The rest of the chicks are in a brooder on the patio, and are doing really well. They all found the food and water, ate, drank and went to sleep. Everyone seems happy and healthy, another excellent order from MPC. There are a bunch of EE's, some Barred Rocks, some Blue Andalusians, Brown Leghorns, a RIR and what I'm pretty sure are White Leghorns.
