Isn't the bantam cochin cockeral, a rooster? I think it is. HaHa!
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I had read somewhere to plan on "about 25%" of my new chicks dying. As a Chicken Virgin/possible Chicken Idiot, my thought was that the loss would be more realistically around 50%. Ummmmm...at least not yet. All 22 that came on Monday are out in the brooder, peeping happily. (In one of life's little ironies, I have never liked/do not eat eggs. Just think chickens are cool.) My husband can't keep a straight face as I am sitting out there with my warm water, q-tips, surgical scissors, etc., watching them poop and looking for pasty butt. At what point are baby chicks out of the woods? Or can they just go at any time? I'm an RN, and would take it personally if one of them died because of my stupid mistake.
What surprises me most of all is that I am totally smitten with the "brooder drama", and have spent MANY MANY hours watching the chicks like they are a television show. They suck every bit of ambition out of my brain, and I sit there all day holding them one at a time, rather than doing something more practical (like ironing uniforms). Somebody made a joke about chickens being "the Redneck Aquarium"...they weren't too far off! Does this wear off after awhile? My husband is hoping so. No time to go grocery shopping around the corner, but plenty of time to drive out of town for special baby chicken feed. (!)
Love the Backyard Chicken website and have learned a lot. Thanks for the great ideas everyone!