Diary of a Chicken Tender...

[WhiteRockCrazyBird]

I'm a few days behind on starting this, been busy with the new peeps! We were expecting a couple of farm store chick orders on April 4. Having ordered over 40 chicks, I made 3 brooders in the barn, each with a 12 x 24 Mama's heating pad setup.

April 3 I had a message from Farm & Fleet that my chicks had arrived! We had ordered 25 pullets, 5 each of Light Brahmas, Speckled Sussex, Welsummers, Cuckoo Marans, and Easter Eggers. Decided to add 3 more EEs when we got there. All chicks looked healthy and vibrant. Farm & Fleet orders from Cackle Hatchery. When we got home, we realized the hatchery had given us an extra of each breed, so we had 33!

Put them to bed under the MHP. Went to the barn every 2 hours to check on them, worried that someone may have come out and not found their way back in, but everyone slept soundly through the night! It was 24 degrees in the barn, and I was freezing! No way I could sit out here all day! So I whipped up temporary brooders in a bedroom and moved them inside!

Added shavings. They have nipple waterers with sav a chick electrolytes and probiotics and love them!

 

[WhiteRockCrazyBird]

April 4. Sat in the bedroom most of the day observing the chicks.

Eating, drinking well, going to town on the sav a chick! Added some sticks to explore. They have found the top of the MHP too!

Our second order of chicks from Rural King has not arrived yet.

 

[WhiteRockCrazyBird]

April 5. Chicks have arrived at Rural King! Set up 3rd brooder.

RK has LOTS of chicks! Unfortunately, my pullet order of Black Copper Marans is straight run! Oh well, they are only $1.29 each. Picked 5 of the BCM. Picked 4 EEs (marked pullets). Picked 2 Salmon Favorelles (marked pullets)! These chicks are much smaller than the first order. Not quite as alert. Bins were very full of new and 1 week old chicks. Took them home a tucked them under MHP. Everyone's in bed for the night!

 

[WhiteRockCrazyBird]

April 6. I snuck in early this morning to clean brooders, but as soon as I turned on the low lamp, the F&F chicks were out and busy! No one from RK is coming out, I tip up the pad to peek in. Everyone's alive. Kinda herded them out, dipped beaks, showed food, but no interest. Tucked everyone back in. Just came up here, 3 of the BCM came out to eat a bit. F&F chicks are all busy! Light peeping coming from RK pad!

 

[WhiteRockCrazyBird]

The new tinys are coming out!

 

[Trish1974]

 

[WhiteRockCrazyBird]

A little hand feeding, just chick starter though! This pen has the Brahmas and most of the Welsummers and Sussex (can't differentiate yet). There is an EE for sure and a clean legged yellow chick.

This pen is Cuckoo Marans, EEs and a couple Welsummers or Sussex.

 

[WhiteRockCrazyBird]

The 2 Salmon Favorelles. I'm hoping the difference in down coloring means they will look pretty different from each other as adults.

 

[WhiteRockCrazyBird]

I have been watching the new RK chicks, and everyone has been out several times except one EE. I finally dug her out and noticed she has pasty butt! To the sink we went! Got her all cleaned up. She got a sip of water then went back under MHP.

 

[Eilsel]

Fun to follow along! Such cute little fluff balls!