I do agree on the day old chicks being weird...kind of. It is common to buy farm animals so young, even if they still stay with the mother for a while. In fact, some cat and dog breeders sell the babies right away, maybe even before they are born. The buyer picks up when weaned.

I've always tried to get older chicks, I feel if they survived a week at the farm store then they are strong. I don't really like buying newly hatched (or just born even) animals because if they have a serious birth defect it might not show up for a little while.

That said, I am thinking in the future I may go the hatching eggs route if my hens are good mothers. I do not care for babies 😅 there's just too much to worry about!
 
I do agree on the day old chicks being weird...kind of. It is common to buy farm animals so young, even if they still stay with the mother for a while. In fact, some cat and dog breeders sell the babies right away, maybe even before they are born. The buyer picks up when weaned.

I've always tried to get older chicks, I feel if they survived a week at the farm store then they are strong. I don't really like buying newly hatched (or just born even) animals because if they have a serious birth defect it might not show up for a little while.

That said, I am thinking in the future I may go the hatching eggs route if my hens are good mothers. I do not care for babies 😅 there's just too much to worry about!
Plus all that diaper changing, and they smell like baby powder. Spitting and barfing 🤮 everywhere. Screaming at all hours of the night! Gezz:th
 
13+yrs saga cont... (2018)

Southern Californians might remember our brutal earlier-than-usual heatwaves in 2018. We lost a Dominique pullet "Opal" as she died in the nestbox from heatstroke while laying her egg. She never made it to 1-yr-old ☹️ . 2018 was our first 2 cases of bumblefoot which was an education to experience!

We were devastated to lose precious Opal to heatstroke and now the backyard flock had dwindled down to 4 birds ~ 2 Dom pullets, one aloof Cuckoo Breda "Char" who continued to stalk the little Silkie "Violet". We didn't have concerns about obnoxious Char so long as the two Dom sisters kept Char away from Violet. So interesting how the Doms protected little Violet -- or maybe the Doms just wanted to keep a peaceful environment. However, from the Doms' first integration into the flock they immediately submitted to Violet honoring her as alpha until the day she passed at 11 yrs old.

DANA and JEWLZ ~ the 2 Doms
DSCN5983.JPG


VIOLET never alone w/ a closeby Dom following
DSCN5277.JPG


VIOLET
DSCN4833.JPG


Char was a rare Breda chicken and we wanted her to continue a forever home with us.

CHAR - triangle crest and no comb
DSCN6236.JPG


...to be cont'd
 
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13+yrs saga cont... (2018)

Southern Californians might remember our brutal earlier-than-usual heatwaves in 2018. We lost a Dominique pullet "Opal" as she died in the nestbox from heatstroke while laying her egg. She never made it to 1-yr-old ☹️ . 2018 was our fist 2 cases of bumblefoot which was an education to experience!

We were devastated lose precious Opal to heatstroke and now the backyard flock had dwindled down to 4 birds ~ 2 Dom pullets, one aloof Cuckoo Breda "Char" who continued to stalk the little Silkie "Violet". We didn't have concerns about obnoxious Char so long as the two Dom sisters kept Char away from Violet. So interesting how the Doms protected little Violet -- or maybe the Doms just wanted to keep a peaceful environment. However, from the Doms' first integration into the flock they immediately submitted to Violet honoring her as alpha until the day she passed at 11 yrs old.

DANA and JEWLZ ~ the 2 Doms
View attachment 3907463

VIOLET never alone w/ a closeby Dom following
View attachment 3907454

VIOLET
View attachment 3907484

Char was a rare Breda chicken and we wanted her to continue a forever home with us.

CHAR - triangle crest and no comb
View attachment 3907470

...to be cont'd
Aw im sorry!
 

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