How are chicks allowed to be this cute? (new member intro;)

[SunnyRocks]

Hi! First time chicken mama homesteading in the alpine desert in southern Colorado. We have summer average highs of ~85°F, but our winters can be brutal with 2-3 months each year where temps don’t really break freezing and once a year we like to aim for -35°F or so and really sock everyone in good and solid for a couple weeks.
I recently lost my gentle giant of a husky and decided to turn his huge dog run into a chicken pen that will host ’Gonzo’s Flock’ in his honor! I’m starting with straight run chicks from a local hatchery and aiming for a flock size of about 20. So far I’ve got:
- 2 Silverudds Blues: (4 weeks old) [both black]
- 6 Silverudds Blues (5 days old) [3 blues & 3 blacks]
- 2 Olive Eggers (4 weeks old)
- 1 Easter Egger (4 weeks old)
- 5 White Brease (4 weeks old)
- 2 Russian Orloffs (5 days old)
- & waiting on 6 more Orloff chicks to arrive next week
And my first, pressing question is….how are chicks allowed to be this cute? Every time I think they’ve set the bar, they still manage to top it yet again!
I’m also very interested in hearing from folks who work with these breeds or who have tips for beginners and especially for flocks that can face the temperature extremes we’ll be facing. Thanks!

 

[1dermaker1]

Welcome, I'm new here too. Just wanted to say hi and tell you you're in the right place. I can tell you their cuteness gets matched by their personalities very quickly. It's really fun seeing them evolve over the weeks.

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

Hi and welcome, glad you joined BYC! I love your chick pictures, but am not qualified to give advice on housing chickens in cold climates, since winters here are relatively mild.

 

[DobieLover]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.

The most important thing to remember for keeping chickens and cold climates is that as long as their coop is very dry and their roost space is draft free, the chickens are well equipped to keep themselves warm. However, with a climate as cold as yours I would go one step further and only select cold hardy breeds and avoid any birds that grow large single combs.

 

[Nomadicus]

Hello and Welcome to BYC!

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Welcome to BYC @SunnyRocks

Great that you could join us all here! Lovely mix of breeds you have there! Enjoy BYC

 

[Yard Farmer]

Howdy, thanks for joining BYC!
You have some mighty fine chicks there.

 

[swampfox440]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

 

[Blue Raptor]

Hi! First time chicken mama homesteading in the alpine desert in southern Colorado. We have summer average highs of ~85°F, but our winters can be brutal with 2-3 months each year where temps don’t really break freezing and once a year we like to aim for -35°F or so and really sock everyone in good and solid for a couple weeks.
I recently lost my gentle giant of a husky and decided to turn his huge dog run into a chicken pen that will host ’Gonzo’s Flock’ in his honor! I’m starting with straight run chicks from a local hatchery and aiming for a flock size of about 20. So far I’ve got:
- 2 Silverudds Blues: (4 weeks old) [both black]
- 6 Silverudds Blues (5 days old) [3 blues & 3 blacks]
- 2 Olive Eggers (4 weeks old)
- 1 Easter Egger (4 weeks old)
- 5 White Brease (4 weeks old)
- 2 Russian Orloffs (5 days old)
- & waiting on 6 more Orloff chicks to arrive next week
And my first, pressing question is….how are chicks allowed to be this cute? Every time I think they’ve set the bar, they still manage to top it yet again!
I’m also very interested in hearing from folks who work with these breeds or who have tips for beginners and especially for flocks that can face the temperature extremes we’ll be facing. Thanks!

Welcome to BYC!! Cute chicks!

 

[janiedoe]

Welcome to BYC. You have some cuties there