I was trying to hold off buying chicks until later in Spring, or when I got the new coop built, so I could use one of my current two coops with attached pens as Chick Habitat until they are large enough to join the adult flock.
But my favorite feedstore (Bradshaw Feed in Sacramento) actually got Welsummers this season.... I missed the first delivery (they go really fast) and told myself not to go there unless the store got more Welsummers. Yeah, sure. I visited once already after Chick Season started - Feb 11 - and asked yet again about Welsummers. I almost bought a few chicks, but decided I should wait "until there are some Welsummers so I can take them all at once." The staff has gotten to know me (which I think is amazing, because they MUST have a zillion regular customers - am I that memorable?) so when I called this past Thursday and they said they got in more Welsummers, I begged them to hold two for me. Just two chicks, please, please, please?
"We do not normally hold chicks, it's first come, first served, but I know you've been wanting them for over a years, so... yes, I'll save two for you."
*somersaults*
That was Thursday. I told 'em I'd be there between 5:30 and 6 pm (closing time) on Friday, oh thank you, thank you!
Friday there was a rainstorm and traffic was HORRIBLE. I arrived at the store gate at 6:01 pm, as the worker was about to close the yard gate. He shook his head at me, I rolled down my window and said, "But he's holding two chicks for me!" "Oh, well, okay then."
I love Bradshaw Feed. They stayed behind to load chick starter, a heat lamp I wanted as a spare, 2 Welsummer chicks, 1 Barred Rock chick, 1 Rhode Island Red chick, and *ahem* 2 straight run Cayuga ducklings.
Then I drove home with the heat in the car on high, anxiously listening for the peeps to slow down and quiet as the babies got warmer.
Pictures in a few days - my camera doesn't take great shots with the infrared heat lamp "reddening" everything out.
The nursery is in the bathroom - I spend a lot of time sitting on the throne (seat and lid down) just watching the fuzzbutts. If I could fit a recliner in there, I would.
But my favorite feedstore (Bradshaw Feed in Sacramento) actually got Welsummers this season.... I missed the first delivery (they go really fast) and told myself not to go there unless the store got more Welsummers. Yeah, sure. I visited once already after Chick Season started - Feb 11 - and asked yet again about Welsummers. I almost bought a few chicks, but decided I should wait "until there are some Welsummers so I can take them all at once." The staff has gotten to know me (which I think is amazing, because they MUST have a zillion regular customers - am I that memorable?) so when I called this past Thursday and they said they got in more Welsummers, I begged them to hold two for me. Just two chicks, please, please, please?
"We do not normally hold chicks, it's first come, first served, but I know you've been wanting them for over a years, so... yes, I'll save two for you."
*somersaults*
That was Thursday. I told 'em I'd be there between 5:30 and 6 pm (closing time) on Friday, oh thank you, thank you!
Friday there was a rainstorm and traffic was HORRIBLE. I arrived at the store gate at 6:01 pm, as the worker was about to close the yard gate. He shook his head at me, I rolled down my window and said, "But he's holding two chicks for me!" "Oh, well, okay then."
I love Bradshaw Feed. They stayed behind to load chick starter, a heat lamp I wanted as a spare, 2 Welsummer chicks, 1 Barred Rock chick, 1 Rhode Island Red chick, and *ahem* 2 straight run Cayuga ducklings.
Then I drove home with the heat in the car on high, anxiously listening for the peeps to slow down and quiet as the babies got warmer.
Pictures in a few days - my camera doesn't take great shots with the infrared heat lamp "reddening" everything out.
The nursery is in the bathroom - I spend a lot of time sitting on the throne (seat and lid down) just watching the fuzzbutts. If I could fit a recliner in there, I would.
