As I sit here typing, I can hear chicks peeping away outside, hunting for dinner. We have 3 mama hens (one with a papa rooster who loves his babies!) raising chicks in our backyard (7 silkies & 3 EE).
We also received 26 peeps this morning. The PO called around 6:30 asking, "Is this Mary? Bet you can hear why I called!" After letting everyone out of their respective coops, we drove to town and picked them up.
We start seeds on a table in the old sun porch. It can be very cold here in early spring so we built an insulated seed box with two florescent lights and a seed heating mat. In the fall we use it as a brooder area for baby chicks. It's as simple as turning on the seed mat and placing a plastic bin on it. It's about 95 out there and all is well.
Unfortunately, one came with deformed feet. She's separate in a small fish tank with a sponge-like fabric floor that she can grasp with her toes to get around. She's eating and drinking fine. I'm hoping that she was just crushed in shipment or needs some vitamins. If not - we're known for our geriatric and handicapped poultry here. I also have a friend who has been hinting that he'd like to raise a chicken. If it looks like she will never be able to deal with being a part of the flock, I'm thinking about asking him if he'd like to spoil a chick.
I can't remember what breed are the chicks that looks like little chipmunks. Mary Ann