My new chicks from Ideal Poultry are here!!!

[chicken_china_mom]

I got that call from the post office this morning, so I threw the kids and 3 dogs into the car and we headed for the post office (which isn't right around the corner either, I have to drive 20 minutes to get to it cause my town doesn't have a post office). I could hear the chicks the moment I stepped inside, and I did a quick check to make sure everyone was alive, and then we headed home. My older daughter checked on the way back home and announced that there were 14 chicks in the box!

I only ordered 8! Apparently they upped my order of Bantam BO's from 4 up to 6, and included 4 RIR roos. SO I have 6 Bantam BO's, 3 Frizzled Cochins (1 white, 1 red, and 1 black), and 1 Dark Brahma, though I couldn't figure out exactly which chick he is. I set them up in the new brooder with some water and dipped each of their beaks into it, one at a time. Everyone seems to be doing well. Now I get to go try and crush some chick starter so they can eat later, cause some of those Bantams are REALLY tiny! I think they are tinier than my other Bantams were. I really hope and pray that I have some pullets in this bunch. If anyone locally wants some RIR roos, let me know, cause I don't need anymore roos, and I don't want RIR's anyway. I'm in West Central Indiana. I'll keep them about 2 weeks before I will let anyone pick them up, so that they get some feathering in and can maintain their own body heat a little better before I will let anyone take them. They are all cute as a button though. I'm already in love.

My kids are happy, especially my older daughter cause now she has her frizzles. I told her they may not all frizzle, and she's ok with that, so long as at least one does. I'm just happy they arrived alive. And I have eggs coming too. This will be a busy, chicken filled summer, and I'm glad!

 

[raroo]

Do have any piccies?? That's awesome, 6 extra babies!

 

[hen-thusiast]

What a nice surprise!

 

[chicken_china_mom]

If I hadn't dropped my camera in the coop the other day and jammed the lense into the open position, I would have pictures. Now I can't take anymore pics til I invest in a new camera, and that will not be for a LONG time...

On a good note though, everyone seems to be doing well. They are peeping and jumping around and drinking. I can't get over how tiny they are! They make my teenagers out in the coop look like elephants! I can't wait til they start to feather in and I can see which of the frizzles actually HAVE the frizzled feathers. My kids are already naming them. Two of the BO's are going to be named Hilary and Hailey Buff (after Hilary and Hailey Duff), the white Frizzle will most likely be named Q-Tip, and they are still working on names for the other ones. I am sure they will all be named by Monday morning. Raising chickens really IS addictive!!!

 

[b.hromada]

So happy for you. You are going to have a fun summer for sure!

 

[Laskaland]

I received my FIRST order from Ideal today also! I have ordered from a bunch of different hatcheries, but was excited to try Ideal because they have such a nice variety.
I ordered:

6 Standard Partridge Cochins (I have a hen that needs friends

)

10 Bantam White Cochins

10 Bantam Barred Cochins (Have a hen and Roo ready,
needed friends of course!

6 Mille Fleur D'Uccle

I am so excited!!! I did the Gro-gel too, but I'm not sure I mixed it with enough water, but they picked at it..

I am trying something new too. I had a couple bantams drown earlier in the waterers, so I purchased some quail waterers that have a smaller trough for water, and they are doing well with it so far...
Congrats on the new family members!!
christina

 

[Lorettawyandotte]

wow! I got my Ideal order today as well...15 Pekin duckling girls and 25 feather legged bantams...I have never had bantams before and I haven't a clue who is who...the feathers will come and they will reveal their identity in time...they are all fiesty and thriving...they came out of the box hungry and ready to chow down...
One duckling was crushed and DOA but 14 are just as silly as the day is long munching and splashing...I shifted my little goslings to the duck brooder from the chick brooder where they had been keeping company with my ten mutt chicks who hatched this week...they are content with their new roomies and the two goslings and 14 ducklings were all cuddled up together a bit ago under the red light fast asleep...they are just beautiful...

 

[chicken_china_mom]

I had read up before I got my first chicks back in April, and the literature all said add marbles to the water dish to prevent drowning. I did that probably for longer than was necessary with my first birds, but I immediately put the marbles in the waterer today cause there babies are so incredibly small, and I don't want to lose any of them. I don't use gro gel, however I did sugar water with Duramycin the first day last time I had my chicks, then the second day just sugar water, and starting day three and on I just used regular water, and I use very warm water. I don't give the babies cold water til they are completely feathered in. (I know, my babies are spoiled!) I find myself in the bathroom standing over the brooder watching them, seeing them interact with one another. They are adorable! I don't want to touch them though. Wouldn't you know it, I caught a cold and I am miserable. I'm all congested and taking Advil and Benadryl to stop the aches and pains, and the sinus drip. I look forward to the cold being over, sooner rather than later of course! Good luck with your babies. I think the idea of White Cochins is nice, and I might get some of those later on. My teenagers include a pair of Barred Cochins, 6 Splash Cochins, and 3 Partridge Cochins. But I got all of them from Cackle Hatchery. I like my Cochins, they have nice personalities. I have a little Splash pullet that likes to fly up onto my knee and get petted when I drag my chair into the coop and I sit down. She is the tiniest Cochin I have and my 9 year old named her Peanut. She is such a sweet little thing. I have a special place in my heart for my Barred Cochin pullet. I named her Petunia and the name fits her well. She is so sweet and will stand completely still and let me scoop her up. She also comes to her name. I do love owning chickens. This is going to definitely be a busy summer, but I'm going to really enjoy it.