Hi all - I've been lurking here for about a year, researching adding chickens to my life for a little over 2 years. Waited to add chickens because the timing was just not right. Acquaintences from other horse-related boards made this easier
I finally took the plunge last week and went to TSC; I came home with a dozen pullets - 6 Buff Orpingtons and 6 Leghorns. I was hoping for Australorps and RIRs but they weren't available. Next time!
So the chicks have been in the utility room of my basement (cardboard brooder box, infrared lamp, food, water, and pine shavings) since the 6th of April. I have been pleasantly surprised that they've all survived (heard somewhere to expect a 10% loss in the first 2 days). I've been handling them every day, talking to them, stroking them, cleaning pasty butts (now resolved), acting generally like a new mom with them
As for the rest of my menagerie (in no particular order): I have a 6 year old female black lab, a 1.5 year old male chocolate lab, a horse of undetermined age named Gino who carts my sorry beginner bum around the local hunter jumper scene, my long-suffering husband, an 18 year old son who wants nothing to do with the chickens (yet) and my about-to-graduate-from-college daughter. She's an Animal Science major and is coming home this weekend *just* to play with the chicks.
Oh and perhaps to collect some groceries, do some laundry... you know. We live approximately 45 minutes north and west of Boston with plans to retire and move to our property in South Carolina in ~5 years.
Thanks very much for such valuable resources and information. I look forward to learning so much more!
I finally took the plunge last week and went to TSC; I came home with a dozen pullets - 6 Buff Orpingtons and 6 Leghorns. I was hoping for Australorps and RIRs but they weren't available. Next time!
So the chicks have been in the utility room of my basement (cardboard brooder box, infrared lamp, food, water, and pine shavings) since the 6th of April. I have been pleasantly surprised that they've all survived (heard somewhere to expect a 10% loss in the first 2 days). I've been handling them every day, talking to them, stroking them, cleaning pasty butts (now resolved), acting generally like a new mom with them
As for the rest of my menagerie (in no particular order): I have a 6 year old female black lab, a 1.5 year old male chocolate lab, a horse of undetermined age named Gino who carts my sorry beginner bum around the local hunter jumper scene, my long-suffering husband, an 18 year old son who wants nothing to do with the chickens (yet) and my about-to-graduate-from-college daughter. She's an Animal Science major and is coming home this weekend *just* to play with the chicks.
Thanks very much for such valuable resources and information. I look forward to learning so much more!
