The Expecting Chick Momma Thread

[megan80568]

I'm so excited. I'm new to the chicken keeping And have been doing tons of research.
Just called my local TS today and They said shipments start arriving on Monday! I'm nervous. I've got 3 days to make sure I have everything right for them.

 

[DavidILoveYou22]

I placed my first-ever order for chicks from a hatchery to McMurray last night. Ever since I've been silently dying from the anticipation, even though we won't even get them until April 1st. Before now we have always gotten them from the local feedstore, so I am very nervous about this. And this is the first time I have ever gotten so many! 18 chicks?!?! Crazy! Of course, me and my friend did a joint order so six of them aren't mine- she is new to chickens and wants them to clean up weeds in her soon-to-be garden, but doesn't want to spend a month+ raising them so I am going to get them all feathered out for her. My advantage? Like I said, 18 chicks is waaaay too many for us to keep in our pen but we needed the minimum of 15. I was amazed when we actually exceeded that!
Anyways, I am expecting 7 Dark Cornish cockerels for meat (my first time doing meaties), 1 Light Brahma cockerel (he will be my first roo, for breeding purposes), two Turkens (for eggs and their awesomely-awesome weirdness), and a Light Brahma pullet (also for breeding). My friend got 6 pullets: 2 Dark Brahmas, 1 Black Cochin, 1 Jersey Giant, and 2 Partridge Cochins.
I am so hyped!!!!! Only 38 days left!

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

I placed my first-ever order for chicks from a hatchery to McMurray last night. Ever since I've been silently dying from the anticipation, even though we won't even get them until April 1st. Before now we have always gotten them from the local feedstore, so I am very nervous about this. And this is the first time I have ever gotten so many! 18 chicks?!?! Crazy! Of course, me and my friend did a joint order so six of them aren't mine- she is new to chickens and wants them to clean up weeds in her soon-to-be garden, but doesn't want to spend a month+ raising them so I am going to get them all feathered out for her. My advantage? Like I said, 18 chicks is waaaay too many for us to keep in our pen but we needed the minimum of 15. I was amazed when we actually exceeded that!
Anyways, I am expecting 7 Dark Cornish cockerels for meat (my first time doing meaties), 1 Light Brahma cockerel (he will be my first roo, for breeding purposes), two Turkens (for eggs and their awesomely-awesome weirdness), and a Light Brahma pullet (also for breeding). My friend got 6 pullets: 2 Dark Brahmas, 1 Black Cochin, 1 Jersey Giant, and 2 Partridge Cochins.
I am so hyped!!!!! Only 38 days left!

Be sure to get some save-a-chick or similar. It really helps with shipping stress.

 

[DavidILoveYou22]

Be sure to get some save-a-chick or similar. It really helps with shipping stress.

I've heard that, I will certainly try, the problem will be convincing my parents we actually need it. Of course, if worst comes to worst they do still owe me $75.

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

I've heard that, I will certainly try, the problem will be convincing my parents we actually need it. Of course, if worst comes to worst they do still owe me $75.

Its less than $4 for save-a-chick or gro-gel packets and almost as cheap for a packet of vitamins. If they are real fussy go for the vitamins. They can be used throughout a a chickens life to help with times of stress (heat wave, noisy friends visiting, etc). Also an option is unpasturized ACV. It has other uses and a tablespoon in the chick waterer will help immensely too.

 

[DavidILoveYou22]

Its less than $4 for save-a-chick or gro-gel packets and almost as cheap for a packet of vitamins. If they are real fussy go for the vitamins. They can be used throughout a a chickens life to help with times of stress (heat wave, noisy friends visiting, etc). Also an option is unpasturized ACV. It has other uses and a tablespoon in the chick waterer will help immensely too.

OK, I will definently put it on my shopping list!

 

[MsChickenMomma]

Just logged into my Meyer account and the estimated date is still May 7-9

I was hoping they would've changed the estimated date so it was sooner! Lol

 

[Texas Chick]

I'm getting 12 Austrolorps and 12 Rhode Island Reds on Tuesday. I have an inside brooder set up for them. It's 3' x3' x 18" tall. The sides are wooden and the top is half inch mesh wire. How should I heat that? I have 19 hens and a roo, but this is my first experience with being the mamma. The hens have always done it before. What do I need to know more than anything else?
Thanks in advance for all your help.

 

[Kiki A]

My girl Spice died so I'm getting three more in June. They're my first mail order chicks, and I'm really freaking out! I'm getting three appenzeller spitzhauben from MyPetChicken.com. I'm naming them Tinkerbell, Pixie, and Sprite. They are coming in June third.

 

[MsChickenMomma]

In so sorry about your hen! That's sad...