Well, I'm officially insane and bitten bad by chicken math, lol! I got a shipment from Purely Poultry over a wk. ago. We decided on all bantams, but the only place I knew of that sexes bantams is My Pet Chicken. Thing is, they didn't have one of the breeds I really, really wanted this yr. (they didn't have any Wyandottes this year, to where before they had white Wyandottes...nor do they carry Rhode Island Reds, another breed I really wanted). So, I ordered 15 chicks through Purely Poultry, which is their minimum. I ordered 5 Rhode Island Reds, 5 blue Wyandottes and 5 columbian Wyandottes. I'm hoping in getting 5 of each breed I'll get at least one pullet out of each breed. Because of hatching issues, I had to take that order earlier than I expected, but it was no big deal really. All but one chick, a Rhode Island Red that was DOA, arrived happy and healthy. I get my shipment of chicks from My Pet Chicken around June 17th. I ordered 2 of each breed I like through them. I figured by ordering 2 of each breed that will help in case of any DOA's and any that aren't sexed properly. Through them I ordered bantam Welsummers, Barred Rocks, EEs, and d'Uccles. Well then stupid me went to a store I usually don't go to, to compare dog food prices and see what else they have. What did they have there? A batch of mixed bantams. I thought my husband would kill me for wanting to get some chicks, but I'll be darned, he wanted one too, lol! We got 3 black and white chicks and one reddish chick which are feather legged...I think they're Cochins. There was only one clean legged chick and it was so tiny and cute, so I grabbed that one too...I think that one may be an OEGB.
Thank goodness I have someone who'll take any roos I have, lol! I'll have to get some pics of the chicks I have posted up. I have the chicks from the store quarantined from the chicks I already had. The chicks have taken over one of my bathtubs, lol! I put a sheet of plastic down, then newspaper and then a thick layer of shavings. I plan on separating the tub for the chicks coming in from My Pet Chicken from the older chicks at first, so they can see each other, but get used to each other. Then I'll integrate them all together, keeping an eye out for any picking on the younger ones.
I'm having a blast with all these babies. I'm a very happy chickie momma, plus they're so stinkin' cute!! So far I'm really impressed with the Rhode Island Reds, which despite loving the looks of the Wyandottes, are fast becoming my favorites. I'm trying not to get attached 'cause this batch isn't sexed and with my luck could all end up roos, but it's hard not getting attached...the Rhode Islands are just so friendly, inquisitive and smart little things. They don't miss a beat compared to the other chicks. One of them cracks me up, when I go in to see them...when it hears my voice it will stretch it's neck up as high as it can to check out what I'm doing outside of the brooder. When I put my hand in there it hops right in the middle. Such a cutie pie!
So I still have the shipment from My Pet Chicken that I'm waiting on. About 15 more days to go!
