Wednesday, May 3, 2017

The New Chicks Have Arrived

Despite all of our cajoling, pep talks and out-and-out bribery, we've not had any success in the past couple of years getting any of our hens to go broody and do what comes naturally.  In other words, hatch out some new, replacement chicks for us.

So early in 2017, we sat down and made out an order to send to a hatchery for some new chicks which arrived this morning.


Years ago, we purchased this small garden cart from folks having a household sale.  We found it a bit too small for our purposes, but a good size to use as a brooder for ducklings, goslings or, this year, chicks.

Papa Pea got it set up yesterday with heat lamps, water and food in anticipation of the chicks' arrival.

We got the call from our local post office at 7:30 this morning so Papa Pea made the trip to town and came home with a loudly peeping box of chicks who were ready to have their day and a half journey over.

All seem healthy and perky . . . except for one that succumbed on the trip through the postal service.


One half of the shipment.


The other half of the box.


They were all thirsty (understandably) and quickly got the hang of dipping their little beaks in the fresh water.  (If only it would stay that way for more than fifteen minutes!)

Now most are settled down for a nap under the heat lamps and will soon be acclimated to their new home in Minnie-soda.

18 comments:

Susan said...

They are so cute at that stage, aren't they? What kind of chicks did you get? And - from where do you order your chicks? And...kidding. I know what you mean about the water - I have to change mine out (three different brooders!) at least twice a day!

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

What a nice mail delivery you got there.

Rain said...

Oh, how cute! I'm just weak when I see little critters! You have a nice set up to keep them warm and happy! That garden cart is really nice! I'm sorry that one didn't make it. :(

MrsDuncanMahogany said...

How adorable! I could just imagine the sounds coming from that box!

gld said...

What! More fowl! You must tell us what breeds. I am living vicariously through your wonderful fowl. I have decided to not get any more this year hoping my heritage breed lays longer than the hybrids.

Mama Pea said...

Susan - I let hubby pick out the varieties this year. He chose Partridge Cochins (bantams), Silver Gray Dorkings, Speckled Sussex and Black Australorps. Got them from Murray McMurray.

Mama Pea said...

Kristina - Peep, peep! :o}

Mama Pea said...

Rain - It's a batch of 30 and isn't uncommon to lose a couple in shipping and then another couple in the first few days. But so far, the ones that survived the trip seem hale and hardy! Fingers crossed.

Mama Pea said...

MrsDM - The folks at the post office always get a kick out of the peeping boxes when they come in.

Mama Pea said...

Glenda - We got Silver Gray Dorkings, Speckled Sussex, Black Australorps and a few Partridge Cochins bantams as the bantams seem to be the best ones to still want to sit on eggs and hatch them out. We're hoping these will do that!

What heritage breed do you have?

Sandy Livesay said...

Mama Pea,

That cart made a perfect little home for your new chicks. Just enough room to move around but not to big, this way they keep warm.

Dawn said...

Our little chicks are feathering up now, and of course this week I have two broodies, thinking of setting some eggs under one of them.

Laurie said...

Well Lord, they are just the cutest little balls of fur. Fun times in Minnie-Soda!

Mama Pea said...

Sandy - Yes, it's worked out well as a brooder for a few years now. Glad we stumbled on to it!

Mama Pea said...

Dawn - Okay, here's a question. We believe having a mother hen raise chicks is the most natural way to go . . . and easiest for us, too! If, for instance, we had a hen who was trying to be broody, do you think she would accept day old chicks who arrived in the mail? And raise them as her own??

Mama Pea said...

Laurie - If only they would stay that way for a while! Soon they will be in the less-than-cute adolescent, gawky stage!

Debbie - Mountain Mama said...

Baby chicks are just the cutest, aren't they? I stopped keeping chickens a number of years back, when a hawk left one half dead and we had to finish her off. I do miss them, though!

Mama Pea said...

Debbie - We've lost ducklings and chicks to hawks here, too. At least all of our "casualties" were taken and we didn't have to do what you did.

I use so many eggs in my cooking that I don't know what I'd do without our fresh ones.