Regardless, we got a call from our local post office shortly after 7 this morning asking us to come pick up the little peepers.
Upon getting them home, they all looked good except for one little fuzz ball the hatchery had thrown in as a "mystery" chick. It was splayed out on its side, and I really didn't think it had a chance of making it. But now, seven hours later, it's up eating and drinking with the rest of the flock. Tough little bugger.
Our "brooder" is a small garden cart in the garage with a frame on top covered with hardware cloth. This arrangement is easy to roll outside for cleaning and works well for us.
Here you can see the hardware cloth on which we set the warming lights. This way there's no danger of the chicks getting too close to them.
The chicks are a mix of Black Australorps, Red Stars and Cuckoo Marans. All hens except for one Cuckoo Maran rooster.
New chick time should be spring time, but looks as though we've got a week coming up with nothing but very non-spring like weather. Highs barely reaching the 40s, dampness, grayness, no sunshine and the threat of rain/snow/sleet. ARRRGH!
26 comments:
I know how you feel. My chicks will be staying inside until they are fully feathered because there's no way the weather is going to warm up enough before then. They do get a bit pungent.
I would like to join you in a big ARRRRRRRGH! Perhaps I should start my lettuce in the house, just so I have something green to munch on.
tpals - Yes, ma'am, that's a real down side of having to keep chicks inside for any length of time . . . they do have such an "aroma" about them when they reach a certain size!
odiie - What can we do but start chanting, "We will have a spring, we will have a spring, we will . . . ." When hubby was outside today, he said he saw some green weeds coming up in one of our raised beds. Wonder how that would taste with a little Thousand Island dressing on it??
We have a hen hatching eggs now and the weather has messed up my big plans for where I am going to put them. You will have to call the little one bugger!
Great idea with the cart!
Love the "Box O' Chicks"---so sweet.
The gal that raises my chickens (and the whole neighborhoods, for that matter) uses an old camper. I got a laugh out of that when I saw it, but it works, so good for her.
Your garden cart is very clever. And easy to clean out when the gals are out in the BIG world.
Enjoy the peepers!
I love chicks. All chicks are so cute.Happy to hear that the one which is not feeling well has come to the correct condition as others!
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There's nothing like day old baby chicks! Your brooder setup is neat. You guys always come up with the most amazing solutions to your projects. Interesting choice of breeds. I'd be interested to learn more. Surely, surely ole man Winter should be losing his grip on your area soon?!
They are cute! Congratulations!!! Hopefully Spring finds you guys soon :)
Yeah for baby chicks!!!
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Sunnybrook Farm - We always have some frustrated hens because they want to start incubating babies waaaay too early for our typically cool weather up here. And, of course, we keep taking their eggs away from them.
P.S. Maybe we'll call that one T.B. Short for Tough Bugger!
Little Homestead in Boise - Sort of like a traveling brooder! Thanks.
Sue - Yep, when the "brooder" needs cleaning, we just put the peepers in a cardboard box, roll the cart outside and change the "floor" covering out in the fresh air. Makes less dust in the garage.
Weekend-Windup - Don't you wish the chicks would stay in that little fuzz ball stage longer than they do?
Lisa - We've had terrific winds the last couple of days so maybe we're going to finally get this cold weather blown out of here and more spring-like temps moving in. We can only hope.
Kelly - You will always the Queen of Chick Raisers in my mind! I hope, too, that our weather warms up before these girls start laying!!
Stephanie - They are real wonders when you consider how fast they grow!
LOVE that brooder! I have a garden cart, but no garage. :( It would be a heck of a lot easier to clean out than my set up. This will be the first year that I don't have chicks. I am trying ... hard ... to downsize. No lambs either. Sigh. It's just not spring without them.
Susan - Buck up, dearie. This year it wouldn't be spring even with lambs sproinging about. THE WEATHER'S TOO DANG COLD! Will this be the spring spring didn't come?
Yes.....I will also join the AARRRRGGG! Jeez.....getting so sick of this weather! The baby chicks, however, are cute.
OMG, that IS a great idea with the garden cart! Next time we order some chicks, I'm definitely doing that.
Happy, happy birthday to youuuuuu!
Hope it is a nice and sunny day for you.
Many, many hugs.
Yvette
FoxyLady - We've had two previous really late, cold, wet springs, but I think this one is going to top them all! Ugh. And arrrgh.
Carolyn - Glad to pass the idea along!
Yvette - What a sweetie you are to remember my date! Thank you. We had no sunshine yesterday, nor is there any in the forecast for the NEXT WEEK! I'm beginning to wonder if that big, red orb is still up there.
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