Monday, June 4, 2012

Baby Chicks 2012

 Baby Chicks arrived April 12th this year and so far we have great success.  The kids love holding and taking care of the chicks and they are looking forward to early fall/ late summer when we can start collecting eggs.


 This year we have 21 chicks.  8 Americanas, 2 Buff Orpingtons, 2 Silver Laced Wyandottes, 2 Golden Spangled Hamburgs, 2 Blue Andalusians, 2 Marans, 1 Dominque.  Quite a Mixture!
 My son loves to put the chicks to sleep, a trick we learned from a good friend who fostered 4 of our chicks for the first month and a half. 
The chicks are no longer chicks now.  They look closer to hens, and it looks like some unfortunately will be roosters.  I will try to post some "teenage" chicken pictures soon.  Because of the mild spring we had, we only had to have them under the light for about a month.  By the beginning of May, they were moved to the hen house with the light for more space. A couple of days in hen house, then they were allowed to roam free in the coop. 
After the crazy clean up we had to do last year, I am reluctant allow the chickens out of the coop.  My goal is to build a chicken tractor so they can graze in the field without fear of predators.  Anyone using a chicken tractor?  Until then we supply the chickens with fresh grass, left over veggies and fruit, as well as the chicken feed.



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