David’s original hens are approaching 2 years old and starting to slow down in production, and a skunk took out the eggs our broody hen was sitting on that were planned to be replacement layers.
So David used some of his profits to buy more chicks. This morning, just after 6, the nice woman who runs the local post office called to tell us they had arrived. So we hopped into the car and drove down the hill.
The early boy gets the birds
You may think the post office is only open from 9-5, but the work starts a lot earlier.
Lots of peeping going on in that box!
Time to go home!
David ordered 25 barred rock hens, plus 2 roosters. We also added an additional free chick the hatchery calls a “meal-maker” – in return, David promises to give the eggs she produces to needy people. Then, as a surprise for David, we added 3 “hatchery choice” mystery hens (the brown ones in the photo). The kids are trying to figure out what kind they are. The hatchery also added a couple extras just in case there were losses.
All of them made it safely!
Transfering the chicks to the brooder… please excuse the messy garage – I just finished making the brooder, and I tend to make a mess when I work.
Chicks in the their new home. The brooder is 4×4, but I put in a smaller divider for the first few weeks to keep them warmer.
The family spent a few minutes monitoring the chicks to make sure they were happy and not indicating any distress.
They should be laying by May!
A Joyful Birth
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