"Chick Days" Are Here!

     So proclaims the message on our local Cal-Ranch store marquee. From March 21st through the 27th, Cal-Ranch is offering a wide assortment of chicks, not to mention a variety of duck, turkey, and some rabbits. We are barely ready for chickens and The Hubs is already talking about raising some rabbits. Rabbits?! "Next year!" I insist. Yes, next year. Next year?! I can't bear to think about it yet.
     So, bright and early Thursday morning, we drove to Cal-Ranch and picked out four beautiful chicks, each one a different variety: a Leghorn, an Aricana, a Buff Orpington, and a Rhode Island Red. The criteria we used in picking out each chick from among dozens of her fellow chicks as we moved from brood box to brood box was simple, really. We looked for chicks who showed alertness, energy, and a healthy disposition. Making and holding eye contact was a definite plus. And so, one by one, four chicks were chosen.
     The Hubs has been preparing for fowl conditions for some time now. Having moved less than a year ago to a home that already sported a nifty yet roomy chicken coop in the back yard, and having approval to house up to six chickens (but no rooster, mind you), he has spent several hours researching all things chicken: coops, pens, runs, paddocks, and all the things needed to make a proper chicken feel comfortable and happy. Books have been purchased, explaining the different breeds and the kinds of eggs to be laid by those breeds. Last night he was reading up on feathers.

Meet The Girls

The Cal-Ranch store clerk nestled the chicks into a cute little box with some straw in the bottom, but we came prepared with a larger box with straw bottom. It turned out to be a cold morning, so the box we brought added some nice insulation for the ride home.

Once in the garage, under the window, they were unboxed and held up for photo ID.

Meet The Girls:

Agnes, the Buff Orpington

Gigi, the Aricana

Candy, the Leghorn

Arlene, the Rhode Island Red

      The Hubs had already constructed the brood box, complete with heat lamp and an electronic gadget that allows us to monitor the temperature inside the box 24/7. For more than a week, he experimented with it to make sure he could establish the right temperature, and devised a way to adjust for too cold or too hot conditions. The Girls' new brood box welcomed them to a balmy 92F oasis.

 It is important to make sure that your chicks are drinking water before giving them food. The reason for this is to avoid "sticky butt". This can be a dangerous condition for chicks if not cared for properly. Thankfully, The Girls all drank right away. Except for Candy, at first. She seemed to be too busy eye-balling her new people, but she did drink her water at last.