Got chicks?

The baby chicks arrived on Tuesday, May 24th. The Southfield Post Office called around 9 a.m. and told me that they had arrived. So, I immediately hopped in the car and drove to pick them up. I had to go to the bulk deliveries entrance in the back this time. So, when I walked in, I told them I was there for the chicks, and he asked me, "Which ones?" I was surprized to hear that there was more than one day-old chick delivery. It is not very common in the suburbs of Detroit. But sure enough, I wasn't the only person who ordered chicks this Spring. So, he handed me my little chirping box and I was on my way. The hatcheries pack them in as small a box as possible so that the day-old babies can keep each other warm. They also put a little hand warmer pack in the box for extra heat. And there are holes on the sides for air. When I got home, I was anxious to open it and hopefully find all them alive. They were all ok and just peeping up a storm. So I carefully lifted each one out and placed them in our homemade brooder box in our living room. It has a heat lamp, newspaper on the floor, and a chick feeder and waterer. It's a pretty simple set up. They don't need much. Just heat, and food, and water. And it's best not to put down shavings until they are more than a week old, or else they can confuse the shavings for food and ingest it. One of our dogs, Bella, a large, goofy Goldendoodle, absolutely LOVES the chicks! She sits by the brooder all day long and watches over them. She even falls asleep on the floor next the box, never leaving their side. It's pretty funny actually, to see such a big silly dog, so enamored by such tiny creatures.
So, they all made the trip successfully. When the kids got off the bus from school that afternoon, the first thing they asked me was, "Did the chicks come?" And when I said yes, they all ran at top speed into the house to meet our newest family members! It's a fun day when baby chicks arrive. A true sign of Spring, and renewal, and the cycle of life.
We lost a few chickens last year to disease and predators, but it's always fun to get new ones each Spring. So, these youngsters will live at our house until they are at least 4 weeks old, then we will move them out to Hentennial into the "Young chicken" coop. It's separated from the other coop, so that there isn't any issue with pecking from the older, more mature birds. Eventually, this summer, they can move into the larger coop with the Ladies. The Ladies, as we call them, were bought at one day old as well, and the kids helped name them and raise them. They have become a wonderful hobby for our family. They provide fresh eggs for us each week and unlimited entertainment! They are: Mystery, Coco, Ruby, Frida, and Anna. The kids haven't named the new ones yet, but they are busy thinking of wonderful names for all 8 chicks.
We are looking forward to spending a lot of time at the farm this holiday weekend and getting more work done.
But I'm sure, as always, there will be plenty of time for play as well.