My annual order of meat chicks - plus a few egg layers to bulk up the geriatric flock - was expected this week. I had hoped that they would ship out later in the week so that I would have a bit of down time. Ha. I had taken advantage of a lull on Sunday to get the brooders ready, just in case.
After plucking each ball of fluff out of their shipping container, I dipped their beaks in the waterer and set them loose. 30 times, dividing them into two brooders. Then I rapidly got ready for work, managing to find two articles of work-ish clothing that didn't clash. Too much. I am beyond caring, which is starting to worry me...
I usually start them earlier in the year - early to late spring. But too many other things were going on, then I decided to order black Langshans - which they did not have right away - and before you know it, it's mid-summer. The biggest problem with that is that I have to brood them in the laundry room. Those of you who have brooded (?) chicks know that, not only are they loud, they stink! When I walk into the laundry room, it's like stepping into a smelly blast furnace. And, since the laundry room door is vented to the house, we are surrounded by the faint scent of Eau d' Stinky Poo. And I have company coming in a week and a half. I am hoping that they feather up quickly so that I can move them to the mid-brooder coop outside before my guests arrive.
I am raising chickens for neighbors, as well - but they are not allowed to see them until they have lost their cuteness. Farm rules.
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9 comments:
We have the luxury of setting up our brooder in the garage and that gets bad enough so I can totally sympathize with you and your current situation. With summer weather, you should be able to move them to the mid-brooder coop outside in a week and a half. If mama hen can take three-day old chicks out in a cold rain, these of yours should be fine protected outside. (I sound like an expert but I'm NOT!)
Caption for the picture of the poopy little puff balls? Can't think of a thing. I just came in from the saturated garden, slightly saturated with wet mud myself, and am trying to figure out how to get all those blasted weeds taken care of without turning into Mud Man. After lunch. What IS for lunch?
Mama Pea - That is what I am hoping - it's a small, wooden coop that is fairly 'tight'. I set up a lamp inside and then put a little screen door on as they feather out - so they have a 'view'. It's salad for lunch, of course! It must be awful with all that rain and mud. :(
Doesn't the peep peep peep make up for odur' la chik pue? I used to have a post mistress who love chickens and she used to peek at the chicks and let her Grand kids peek to! Its a zucchini/salmon/orange mint and basil salad here for lunch. Ahh the summer months of green green green! What does Lovey think of the chicks?
See, now--you do it right! My chicken lady SHOWED ME the little dolls when they arrived last summer. Eeeeesh. But, they were DELICIOUS and I'm sure with therapy, I'll be ok some day. But criminey---I much prefer being naive to where my food comes from.
Fiona - Ooooh, that salad sounds wonderful! Lovey is fascinated by what she imagines is behind that door. I will look around and not see her - then peek down the hall and she is riveted outside the door to the laundry room!
Sue - LOL! The first time was tough, but these are the Cornish X, so they go from fluff balls to lumbering giants who grow faster than their feather fill in, in no time. It does make it easier. I raise them with care and let them lumber through the grass, looking for bugs. I think it makes a difference.
You have to admit they are cute little buggers, almost hate the thought of eating them,,,,, almost :-)
My friend Deb and I just finished processing 33 birds. Glad it done. This was my first year doing meat birds. Will be doing it again next year.
Just love to hear their cheeps.
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