Chicken's...

As most of you are aware several weeks ago we ordered baby chicks from a Hatchery out of California. Three other families and us ordered a total of 85 chicks. They hatched last wed and were immediately shipped to us. We were able to pick them up last friday evening from the post office. My kids are quick to tell you what these little guys will look like when they grow up. The black chicks are called Barred Rock and will be black and white striped and will lay white eggs. The brown chicks are Rhode Island Red's. They will grow up to be red and lay big brown eggs, so we've been told. The yellow chicks are White Leghorns. They will be white and lay white eggs. The White Leghorns were Kory's grandma's favorite so we thought we try them. We wanted to try a few varieties to see which kind lays the most eggs and for the longest.

The chicks will start laying eggs when they are 4-6 months old. So hopefully by August we will start having some fresh eggs.

When we arrived home with all 85 chicks they were quite loud with all the chirping. We immediately gave them warm sugar water and a little chick food while Kory ran to Home Depot to grab a heating lamp for them. Waiting for his return it was quite obvious that the chicks were still cold. They were huddling together pushing each other right up against the warm bottle of water. So I pulled out the blow dryer and Hunter and Emily took turns blowing warm air on them while we waited for daddy.

Maddie was at a birthday party so she missed out on some of the fun. She is however the only one of my children who will hold a chick. She loves them. Hunter is quite scared of the little guys and screams like a girl when they start approaching him. We've got to get him to over come this fear so he'll help collect the eggs when the chicks aren't chicks anymore and can really peck him good. We've gotten Emily to hold one a few times but then she lets go claiming they are tickling her hand. Hince no picture.

Come this May we should also be receiving 15 baby Mascovia Ducks. Besides the eggs they will be laying they will also eat bugs out of a garden without damaging the crop. They also eat MOSQUITO'S. This past fall we had a major infestation of these nasty little flying bugs. Getting the mail would get me another 3-4 bites. We stopped letting the kids go in the garden and play outside becuase they would be covered in bites within just a few minutes. A really good friend was trying to buy a house across the street from us. There were a few problems that needed to be fixed before they could close on the home. When the problems were fixed the Inspector REFUSED to come out and check everything off because of the Mosquito's. Scaredy Cat!!!
So I'm hoping this year having 15 ducks running around the house will help with this upcoming problem we may have a little later on.