Chickens - Day 1

Technically, it's Day 2, but I was too busy fawning over these little peepers to post anything yesterday. On Tuesday, the Post Office called us first thing in the morning and while Tim headed to pick up the chicks, I had to head to work.

Remember my first post when I said I read obsessively about chickens for weeks? Well, that came back to haunt me a bit as all the contradictory information I read about chicken care come roaring to the forefront of my mind. Examples: the temperature of the brooder, 80-100 degrees was the range of suggestions, whether to give vitamins, whether to offer additional lighting, whether to give medicated feed, etc. etc.

If this was a human birth I would have a nervous breakdown. I mean for several reasons, actually. Anyway, regardless of my non-stop worrying the chicks are doing fine. My advice, pick one resource and go with it. No one needs to read 3 books and several websites to keep chickens - they survive just fine in the wild without a nifty heat lamp, and mama sure as hell doesn't dote on them as much as I do. The chicks have 4 purposes in life at the moment, eating, drinking, sleeping, and pooping. Being cute is a possible 5th, but that's beyond their control and regardless of their actions so I don't think it counts. But they are cute.

They are the tiniest things ever - the photo is deceptive about their size. If you think about an egg and then imagine how small you have to be to fit in one, you'll have a better idea of what I'm talking about. I could easily fit 2 of them in the palm of my hand - regardless of my enormous hands. I'm trying not to get too attached to them - as I view them as utilitarian animals more than pets, but it's taking every ounce of will power to avoid this. We'll see how I feel in a few months. I have a fun (though unoriginal) idea to take a photo everyday to chronicle their growth, from my reading they grow amazingly fast, so it should be fun to see. We have yet to name them, but are thinking of female quartets that would be appropriate - Golden Girls, anyone?

I realize I haven't posted any info about the brooder yet, but I'll take photos and describe the setup a bit at some point. Also, coop madness is about to start, so watch out for that.