Apr. 2, 2007 - The Baby Chicks are Here!

Brrringgg!  At 7:00 am this morning the Post Office called to say our baby chicks had arrived!  Picking them up, we were surprised to learn that 26 baby chicks could fit into one small 8"x10" box.   The box emitted incessant chirps for the whole ride home.  The chicks fared very well with their shipping and look very healthy and active.  We ordered 2 dozen hens and one rooster, all Rhode Island Reds, but only time will tell if they got the sexes right.  We also received one rare chick, but we don't know the breed.  The second picture shows the draft shield we made from cardboard to protect the chicks.  In the barn, they have a heat lamp overhead and wood shavings on the floor.  For today, we've covered the wood shavings with newspaper to keep them from eating the shavings.  The chicks' food is in the two long trays and is covered with a green grogel substance for the first twenty-four hours.  The water has added electrolytes to help them grow strong and recover from the shipping.  The children are enjoying naming them though I don't know how they can tell one from another.  The rare one has the name Chester Junior, after our little Jack Russell Terrier of the same name.

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