Spring must be here, or at least coming within days, as a box of 100 chicks showed up via US mail today. The cuteness is overwhelming, as is the sound of all that peeping. I now officially dread the drive from the post office to the house listening to them before I open the box. The only sound worse is the cat crying in the car.
But once you get them home they can’t wait to get out! This morning I unpacked them by myself, dipping every one of those 100 beaks into water to show them here to go. As of tonight everyone is still alive, an accomplishment with the cold weather we’re having, and happy under a series of three 250 watt red heat lamps.
There are 80 Slow Cornish Roasters for a spring round of meat birds, plus 20 assorted laying hen chicks: Black Astralorps, Buff Orpington, Silver Laced Wyandotte and Ameraucana. We’re not keeping all of the laying hen chicks – only 6 for us, thanks! Almost half of them are headed out to their new home tomorrow, and another 6 are still looking.
If you’re in Seattle and you’re interested in chicks, drop me a note. There are 3 Buff Orpingtons, 2 Black Astralorps and 1 Silver Laced Wyandotte up for grabs. They’re for sale at cost from the hatchery – just about $2.50 each.
I took this video just so you could hear the intense sound that 100 chicks make fresh out of the box. They’d only been under lights for about 10 minutes at this point so they were still looking for their sea legs while lurching around like drunken sailors. Everyone had it all sorted out an hour or two later – but by then they’d already started to quiet down.
*****
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I just about choked muffling my laughter at 4 AM…..because I turned on the video and two of my cats popped up and stared at the computer with deranged faces….. hee hee hee…I LOVE IT!
AW! they are so cute!
AWWWWWWW, how cute. I love peeps. I also love little ducklings, I almost ended up with some ducks the last time they had them when I went to the farmer’s market.
SO CUTE!!!! I wish that I didn’t live in a high rise condo building and could raise chickens
Maybe later in life.
I had a friend in college that ordered baby chicks for some guys as a prank. It was hilarious to watch him have to go pick up the chirping box up in the mail room. They ended up living in a dorm closet for a few days before they went to their new home on a farm.
They are adorable! I can’t believe how many of them there are, and how they cluster together. I was at the farmers’ market a couple of weeks ago and they are still taking orders for chicks — said they aren’t going to ship for a month or two yet. Do you always get yours around this time? I wonder if its like seed plants – depends on the zone/climate?
PEEEEEPS! So cute! I wish I could have them. Stupid town restrictions.
Oh, the cuteness! And I can’t believe they just come in the mail. I tell you, the education I’m getting here is amazing.
Amy :: The dogs are super interested around here. Too funny!
Monica :: I know!
Chiot’s Run :: We used to raise ducks when I was a kid and I’d love to have them again. Unfortunately we’re just not set up for them right now. If you get some then I can live vicariously through you!
Whitney :: Glad the chicks survived the prank!
Mangochild :: It’s likely a bit like plants, it’s hard to keep them warm enough when it’s really cold outside. We got them now instead of later based on wanting to butcher the meat birds right after Memorial Day.
Pam :: Rules are made to be broken!
Amber :: I love the fact that you can get them in the mail. Going to the post office to get them is almost as good as Christmas…
just loved the little peepers, the video was great. might just have to get some chicks too, a little later cuz it’s snowing and snowingand snowing here just now. meta.
Awe!!!! Ours will be here in two weeks(: First time ever having chickens, so excited!!!
Hi! I love your pictures! Do you still have the Wyandotte chick available? I live near the zoo and already keep hens…I’ve always wanted a Wyandotte (they are so pretty!). We are a chicken-loving family! Thanks! Jennifer