Before the eggs...

...there are baby chicks.  Cute and fluffy, but so much work.  I didn't realize I was going to have newborns again. 

I've been wanting chickens for a while now and given that we have a huge yard, nice shade tree, and a large organic vegetable garden, the natural next step was to have a flock that would give us the fresh organic eggs.  I did my homework (well sort of), talked to others that have chickens, and tried to prep David for the new pets.  On a cold and rainy March Saturday I sneaked off to the feed store to get the chicks while David and Brooklyn were off at ballet class.  Wow, would they be surprised when they got home especially after David asked me NOT to get them. 

Ta-da!  I had them set up with food, water and pine shavings by the time they got home.  Four little chicks in a plastic storage bin with a heat lamp keeping them warm and cozy.  My first expenditure was approximately $50.  The chicks themselves only cost a couple bucks each, but everything that came along with them was the pricey part.  I chose my chicken breeds based on a fabulous book I picked up called Chick Days - Raising Chickens from Hatchlings to Laying Hens by Jenna Woginrich that's part how-to manual and part photo gallery.  There is a matrix in that back assisting first time chicken choosers like myself how to get the best layers, prettiest eggs, heat or cold tolerant birds, or temperament that they're looking for.  Based on availability and the above characteristics, I chose one Ameraucana (nicked-named the Easter Egg Hen because of her blue-green eggs), one New Hampshire Red, one Gold Sex Link (a mixed breed that is strong and a good layer), and one Silver Laced Wing Wyandotte which will be the classic black and white speckled hen with the red comb and wattle. 

Brooklyn had a sleep over with her friend Anne the first night we had the chicks which made it a great distraction.  The hens will need to stay inside under the heat lamp until they feather out completely; approximately 8 weeks.  At that point they will be ready to go into the chicken coop that I have yet to purchase!!  I went through all sorts of coop related websites and finally landed on Craigslist of all places where I found someone in Colfax (about 45 miles up HWY 80) that makes coops and brooding boxes (a well constructed place for the chickens to live until they go outside).  I called the number, it was a woman who makes these things herself.  I told her I'd like to purchase the brooding box and ditch my plastic storage bin.  Second expenditure: $50.  I was surprised when I met Lisa that she was young and this box extremely well constructed.  THIS WAS IT!  Lisa was going to be my coop supplier!  We shoved the enormous box into my Civic in the worst hail storm I've ever experienced. 

 

This is what I'm going to put in my yard to house my girls.  She'll even deliver it for a nominal fee.  Everything is coming together!

One week into this experiment and I'm happy with everything so far.  The chicks are happy and healthy (more about them in the next post), the cats have been kept successfully away from them, they've gone for a visit to Brooklyn's preschool...and survived, and they're feathering out nicely.  David has come around and is even going to name one of them, but he hasn't held one yet.   I've even gotten used to the constant chirping coming from the dining room.