A Week Tomorrow

The chicks will have been here for a week as of Wednesday. I took some more pictures, I didn't get all of the 12, but I always seem to leave someone out! The group shot - everyone look at the box and smile!

This is 1 of 2 chicks that I think might be Gold Laced Wyandottes.

Here are 2 of 3 suspected Araucanas, I can't hold 3 at the same time!

Here we see 2 of 2 possible Red Stars.

2 of 2 possible Black Minocas, the one on the right is by far the smallest of the flock but she is doing just fine.

And here is the one and only Yella Fella - who seems to be sprouting white wings, still trying to figure out this one.

And these 2 of 2, who knows! LOL

Photo Op

Today we took individual and buddy pictures of the hen team. Aren't they cute?

Still can't be sure what we have but the top one may be the Gold Laced Wyandotte, the ones in the middle are most likely our Ameraucana (Easter Eggers because the eggs will be shades of green and blue!) and of course Yella Fella - the unknown is on the right.

Another possible Golden Laced Wyandotte on the top and a possible Black Minocas in the middle with a possible Red Star on the bottom. How fun is this?

Obsession

So not only do the people in the house stop by to look at the chicks every few minutes to watch and report on the chicks, we now have a dog that wants to check on them too. When I got home from Open House at my middle school, Jubilee, our 2 year old EC kept trying to lead me to the chicken box. She wanted me to look then she could stand up on me and look in the box too!

I think she would climb in the box with them if she could. When you hold one up next to her, she just sniffs and then looks at all the rest to make sure they are ok. She has no desire to do anything with them other than watch and count them.

They Are Here!

Well, we brought home 12 chicks today! Unfortunately I am not sure who is who and what kinds they are, but I have taken pictures and I have a list of possibles. These are the breeds we might have: Dominiques, Gold Laced Wyandottes, Black Minocas, Araucana, Black Star, Red Star, Silver Laced Wyandottes, and one Lone Ranger - Yella Fella. There was just the one all yellow, fluffy faced chick that arrived with the others at the feed store. So I just had to bring her home. You can see pictures and read information about the different possible chickens we have at Murray McMurray Hatchery. It is not where my chickens come from but they have the best descriptions of each breed!

The chicks are currently in a large box with water, feed and a heat lamp. They are fascinating and it is easy to just sit next to them and watch them as they move from place to place, sleep for a bit then dash off to eat or drink.

Naming puzzle

I have started a list of possible and not possible names:

NOT POSSIBLE:

Mabel, Lucille, Helen, Cleo, Zoe, LesterMay - all names of female grands and great grands as well as Betty, or Mary (MIL)

POSSIBLE:

Buffy, Vamp, Angel - watching too much TV I guess!

Henrietta, Cleopatra(?)(too close to Cleo?), Hortense, Lucy, Ethel, Gertie, Glenda, Louisa May, Queen, Princess, Leah, Wilma, Book Book, Myrtle, Peeping Beauty, Hen, Henny Penny, Penny, Maryann, Myrtle, Penny....



What names do you suggest?

Decisions, Decisions

Well, the decision has been made. We are getting the chicks this week. That is the first part of the decision - now, what kinds will we get? There are so many choices!
The Suburban Farmer here in my hometown got me thinking that I could raise my own chickens for eggs too. Then I started reading on line (google is my friend), then the McMurray catalogue whetted the appetite.
Wednesday, the feed store will have a great variety of chicks in, I am so ready! We have the brooder ready - hugh cardboard box that an armchair came in. The heat lamp has been tested and is ready. We have dishes for feed and water, along with marbles if needed for drowning prevention. We will pick up straw/hay and feed at the feed store (so cleverly named).
I told DH that we have a few weeks to get the coop built - but that is for a different post - coop, tractor, free range or some combination????
But still the prefered breeds elude me, the list is soooo long! Stay tuned for pictures! I have to bring the camera home from school!