Farmer J got an email on Easter Sunday saying that our chicks should arrive on Monday. J got a call this morning at 6:30 AM from our local post office saying- "Come and get this very noisy package!"
Around 7:30 this morning, J and Pickle (my youngest son) woke me up with a box of peeping chicks! A very sweet way to be woken up. We then took the box of peepers to our oldest son's room (JJ). He was in a deep sleep (luckily- one of my children is a good morning sleeper). Once he woke up and realized what was in the box- a huge smile came over his face.
We got the chicks to a larger box than the one they shipped in and put them under the heat lamp. We spent many minutes holding baby chicks. They all liked to huddle together and step on top of each other! We got them some sugar water and organic chicken feed. Farmer J said the sugar water helps "perk them up" and increase their blood sugar after their long journey (All the way from Iowa!) Finally, we decided to count the chicks. We ordered 25 and we have TWENTY EIGHT chicks. And- we have no idea which chicks are baby girls or baby boys. We ordered specific breeds and ordered ones that were pretty and cute. I guess we made a rookie mistake and ordered our hens and meat birds at the same time. Next time, Farmer J said he will make two separate orders.
Next on the agenda is checking for "Sticky butt" (per Farmer J). He has been reading numerous books on raising chickens so he was well prepared for this journey. Thank goodness. 3/28 chicks had "sticky butt" or a "dehydrated vent" per Farmer J (i.e., poo poo hole stuck shut so they cannot go poo poo- can you tell I'm a mama). "Sticky butt" can lead to death within 24 hours. Hopefully, all our chicks will make it.
Some farmer's housewife observations:
-I need to add Purell to the grocery list to try and keep all our hands clean around the chicks
-I need to get more Tubberware. Farmer J wanted to clean the chicks "sticky butt" in one of my nice bowls we got from our wedding.
-I might need ear plugs tonight (the chicks are going to sleep in our bedroom so Farmer J can keep an eye on them).
-My husband is full of love- he is a great caregivers to these chicks- very gentle and talks to them so sweetly!
Pictures to come! Once I figure out how to get pictures up on the blog.
Gotta go- Trip to the store to get milk (was suppose to get it last night but got lost on my way home-- one problem with living in the country where I swear there are numerous country roads labeled the same!) and Purell.
-The Wary Farmwife
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