Chickens-Heartbreak then Happiness

I knew I wanted chickens, and a friend of mine also wanted some.  We decided to order some online, which turned into a postal service disaster.

I eventually got some chickens, and the posts about heartbreak and then an update, can be read HERE and HERE.

I did eventually end up with 12 chicks, three each of Buff Orphingtons, Barred Rocks, Rhode Island Reds, and Easter Eggers.

I few days later, I was at a different Rural King, where they had straight run (a mix of pullets/girls and cockerels/boys) Silver Laced Wyandottes and Welsummers.  I ended with three of each, in hopes that they were all or mostly girls.  One of the Welsummers died, now I now have 17 chicks, ranging in age (I think) from almost 2 weeks old to 4 weeks old.

The 17 remaining chicks are thriving now.  I have them in a brooder box made of a 150 gallon Stock Tank which will be repurposed as a doggy swimming pool.  For heat/warmth, I chose to use a Brinsea EcoGlow Brooder for Chicks, as it is infinitely safer than a traditional heat lamp.  I have only been impressed with it.

These babies are eating unmedicated Nutrena NatureWise Starter Grower, Chick Grit, and the occasional treat of dehydrated mealworms, which they love.

In 4-6 weeks, they will be ready to move outside, so I had best be getting busy building my coop.  We are incorporating it into the existing barn, using one of the bays.  Fortunately, Les has sourced us an abundance of free wood from his job, in the form of shipping crates.

About Us

I am Rebekah, a 30 something RN, and my significant other is Les, a 40 something government subcontractor.  I grew up in the country, and the last few years I have been itching to return.  Les and I had been casually looking at houses, as we already had a mortgage and neighbors we loved, when we stumbled across what would eventually become our home in the summer of 2013.

I loved it instantly.  The house was smallish, but move-in ready, and sits on 7 acres with a barn, pond, creek, woods, and open areas.  I had dreams of my three dogs splashing in the creek and pond, goats, chickens and gardens.

We were able to sell our old house, and moved into our farmette right after Thanksgiving of 2013.

We are slowly (it has only been three months) taking steps towards fulfilling our dreams.  The basement is walkout with a dog door, so the first thing we did is install heavy duty, secure fencing just off the house for the dogs.

Eventually, we will have Nigerian Dwarf dairy goats, a hopefully large vegetable garden, and free-ranging chickens.  Join us on our journey!