A Reflection on Baby Chicks

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Eleven days ago I brought home four baby chicks. Oh, they were so adorable. This is the third time we have brought in chicks in the last ten years. Any of you who have raised chickens know that chicks literally grow overnight. So if anyone ever announces they have chicks, would you like to come see them, you’d better get over there quick!

When it comes to choosing which variety to get, I usually start by browsing what’s available at my local Wilco store. From there I choose ones that I had before and liked, and I also like to try a new breed. I look for ones described as calm, docile, or friendly and good egg-layers. If the eggs are a special color, that’s a plus.

So far we have owned Buff Orpington, Plymouth Barred Rock, Auracana, Red Sex Link (Novogen), and Speckled Sussex. The two new ones we got this time are a Blue Australorp and a Dominant Copper Maran. I had intended to get a Blue Wyandotte and a Rhode Island, but then we went to a different Wilco and the selection wasn’t quite the same.

Why do I have backyard hens? I find that my backyard is rather lonely without the little ladies. Usually we choose three chicks, but we’ve always had a bit of back luck, like one will be a rooster or one will be too aggressive, and too soon we are down to two. So this time we started with four.

Click to view slideshow.

Yesterday was warm and we brought them out (they are still living indoors) to the yard. It won’t be long now that I have to fence off the garden.