Down Mulberry Lane

Peep, Peep, *Smile*

Ok, I said I would share pictures... I hope they all fit on the site as I took alot...I will start with our chick set up for our little chicks that arrived yesterday.

This first one is the old water trough.  We placed it in our schoolroom.  We lined the floor with a tarp as there are some small holes in the bottom and I didn't want a mess on the carpet.  This is how it looks completely set up.  The heat lamp is suspended with tension over a large mirror behind the trough and a bungie cord is hooked in the lamp hook and pulled to the front, allowing the lamp just the right height to hang above the chicks.  The other end of the bungie cord is under the trough.  I have a tablecloth over the left end as our board was not quite large enough for the trough, so we compensated by placing the tablecloth over the open end to keep the heat in.  On the right, a box is laying on top of the open area where the lamp hangs, it keeps just the right amount of heat in.  Don't worry, my fireman husband has checked and keeps rechecking the heat coming up from the lamp and it is not too hot to worry about a fire.  Our thermometer is one of those indoor/outdoor thermometers.. .I hang the outside wire inside the trough about the same height as the chicks.  Honestly we don't aim for a particular heat, but we do try to keep it above 88 degrees, if it gets colder than that, we know the girls have been peeking too much.  We watch their behavior more to see if they are doing ok... I think I wrote on that yesterday. 

This is peeking in the edge where the heat lamp hangs down.  You can see the chicks on the sides.  On the right is the box that they came in.  We have one in "intensive care" and it is housed in the box.  The others keep pecking at her, so she is separated for now.

Down from the lamp, you can see the chick feeder, which is open.  And the waterer to the left.  There is sand scattered on the floor for grit.  The bedding has already made it's way to the food area... I knew the little boogers couldn't keep their room clean!

The little chicks like to sleep alot.  The bottom ones are sleeping and sometimes they just collapse it is so cute, but sometimes they look so dead as their heads flop into weird positions, but it is all normal... a little noise and they are up peeping again.

I asked Chelsea to get some pictures and I got 5 little chicks on the floor... ON MY CARPET!  At least they didn't poo... she was lucky!  The chicks' breed is Black Australorp.  They are a heavier breed chicken, but good layers.  They will lay a size large brown egg, approximately.  We haven't gotten these before, so it will be interesting to see them as they grow.  I believe they will be black birds with some sheens of greens and purples if I remember the catalog correctly.  They can also be a good roasting bird, but we did not get any roosters to raise up of this breed... the chicken would be a bit smaller for eating, but fine for a small family... well probably fine for our family of 6 as well as I think it said a 4-5 pound butchered weight is what to expect from this breed.  The chicks themselves are black with yellow markings.  The markings vary and some are more white in the yellowed areas than yellow, but that is all within the realm of this breed and to be expected.  The girls are having fun checking out the unique peculiarities of the markings.  Some with black beaks, some with spotted, some with black eyes, some with yellow around them... 

Little Paige is enjoying the peep, peeps.  She is quite gentle with them and I am so relieved.  Last night I was posting on my blog and I look over and see her peeking in the edge where it is open and just watching the little birds.  It is all so fascinating to her.  She holds them then before she lets it go, she gives it a kiss and a little half hug, careful not to squeeze, but a "love", I guess, that  is what we call our half hugs.   Hope you enjoy the pictures!

Warmly,  Melissa

Oh I am soo wanting

8:16 PM, January 18, 2007 .. Posted by countrydreamn

baby chicks. I can't wait to order new chicks. I don't have any room in the house to put them though. That and I know that my Matthew and Jadon would have them all out and running free. AHHH the mess.
But oh they are so cute.
Keep us posted.

Blessings,
Debi

Untitled Comment

10:20 PM, January 18, 2007 .. Posted by BlueApple

Thank you so much for the pictures - they are just too cute! So do you keep them for a certain amount of time and then use them for meat? Or keep them just for egg laying?

great setup!

10:03 AM, January 20, 2007 .. Posted by ZookeeperCat

What a great idea with the water trough! I'm going to have to make a note of that. I haven't had chickens in four years, due to a dispute over "chicken shed/tractor shed." The tractor won the first round, and I'm still out a place to keep my chickens.

Cat, Lazy Creek Zookeeper