The Chicks Have Arrived Once More!

Three weeks ago we got a shipment of 20 little baby chicks. Even though this is our second shipment, it was still so exciting (maybe a little too exciting!)

My momma was told over the phone that the babies would arrive on a Friday, so we planned to have everything prepared for them on Thursday evening.

Thursday my siblings and I were eating breakfast when an unexpected phone call came to let us know that........ THE BABIES WERE AT THE POST OFFICE !!!!!

My momma threw up her hands and said, ... " And to think that I was trying to be organized!" She grabbed her keys and only stopped for a split second to shoot me the frantic "I am stressed look", which in other words means, "Watch the kids . I'll be back". After her "silent speech" she was off to get the babies!

As quick as she left she came back, only this time to bring the package that every one wanted but were no where near prepared for-- the CHICKS!

Madeline along with her sister Mariah were simply over joyed at the sight of the precious balls of fluff! Everything calmed down somewhat after we ran about trying to gather items such as containers for our little guests to stay in, heat lamps ,etc. As the day went on we and the chicks relaxed after an exasperating morning. All the children had scattered and I had gone into the laundry room to finish some photography of the babies. That's when I saw that our tiresome day was not over. Silently momma was kneeling over the box [that contained the chicks] with a look of distress. I too knelt down and peered over the edge and saw what concerned momma . There in the corner of the box laid a baby with blood all over her neck, and her breathing was slow. Momma stood up slowly and called for Madeline. Madeline came sailing down the stairs at the sound of her name only to find out that she was going to the farm store to go chick shopping! Madeline looked puzzled. " Why momma?" she asked. "I have 24 big hens and 20 new pullets, Don't you think that's enough???" Momma smiled wanly and told her that two of the babies looked sick and they were going to get two more just in case they... " They kicked the bucket Momma?" , Madeline finished her sentence for her. Momma smiled, yes just in case they " Kicked the bucket."


So needless to say I was yet again left home to "hold down the fort" and to babysit two dying birds! Stupendous I thought ! Off they went to get more chicks and the much needed supplies .

I had finished my shift of bird sitting and my brother Matt was sent down to have his turn. I was upstairs trying to clean up when my brother triumphantly came into my room and said " Kenzie you won't believe it I watched the whole thing, the birds killed that little sick one!" WHAT I shrieked as I flew down the stairs to the scene of the crime. It was true, there laid a bloody dead chick!


Matt did the wonderful ceremony of picking up the chick, placing him in a "casket" (Kroger grocery sack), and slung her into the trash can! Momma and Madeline came home and heard about our not so lovely time while they were gone.

The birds they got were adorable! They happily adapted to their new home. Finally all was well.


Only one baby died, so we have 21 new babies. The chicks are three weeks old and are happily living OUTSIDE in the well house (and soon will be moved outside to a pen.) One afternoon having them in our laundry room was enough!


We also had some new excitement today! One of our hens hatched out the cutest yellow baby! This was the first time we had babies hatch out the "natural way". It has been so much fun watching the momma hen sit in the corner of the horse stall on her clutch of eggs. We look forward to seeing more new babies in the next few days. The momma is a barred rock (black with white stripes). The rooster was (I say was because he up and died last week. We aren't sure what happened to him!) a solid white rooster. The baby is a bright, fluffy yellow chick.

Momma hen and baby sharing a stall with the horse!