ChuckTown Chicks

Let's talk chickens...

the girls first day in the new home

So what's an urban farmer supposed to do besides "farm the yard"? Raise chickens! OK, I got the idea more than a year ago while reading a copy of Mother Earth News. It seems like a logical progression, and when I bought this house 20+ years ago the previous owner had not only chickens, but ducks and geese in the yard. And, it seems, my favorite store has gone from REI to Tractor Supply.

In January I was talking with friend, coworker, and farmer, Bob Richey. Bob and his wife Dee have 2 acres in Jedburg, SC, a small farm they call Second Chance Stables, where they have horses, cows, dogs, koi, parrots, and yes, chickens. Bob and Dee are 4-H leaders, and were putting in an order to Cackle Hatchery for spring chicks for their 4-H kids. I went in on the order, and a few weeks later, voila! The chicks hatched March 2, shipped March 3, and 75 or so baby chicks arrived USPS Express Mail March 5th. My order of pullets (hens) included Janie ( Dominique), Geneva (Silver Laced Wyandotte), Henrietta (Gold Laced Wyandotte), Percella and Dixie Chick (Buff Orpingtons). I picked them up Mon, March 8th. The chicks had a tough shipment - several of them died - and little Henrietta was sickly and passed away on Wednesday. She was replaced with Henrietta Too, who is now named Helen (after my mother - Gold Laced Wyandotte), and Gladys (Barred Plymouth Rock).

Their home for the first 6 - 8 weeks is a wooden shipping crate that I salvaged from work, measuring 24 x 36 x 18". I fitted it with a  top made from recycled hardware cloth and wood from the garden, just in case they decided they wanted out or my cats, Joel and Eliza,  wanted squab for dinner. It's "Chick Days" at Tractor Supply, so I have the box outfitted with a suspended 250w heat lamp,, a feeder, a chick waterer, and a big bag of pine shavings. The eventual home will be a mobile pen; most folks call them either a "chicken tractor" or a "chicken ark". Floor space is an issue; each grown hen will need 4 - 5 sq ft to be happy. In all likelihood six hens is too many, and I will eventually pare the flock back to four. I think I may have a neighbor that would like a pair!

Even though they are only two or so weeks old, each chick is growing like a weed and exhibiting personality. Janie, for instance, seems to be the friendliest and most curious of the bunch. Geneva is the adventurous one; she has already "Flown the coop" a few times. Percy is the timid one, and rarely do I see him on the roost. He screams like crazy when I try to pick him up. Helen is equally scared, and loves to "dust". Gladys likes to be petted. Dixie is a lot like Helen...