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Yesterday, we had to drive to the big city for an errand. It just so happened that an urban farm store was advertising that they received a delivery of chicks on the same day. Coincidence? I think not! After we dropped off some art pieces for a show, we drove over to the store. I’ve been thinking about “backyard chickens” for awhile, but my kids were confused… what would we do with chicks? Why do chicks need a special lamp? Will they peck hard? What do we need to get chickens?

Then they saw them in the store:  Love at first sight. We (and I’m using the royal “we”) wanted Easter Eggers, but there were only two left. We walked out with two Easter Eggers and two Leghorn chickens. The kids named the Easter Eggers “Chickicorn” and “Giggert”. The Leghorns are named “Foghorn Leghorn” (girl version) and “Lulu”.

 

Preparing for Chicks

My plan for chickens actually started when I lost my regular supplier of farm fresh eggs (very different from store-bought) a few years ago. It wasn’t, however, close to becoming a reality until we moved and had a much bigger yard and a town with a more “chicken friendly” municipal code. I’ve been reading various websites and books in preparation since I haven’t lived with chickens since I was too young to have done much more than scatter feed. There is a lot to relearn and learn.

Right now, the chicks are happy in a comfy cage with pine shavings, a full feeder and water-er and plenty of room to wander around. Hopefully, the cage will still be big enough in two weeks. I swear they are already looking bigger after just a few days!

Where to find more information on ‘net:

Backyard Chickens is a huge site! There is everything there from building coops to advise forums for any question you might have. Plus thousands of coop plans.

Raising Chickens 101 has nearly 50,000 members. I’m not sure I could even come up with a question that couldn’t be answered there. Just today I learned that using pinwheels can keep free-range chickens in particular areas and how to wash a chick butt. Vital information.

My Pinterest Chicken Board is a place where I’ve been spending a lot of my spare time. I’ve been looking at everything from raising chicks to landscaping the coop. It’s really cool to see what other people have done and how they’ve really incorporated chickens into their life.

Books:

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The Encyclopedia of the Country Living is a book that contains a lot more than chickens, but it’s a good book to have on hand. It will give all basic information to get started. If you’re a “farm-dreamer”, it may have you thinking seriously about goats or sheet.

Raising Chickens is a book with much more detail about the raising of chickens. Lots of advice on breeds, living arrangements, feeding, health, predators, etc. Tons of information!

 

Continue reading about our life with chicks: Week 3 – Growing Bigger! and Week 5 – Getting Ready for the Coop and Week 10 – Moving to the Coop!

Interested in starting your own backyard chicken flock? Sign up for the HedgeToad Cottage Newsletter and get a free checklist to start your chicks out on the right foot!