New Chicks at PnS Farm

Chicks have arrived!

As some of you may have heard, we had a predator in the Chicken Coop while we were gone and lost our laying hens and all the ducks. We were sad to see so many of the Henriettas gone. Not sure who it was, though we did see some gnawed wood on one of the doors. Beaudacious Farms down the road had the same problem last summer. He lost 50 of his hens, we only lost 8, so it is a problem.

We ordered 50 assorted Brown Egg layers from Murray McMurray Hatchery and should be back in the egg business next summer. We have the coop enforced too.

Chicks born 10AM on July 29 (Kevin's B'day as well as our newest niece-Alison Harper Edds...6 lbs 13 oz 20"...(Congratulations Becky and Dan)

Our choice of varieties, but we guarantee at least 5 different ones from this list: Black Australorps; Lt. Brahmas; Dark Cornish; Black and White Giants; Buff and White Orpingtons; New Hampshire, Rhode Island Reds, Barred, White, Partridge, Buff Rocks;Delaware, Sussex, Turkens; White, Silver Laced, & Columbian Wyandottes, Red Star and Black Star. These chicks will make a colorful and productive assortment of pullets.

Don't know what type we have though we seem to show about 1/3 look yellow with black (Brahmas? http://img2.allposters.com/images/PTGPOD/OSCAA-00000870-001-FB.jpg)

1/3 look pure yellow (http://artfiles.art.com/images/-/Peter-Cross/Freshly-Hatched-Baby-Chick-with-Broken-Egg-Photographic-Print-C12196192.jpeg)

1/3 look back and white (Wyandottes?)http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3424/3298612972_f27cffa42d.jpg

Molli was having a great time watching over these chicks. She had her snout in the box with them when we drove home from the post office ("they sure are loud!" according to our Postmaster who chick sat for 1/2 hour while we drove there.)

They all arrived alive. This morning, they were huddled around under the light. All seem to be present and accounted for....as close as you can count 50 scrambling chicks.

Side note: We have the coop separated into two sides, the last hen and rooster are keeping their distance, but a quiet dark 5AM morning was shattered with the rooster crowing. A good sign that the chicks are accepted? Let's hope.