I picked up Lucy’s baby chicks bright and early from the post office yesterday and let me tell you, walking out of the post office with a peeping box, is one of the best feelings on the planet. The excitement of the car ride home will never get old.
Also, I am happy to report that Lucy inspected all of her chicks, giving each one a little smooch {really, a lick of approval} and they are living it up under the heat lamp in my sun filled office, right next to the vegetable seedlings.
We ordered our chicks from MyPetChicken rather than buying them at the local feed store. Mrs. HB and I both had horrible luck buying our “sexed” chicks from Wilco {the local feed store back in Washington} because every time we ended up with at least 1 rooster. Funny how the selection rate was supposed to be 95% accurate and yet we averaged 60- 75% females when we bought chicks from Wilco. Oh well. It wasn’t their fault I guess, it was the hatchery.
Anywho this was my fourth time purchasing day old chicks from My Pet Chicken, and maybe I’m a little crazy, but I think My Pet Chicken does a better job at sexing their chicks {my last three purchases were all hens!}. Yes, you pay more, but the selection is HUGE and totally worth it in my opinion.
This time of our chicks came with little plastic bands on their legs. I freaked out a little trying to figure out how I was going to remove the bands but in the end, I just used a pair of tiny sewing scissors to get them off. The bands were put on their legs for identification purposes.
At least once an hour Lucy is out there checking on her babies. It’s the cutest thing ever. I think I’ll give the babies about a week or so before I bring them outside for a quick 5 minute walk. I think if I’d let her, Lucy would sleep next to the stock tank so she could keep an eye on them.
Blue Easter EggerWe chose this bread for it’s sweet nature and hardiness to the cold weather. According to the my pet chicken site, 95% of these chickens will lay green eggs and the remaining 5% may lay a brown or pinkish-brown egg. Wouldn’t it be cool to get a pink egg layer? It’s like playing the lottery, but with chicken eggs I tell you. 😉
Golden Cuckoo MaranWe chose this Golden Cuckoo Maran for it’s chocolate colored eggs. I actually thought this was a Black Australorp chick but based on the band on her leg when she arrived, she is a Golden Cuckoo Maran.
This little lady is a true APA-recognized breed which means she could possibly be a show bird!!! 😉 I don’t know that Lucy and I are up for showing birds at the state fair this year {Ha!} but it’s nice to know we’ve got a contender. This bird will lay light blue to greenish blue eggs when she’s ready.
Take a look at those glamour eyes! This little chick is going to need a flashy Hollywood name that’s for sure. Cream Legbar chickens lay eggs ranging from true sky blue to light turquoise. It will be fun to see what egg color this little lady produces.
We were shocked at how tiny this lavender Orpington was compared to all the other chicks, especially since she should end up being a large fully feathered lady when she grows up. Lavender Orpinton’s are kind of lazy layers, only about 3 – 4 eggs a week but we chose her for fluffy creamy feathers, not her egg laying ability.
A sweet bird that will lay blue eggs. What more could you ask for?
Although the baby fuzz is a little more on the yellow side, I do believe this is our Black Australorp. Only time will tell. Black Fatty… That’s what The Girl Who Thinks She’s a Bird has always called this breed and they have always been the “Mama bird” of the bunch anytime we’ve had them in our flock. And incredibly lovable too. Black Fatty will lay light brown eggs when she’s older.
Our little flock! I’m so glad it’s finally here. 🙂 🙂 🙂
Have a wonderful day,
~Mavis and Mama Lucy Puggle
Lisa L says
So happy to see Lucy’s babies! Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to watching them grow up. You can never post too many pictures of Lucy and her chicks. So keep them coming!
Mama Cook says
Oh!!! They are darling!!! Be still my heart!
We ordered from My Pet Chicken and ended up with a rooster (1 out of 10). I’m so thankful we unexpectedly moved to the country shortly after they arrived! We love having a rooster! He is sweet to the farmers and a fabulous protector of our hens!
Lucy looks so sweet sticking her nose in the box! Congratulations!!!!
Mrs. C. says
I love My Pet Chicken. We ordered chickens twice from them last year, our first chickens ever. The first batch was supposed to have two Olive Eggers and a rare Marans, and all were supposed to be hens. The marans turned into a ROOSTER golden cuckoo marans who is a pill, let me tell you. Both olive eggers lat brown eggs. Sigh.
The second batch turned out great. Several bantams, who are adorable and lay sweet little eggs. It also in ludes a cream legbar who lays light blue eggs and who is very shy and sweet. We just ordered three ducklings from them!
Mavis Butterfield says
The Girl and I are thinking about getting ducks next summer! 🙂
Diana says
I was just going to ask about ducks! We just recently bought a new house and both of our girls LOVE ducks and I was thinking about getting some, but I’m a total novice. I’ve been seeing this mama duck (who I see every year) near my office crossing the FOUR LANE STREET with her little babies and every day it gives me a heart attack. Two years ago I actually ran out into traffic to stop cars because she was looking so confused and the babies were freaking out. Ugh, they give me heart palpitations!
Hazel says
We’ve got ducks and chickens (and quail) and I love the ducks, they’re hilarious. But quite noisy…
They are in the same run as the chickens and get on fine. We have a drake and he shows no interest in the chickens at all which is important as ducks and chickens mate very differently and a drake mating with a hen would do a lot of damage. They do have separate houses- ducks go to bed later than chickens, are more active overnight (they’d stay up but I put them to bed for their safety) and make their bedding wetter which the chickens don’t like.
They definitely need a pond. Some breeds can be kept without but when you see how much they enjoy splashing I think it’s cruel to deny them it. You either need a very big pond, a smaller pond with a filtration system or a small pond you can empty out and refill because the ducks will muddy them very fast. I have the bottom of a child’s sandpit someone was getting rid of because the lid had broken. The ducks can’t swim in it but boy can they bathe!
And they lay beautiful big eggs 🙂 I’ve had a variety of breeds- muscovy (they fly, the others don’t and ours wagged her tail!), Khaki Campbell (my favourite, good layers), white Aylesbury crosses (big and waddly), Saxony crosses (again, big), Runner ducks (funny, not bad layers), Welsh Harlequin (very pretty, another good layer) and various crosses but I’m in the UK so I’m not sure how many of these breeds you have in the States?
Lace Faerie says
When the kids were little, I wanted to give them the experience of raising baby ducks. It was a wonderful time with our two Indian Runners, Ping and Pong. They followed us around like puppies. They gave us a lot of laughs, joy and a taste of responsibility for our animals. HH built them a lovely enclosure and we used a kiddie pool for their pond, once they were fully feathered.
The one thing we forgot to take into consideration…the prevailing breeze. Unfortunately, the breezes came in off the bay, through the duck enclosure, into the backyard, through the sliding glass door and all the windows on backside of our house. PeeeeeUuuuu!
Eventually our friends went to live with a friend who had much more space and a pond. Our gentleman farmer friend got the biggest kick with our tame ducks following him over hill and dale!
Wendy Clark says
We currently have about 25 chickens, I lose count over time, and we get about 15-18 eggs a day. Getting those chicks and the first few days after that are so fun. The newness never wears off.
Carolyn says
When we got chicks several years ago, I would sit in lawn chair in the garage and watch them under their heat lamp. Better than TV.
Mavis Butterfield says
Way better than tv!
Emma says
They are so cute. Will you use the iglo cage you had at the HOA as their home?
Mavis Butterfield says
I fully expect to expand the flock next summer and the little chicken coop we have will only hold 4 full size birds, so the HH will be building a larger coop this summer. We will be using the little coop from the HOA house while they are still small as soon as they can go outside {probably the end of May}.
Lisa MTB says
Aw, Lucy is always so sweet with her little peeps.
Leslie J Honcoop says
As I lay in bed this morning, I thought YAY! Today I get see Lucy’s new chicks! 😉 They are adorable — but even more, Lucy is a precious chicken mama!! I just love that!!
Have fun with the new babies!
Christie says
I cannot handle the cuteness! They are the best! Thanks for sharing!!
Carrie says
Your Black Austalorp is different than mine. Mine was all black and still is at 6 weeks. Wonder who’s is correct!?
Carrie says
I was wrong. I went back and looked at pictures and my Black Australorp did have a creamy yellow/white stripe on her chest and stomach. She is all black now and is so sweet! I haven’t been able to handle my chicks as much as I wanted but she doesn’t mind being held and readily hops up on my hand. I hear they are great egg layers with 5 eggs a week!
Mary says
So cute! A friend of mine has chickens and she saidthat they all have their own different personalities–can’t wait to hear about yours! Mavis, I was wondering if the chickens you had at the HOA house went to live with Mrs. Hillbilly, or did they come with you to the new house?
Mavis Butterfield says
They are living it up at Mrs. HB’s. 🙂
Sue says
Oh, I am so happy Mrs. HB has them with pinky and the gang.
Vicki says
I love your new chicks! For some reason though I thought of an old I Love Lucy episode where she move a to the country and raises chicks. The chicks get loose in the house. It’s one of my favorite episodes. I look forward to reading what you are doing every day!
Joye says
Congrats, I am not sure which state you are in but in NH we have a facebook page of local chicken peeps to get advice and babies etc.
sindy says
I got 15 babies last week. The kids and I couldn’t decide so we told the lady at feed store. One of each kind. Haha she was not impressed. I have a question about pasty butt. I had 5 that I had to clean. It took along time to clean them and I don’t want to stress them out anymore than they were already. Do you have a recommendation? I just used a warm baby wipe. Thanks
Mavis Butterfield says
q tip dipped in warm water.
sindy says
That is a great idea! I will try that for sure if they need another clean up.
Thanks for your help !
April in N Idaho says
add a little apple cider vinegar to the water and this will help eliminate pasty butt.
Peggy says
How sweet. 🙂
Dawn S says
For the glamorous name, what about Zsa Zsa?
So happy that you and the Puggle Princess have your new flock!!!!
Mavis Butterfield says
Zsa Zsa is a great name!
samantha surovec says
Since you said Zsa Zsa and Mavis’ quote is from Lucille Ball, wouldn’t it be a hoot to name your peeps after hollywood’s grand dames? Myrna, Claudette, Ingrid, Bette, Mae, etc?
Mavis Butterfield says
LOVE!!
Terri says
So happy your chicks arrived safely. Lucy will be so buy keeping an eye on them. I love to see different varieties of chickens and colored eggs make them even more fun.
Diane says
“Free peep show”…. That gave me a good chuckle!
Marybeth says
So happy for Lucy. She will be a wonderful Mama.
Julie K Whitmore says
I use baby wipes when chicks paste up.
Becky says
Have you ever heard that chicken’s lay eggs the color of their ears? (that smudge behind their eyes?) Wouldn’t that be interesting?
MK says
I have had several of these breeds. My Stella, an Australorp, is a gorgeous hen With iridescent feathers. She is definitely one of the sweetest ones and a great layer. Can’t go wrong with the sweetness of an Orpington, and my cream leg bar was very sweet But a little shy. Good luck! I think we are going to try some bantams ourselves in August. We are in NC.
Mel says
I’m fascinated by Lucy’s love for the chicks. Our dog is better with the neighbors’ chickens than with cats or other dogs. She also adores checking on the bees with my husband, but we’re between hives right now.
BeckyM says
I think maybe you’ve confused your golden cuckoo marans chick with the black australorp. Either way, they’re super cute and you’ve chosen a beautiful selection.
Mavis Butterfield says
I would have thought that too but the Golden Cuckoo had a colored band on it’s leg and the delivery notice said she was a Golden…. I guess time will tell.
Sharelle says
They are so adorable. For what it’s worth I think the leg tagging has thrown you off on id. I’m thinking the black one that you thought was the Australop is that. I think the golden marans is the one you have labeled Easter Egger. My basis is that that one has feathers down the outside of the legs. The only breed you have that has that feature (though not always) is marans. Maybe the one you have as Golden marans is the Easter Egger.
But as you say…time will tell and they are so lovely.
Michelle says
Maybe this is a silly question, but what are you using for their bedding? It looks ideal.
Mavis Butterfield says
Pine shavings.