Monday, April 7, 2008

Home to Roost

My cell phone rang at 6:40 AM on Monday morning and our Postmaster notified me that my chicks had arrived from McMurray Hatchery. I have been thinking about and planning for this day for months and I realized at that moment that I hadn't gotten chick starter yet! Hello!! Anyone in there?? Ruth thought I was talking in my sleep, but then heard me say, "I'll be right there!" She knew they had arrived.


Here they are all huddled in their shipping carton. You can see all of the crested chickens, they are the ones with the cotton balls on their heads.





This is a Silver Polish chick. There are four of them. I think they are stunning yet goofy looking! I can't wait to see their little hats form.



Buff Cochin She is such a little cuddle bum! There are four of them.


I believe this is a Cuckoo Maran. I ordered four hens and a rooster. We'll see! They lay the chocolate brown eggs.


I am hoping this is a Golden Campine. There are three of them and they are friendly and inquisitive.


White Crested Black Polish The spunkiest chicks of the litter! They sent six of these.






White Leghorn Rooster McMurray put eight of these into the box at no charge. They helped keep the rest of the group warm, and I don't want leghorn roosters! What am I going to do with eight of these guys??!
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I have four of the large dudette in front. She is different shades of brown and really pretty! I can't figure out what they are. Do you have any ideas?


There are two more breeds that I don't have photos of, but I will have them in the next post.

The coop is taking shape and should be ready for the big move when they are! I have three White Silkies on order from the local feed store. They will call me if they get some in their next order.


Sometimes I feel like I am a crazy man.

34 comments:

Mrs. SwedeHart said...

At just the time that you started your blog, I started my new job, and I haven't had a chance to check in, but now that I am here, I'm filled with delight! I can only imagine how seriously you take your work, that you would have created this little photo studio for your chicks. This is truly entertaining!

Anonymous said...

this post I have to show to my granddaughters, also they will love those real chicken.
I wish luck with them and plenty of energy too! But I think, looking at them gives joy and energy enough to take care of them :)
I would like to be there now with Melissa, Ella, Ida and Anniina!
We are begging a video about little ones, please Don.

Ruth said...

Maybe Peter can help us with a video, eh? While they're still little. Hey, today is their 3rd day! Isn't Life amazing? How incredible that they had everything they needed to be these different little breeds in those eggs.

Paula said...

Don- I love the pictures! And I'm so glad you got some Cochins... they are my favorites because they are so gentle and sweet. I'm looking forward to seeing them all!

Don said...

Swedehart: I have a live-in photographer! Ruth is anxiously waiting for each phase of their lives. Wait til they start sprouting feathers out of their heads!

Leenam: I think Melissa, Ella, Ida and Anniina would love to sit around the brooder and watch for hours. They could reach in and pick one up, cuddle for a while and then pick another! I did that yesterday and several of them fell asleep in my hand!

Ruth: Good idea on getting Peter to work on video. We're getting a little obsessed here on the green farm!

Paula: I agree with you, and I have never had them before! THey are so gentle already. I have only had Rhode Island Reds and Barred Rocks, and they were great! I think I am going to find out what kinds to get and which to avoid.

chickengirl said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
chickengirl said...

It's funny, you got several breeds that we did! We have the wite-crested black Polish, and buff Cochins! I hope your chicks do well!! They are so cute! I'm not sure what the brown one is...I'll search it.
Thanks for the pics!

(P.S. Sorry about the last post...I wrote something wrong.....)

chickengirl said...

I just looked at McMurray Hatchery, and maybe the mystery chicks are partridge Cochins? Do they have feathered feet and four toes? Try this link and tell me if the baby pictures match your chicks: http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/product/partridge_cochins.html

sandy said...

These are WONDERFUL!!! They are so adorable. Why can't chicks stay little like this. Its' like you have a package of little peeps.

love the photos...

sandy

Loring Wirbel said...

My copy editor's name is Tim Moran, and "Cuckoo Moran" would be a nice moniker from now on. But my faves are the pompadours on Silver Polish and White Crested Black Polish. You're ready for a rockabilly band doing Chick-Fill-A commercials.

Mrs. M. said...

I've known you are crazy since I was 8 years old...

cute chicks, btw ;)

Don said...

Chickengirl: Great minds...
I am going to copy you and your slide shows! You are right, today, their little feet sprouted feathers and I'm pretty sure they are partridge cochins. Yea!! I think those are fabulous. Thanks for finding that out!!

Sandy: I agree that they are adorable. However, I'm glad they will grow up to lay eggs and entertain!

Loring:that was the comment of the year! I'm forwarding it to your copy editor for his editing. Those little pompadours are ridiculously cute.

Mrs. M: I think you were 9! Your blog has four pretty cute chicks on it too!

Bob Johnson said...

They are all so cute, but my fav is the Silver Polish chick, now there is a chick with attitude. Good luck with raising them.

Don said...

Bob: I think the silver Polish chicks are pretty cute too. Somehow that sounds like we're talking about something else! Your photo of the moon and the Pleiades is spectacular.

Everybody needs to go and look at Bob's pics!

chickengirl said...

LOL! Yep, "great minds think alike". My mom says that all the time!
Well, I went to McMurray and looked at Cochins, and I saw partridge Cochins. The chicks looked like yours, so I thought that maybe that's what they were!

Anonymous said...

Oh, it is so awesome to get a box of baby chicks in the mail. Peep, peep, peep, peep! Fun! They are such cutie wooties! I want to come over and cuddle with some of them. :)

Amy said...

I am expecting a similar phone call next Monday. I'm going to have to carry my cell phone on me at work and hope that I can get a signal!!! Your chicks are all fabulous and healthy looking. Eat those leghorn roosters (they sent you EIGHT???) I have to get a few remaining items for my chicks and I'll be all set for their arrival next week. What fun! It's great that we'll both have "broods" the same age. We'll have to compare notes.

Don said...

chickengirl: I like McMurray. I am impressed with the chicks I got from them and also the huge variety they offer. However, my local feed store has a nice variety at a cheaper price. (No Polish chicks tho!)

Heather: Come on over! Bring the man and we can sit around and talk about the good old days.

Amy: I am impressed with my chicks. I did lose one, but that was a surprise as she didn't have any symptoms.

Are you going to leave work early if you get the call?

chickengirl said...

I like McMurray, too. They do have good chicks and variety, but my friends ordered from a site called ideal-poultry.com. The chicks there cost less and there are several more breeds/colors varieations than McMurray!!

Anonymous said...

I knew they were going to be cute, I didn't know they'd be THAT cute. Haha, I like the big orange puff ball. It's like she doesn't know what to do with herself.

Don said...

chickengirl: I'll have to go look at ideal.

peter: Wasn't it fun to give them those worms? They were so spazzy. We should have videoed!

chickengirl said...

It's a nice site, really.
I fed my chickens worms, and they are crazy about them!!!

laura said...

America's Top Model move over! These chicks have attitude--and they're way adorable. I love the solo photos, or should I say portraits!
These baby chicks make me happy!

Gwen Buchanan said...

Don, I used to have a Leghorn Rooster... well for the big tough type guy that he was... he sure did run when the little Banty rooster took after him ... It was like watching a Bugs Bunny cartoon. and can they ever stretch their legs out wide if they want to. that Banty chased that Leghorn up and down the hill, back and forth on the hill and around the house... it was hilarious!!

But now you had to go and do it!!! I want chickens real bad now.. I better get a shed fixed up for them... your so LUCKY!!!

Don said...

chickengirl: I just got back from the feed store and I couldn't resist 3 ameraucana chicks, (all hens). How do I stop!

Laura: I agree with you. I find myself sitting for half an hour jsut watching them cavort around. It is really funny when I give them a worm!

Gwen: I'm kinda sorry aout giving you the chicken bug. No I'm not!! Think about the fun you'll have building that shed and then picking out your chicks! Will your shed have a Bay of Fundy View?

Gwen Buchanan said...

sure will! we situated ourselves so there is no other way... sometimes we wish we had thought a bit more about protection on windy days... oh well every decision always has its compromises.. i really can't complain about the view

Don said...

Gwen: Just think of all the new subjects for your artwork! Sounds like a match made in watercolors heaven.

Anonymous said...

You ARE a crazy man!
Isn't it wonderful?

I like the Cuckoo Maran.
And I love how the White Crested Black Polish is stylin' it up with his little leg stuck out like that.

Don said...

Freefalling: Crazy is a great place to be. I hope soe of the Cuckoo Marans are girls, they lay the chocolate brown eggs. I ordered all girls, but the order form says they shipped a straight run, which means they didn't gender them. 50/50!

Unknown said...

i love these candid shots so much. like you and mom are putting together a spread for a calendar. i giggled with delight the whole way through!

so you're gonna have a bunch of Foghorn Leghorns! well howdEY....we must prepare ourselves for attacks.

what is the background you used for the photo shoot?

Don said...

Lesleyanne: Boy, I say Boy!

The backdrops were either towels, or a sheet of poster board. Yes, they pooed on both.

The Unusual Farmchick said...

You can EAT the 8 roos! Have a big Roo Roasting party for those that have helped with things around the place.
I love the polish,I have just Elvis for now.

Don said...

Unusually Unusual: That is what I will do with the lads. I certainly don't want 9 (I miscounted) Foghorn Leghorns raping and pillaging!

I agree with you on the Polish, they are so adorable! I can't wait for the little feathers to start popping out of their heads!

Ginnie Hart said...

You are having way too much fun, Don! Crazy doesn't even begin to describe you! :D I love it.