Saturday was the first farmers market of the season. I attended to support my friends Brenda and Nina. While I was there I wasn’t paying attention to my phone and my mom kept calling me. (Sorry mom!)
I had told her I wanted some white layers to add to the flock this year. While I was at the market mom stumbled across some California White chicks at a tractor supply in the city. She brought home 8 week old California white chicks. Now I have 17 chicks!!!!
I am keeping them with a heat lamp in the opposite coop (across from the mama hen and her brood.) Eventually I will let them co-mingle, but for now I thought 17 chicks was a little excessive for this mama bird.
They have survived a few nights in the lower temps thanks to the heat lamp and the outdoor extension cords my Dad installed for me last year. I have had to give one a bath due to pasty butt, and thankfully they are eating/drinking well and no picking on one another TOO badly. (Yet.)
I need to switch the bulb to a red light. It’s supposed to help them not attack if one of the chicks are bleeding.
My nephews and niece have visited them and the boys came up with some great names.
- Long Neck
- Fluffy bottom
- Cheepy
I am so excited to expand the flock. Last year I didn’t successfully hatch any chicks. Things are usually don’t best when left to nature, and I’m so thankful to have some responsible mama hens.
Re-Peck-Ah is a Rhode Island Red hen, and so I consider her my little red hen, like in the children’s book. ❤
Redheaded Jill 
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