Preparing for the chicks; Days 1 & 2

The Brooder Box
When we first decided to get the chicks, we went out and bought supplies for a brooder box at our local feed store and at Lowe's.  The brooder box is important because this is where the chicks will live for the first two months of their lives. To have 5-8 chicks, we needed to have a space no smaller than a 2ft wide by 4ft long by 2ft high. We used an insulated carboard box. You also need a layer of substrate over the bottom of the box. We purchased pine shavings and made a layer approximately 1-2 inches thick. Next, we clamped the portable heat lamp to the side of the box. For our brooder box, we have a reflector rated to 150w and a brooder light at 125w. There is a small thermometer about 2.5 inches from the bottom of the box. We added a waterer and for one quart of water, added 2 tablespoons of sugar as per the directions from Legacy Farms.  We put medicated chick starter in a feeder and placed that in the box next to some chick grit. Chicks also like being able to sleep above the ground, so we flipped over a cardboard drink holder and slipped 2 dowels through the centers and created a makeshift perch. 

Day 1: May 15th

After we picked the chicks up from the post office, Brandon couldn't wait to open the box and make sure all of the chicklets were doing fine. He picked up the little chick with the yellow face and gray fluff that he named Ira Bea and said "Hi little chick, I'm your Papa Bran!" with an enormous grin on his face. It was wonderful! Here is a picture of the first time he held Ira.

Ira Bea, 1 day old with Brandon.

I picked the little brown and gray chick and named her Irene. My grandfather had a chicken when he was young that looked like all of other chicken on a farm they were overseeing. He took his sister's lipstick and drew a ring around her neck to ensure that he knew which chicken she was. When he put her in the roost, she showed off and paraded around and became "the queen of the chickens" . So the most unique chick in the box is Irene, so that I will never have to cover her in lipstick :) Here is the picture of me holding Irene for the first time.

Irene, 2 days old

We put all the chicks in the brooder box ever so gently. The chicks were so cute! They had cute puffy cheeks and tiny, fluffy wings. They found the food and water pretty much on their own ,but we tipped their beaks into the food and water so they knew where to find them. Here is a picture of them in the brooder box. 

Day 2: May 16th

The chicks are all settled in. I think they like a bit of a cooler temperature instead of the recommended 95 degrees. We really love the sudden bouts of narcolepsy that the chicks seem to get. It's adorable to watch them nodding off then falling over beak first.