And Then There Were Five

On Tuesday I added three newbies to the chicken coop.  

Too cute, huh?

I just wanted to get two chicks but the lady at Family Farm and Home, convinced me that if I only got two and one didn't make it then the last one probably wouldn't make it either.  Like alpacas chickens like to have buddies.

So these babies are Buff Orpingtons.  They are pullets, which means they are females.  When you go to buy chicks, you can buy pullets and know you'll have females or you can buy chicks that are from a straight run.  Meaning they could be any sex.  For an extra dollar a chick, I like knowing that I'm getting future hens.  I don't want a rooster.  My hens seem to do just fine without one.  Roosters can be aggressive to hens and people and they're another mouth to feed without a benefit of eggs.  I don't want to have an unexpected brood of baby chicks waddling about, either.  I know that for some people the rooster is good for the pot.  I'm not there yet.

I set the newbies up in the chicken coop in a cardboard box with a heat lamp, water, chicken starter and pine shavings for bedding.  The screen is to protect them from the hens and from a curious Linus.

They seem to be doing fine after their first night.  They definitely hang out at the end of the box where the heat lamp is.

No names yet as I can't tell them apart.  Though I'm open to suggestions.  Hoping as they grow I'll be able to distinguish one from the other.  Notice the little wing and tail feathers they're developing.  They are about one week old.  They should be fully grown at eight weeks.  Then they'll be able to join Dolores and Winnie in the coop proper.

Speaking of Winnie and Dolores.  I've been letting them free range during the day.  I just leave their coop door open.  I've found eggs in the stalls and on top of the hay bales.  The girls seem to appreciate their freedom.  I caught them sunbathing on Tuesday in the alpaca girls paddock.

Definitely snoozing!

Today I looked out at the barn to see Daisy Mae and Birdie chasing the chickens around the paddock.  Chickens can move fast when they need to!