I called and I could order some chicks for April 12th delivery at our feed store. The other feed store had the chicks coming in on March 20th. By waiting the weather will be warmer. We have a hot tub room off our our house and I will put the brooder in there. My husband is going to make it with hard clear plastic on the side and we can see the chicks with out having to open the brooder. I found the instructions on the internet. I really wanted something nicer than a cardboard box. It's not bad when you first get them but they really make a mess as they get bigger. I just orered 8 chicks as there is just two of us. We already have a chicken house.

-- Jo in Central Wa. (countryjo16@hotmail.com), March 09, 2002

Answers

Ordered mine. A friend is going to pick them up the 27th of this month. I'm getting Buff Orpingtons and Australorps, then I'll trade 3 or 4 of each with my daughter-in-law for whatever she's getting, so we each have a mix that we'll enjoy more. I'm really a buff fan, tho. I haven't had chickens for several years but now I'm not working so it's time to do chickens again. I'm excited---like a kid at Christmas.

-- Rosalie (Dee) in IN (deatline@globalsite.net), March 09, 2002.

I'm in a quandry. I got rid of my chickens a couple of years ago. Just got tired of the hassle with the kids grown and just hubby and I at home. NOW, I'm wondering if I should get a few again with the way things are in this world. Anyone else questioning this kind of stuff too?

-- Anna in Iowa (countryanna54@hotmail.com), March 09, 2002.

Jo I didn't order any chicks this year----but our feed store gets in all the Ducks/ geese & all breeds of chicks in April----

I have plenty---plus as you all know tooooooo many bantam roosters!!! ha!!

I have two grown geese---& I need a gander---but hate to buy a baby & not know the sex & raise it up!! ha! But babies are soooo much fun!!

Jo /we always buy one of those plastic swimming pools for little kids- -& put our babies in it---we put papers down on the bottom & attach a heat lamp clamped to the side for heat---

It is easy to move when we need to---& we use it later for watering the ducks & geese & chickens--we have several---as sometimes we have had baby ducks & two different sizes of chickens or had baby geese--- etc/etc/---

Also when they get bigger we put side boards on it---we put a piece of chicken wire or that plastic webbing---or even card board to make the sides taller---so no escapes!! ha!

I think if our kids can find a farm they can buy & they can sell their place--we will probably be setting the incubator again--so thye can raise more babies---from the start on their own---

If the kids can find a farm---they will take part of my livestock--- We are praying they can find one & be able to sell their place--

So if I can stay way from chick day at the feed store---we probably won't have any babies this year unless I set the incubator again!! ha!

-- Sonda in Ks. (sgbruce@birch.net), March 09, 2002.

My uncle ordered 25 barred rock babies (pullets, supposedly) and had them delivered on FEBRUARY 15! My parents didn't usually get them until April, but my mom says my uncle just doesn't know what he's doing, but he'll figure it out eventually! (She's right, by the way - he thinks he knows it all, but hasn't lived on a farm since he was very young and actually knows very little)

Anyway, he is more interested in raising game hens and roosters (yes, the fighting kind) and selling them. He only ordered these for me (I'll take 12, and a rooster if there turns out to be an oops!), and for a neighbor who he is giving them to in exchange for a good egg supply!

-- Christine in OK (cljford@mmcable.com), March 10, 2002.

Ordered 25 for the 1st week of April and 22 eggs in the incubator now. Built a brooder earlier today from scrap I had out in the barn and if I may say so it doesn't look to bad. Should work well anyway.

Both bunches are Black Java. From different flocks as I'm hoping to get a little genetic diversity. Not a lot of that in the Javas as they were about extinct. My brother has Javas from another flock also. We can trade a rooster or hen later.

Thinking of getting some layers from the feed store for just egg use, but need to build another separate facility for any more. I hope my wife doesn't see this last part! She worries about me as it is!

-- John in S. IN (jdoofus@hotmail.com), March 10, 2002.