I FUCKING LOVE CHICK SEASON!!

It's springtime! Do you know what that means? CHICK SEASON!! Chick season starts down in Southern Utah around the end of February and goes all the way until May!! This is when you get a calendar showing what week the breeds of your dreams arrive into your favorite feed stores. I'm talking about places like IFA, Tractor Supply, CAL Ranch, etc.

Since we are in a smaller house, I can't have the sized flock like I used to have, so this year I'm staying small. My plan is for 1 Easter Egger (fingers crossed they lay blue or green eggs), 1 Silkie (black, gray, or last choice white),  1 Turken (picture a chicken with a naked neck! XD), and IF one of these rare breeds appear, I'll choose 1 of the following: Frizzle, Serama, or Lavender Orpington.

Since starting this post I have already obtained my Easter Egger and Silky (they only had white). I purchased a second Easter Egger because a group of 3 chickens is better off than just 2. They need more company. I found 2 EE colors that I haven't found in previous years!! Gray, and Dark Brown/ Black. They are darling!! The dark brown one I'm planning of giving to my girlfriend up north. She was more than happy to get a free chicken! ( The problem is, Devin is falling in love with our little Shadow Cat, so maybe I get 4-5 this year???) But enough talking about how cute they are! Here is our newest members!

Shadow Cat Easter Egger
(are we keeping her?)
UPDATE: YESSSSSS

Ghost or Emma Frost Silkie
 Halp us decide

Jean Grey Easter Egger

 Of course we gotta stick with the superhero names! All of our kids have been named after superheroes, with the odd one or 2 from video games or books/ movies.  With the exception of Snickers. She had a weirdy name and she was a weirdy girl. I miss that little nut so much.

obligatory Snickers being Snickers photo

Devin is such a patient daddy

April 18th, the turkens arrive, so I get to enjoy 3 on 1 time with these kiddos and hunt through all the other feed stores for any of my rare breeds in the meantime! The hunt is on! Let me know if you see any of the breeds I want!

Want to know my tricks for raising baby chicks in the easiest way possible while still having them as a part of your home life? Well thanks for asking!

The best way is to get an old pack n play for toddlers! Just line it with old towels, pee pads, or pellets and clip the heat lamp over the edge! I recommend using a night heat lamp, that way you dont keep the chicks up all night with the light. Cover the back of the mesh with a old sheet or towel. Water and food should be place on a hard, flat surface. Boom! best baby crib for chickens ever! And if you're like me and have pets that will try to get in (and push the babies away from the heat so they can nap in a toasty spot) then put a large cover over the top! We use a thick piece of cardboard that came with our new TV.

Babysitter Tengu!

Checking out the new additions to the family

Our cats aren't interested in baby chicks or even full grown ones. Don't get me started on mice though. That's a whole different ball game!

When the chicks get bigger, but still too young for outside, I have a children's play tent that I put up for them. I hang the heat lamp from the light holder inside the tent, put in a few perches and food and bed. Same flooring as before: pee pads, towels, or old sheets.

She opened it to see if it was safe for her to sneak in and nap! 

coop setup

note how the light is far enough away from the roof, it's a
nighttime bulb so less wattage=less chance of catching fire

netting optional so they can see you and you can see them!

Shake the towels of poopies before throwing in the wash! Then when you feel ready to let them out into the world, have monitored play sessions outside, then day sessions outside where you bring them in in the evening, and then they will be ready for 100% outdoor coop life~!