I love having little chicks.. they're soooo cute & foozy & peep peep & everything! But, my DH & I don't eat that many eggs (he doesn't eat them at all and I eat less than a dozen a year), so when they grow up, I sell them. So, I make sure that I buy chicks that people want. It's taken me a couple of years to figure it out, but I think I may have the right set this year. Last year, I got chicks for resale after they grew up & some Cornish hybrids as I was planning on eating them.. but I couldn't kill them. If they were suffering, I could do it. But they weren't suffering.. they were just HUGE. I finally sold them at 12 weeks of age and they were MASSIVE. I had 5 roasters.. 2 roos & 3 hens. The roos were clocking in at about 12-14 lbs each and the hens were definitely over 10lbs each. MASSIVE nasty birds.. will never have them again. I wouldn't have minded the plucking/gutting/prepping part. It was the slaughtering part I couldn't do.

That said & done, this year, I'm doing buff Orpingtons, light brahmas, white silkies, white Plymouth rocks, and Black giants. I've had all of these other than the black giants, so I'm waiting to see how they fair out. Right now, all I have are 2 Orps, 2 light brahmas, & 2 black giants. I'll be picking up the Plymouths on Friday and the silkies on the 28th.

All the babies in their giant tote. I keep this tote in my spare room next to my master bedroom down in the basement. They get regular light plus their heatlamp during the day and I turn off the regular light at night so they can sleep (heat lamp always on). I have them on Purina Start N Grow medicated (http://poultry.purinamills.com...) and they seem to be doing quite well. No poopy bottoms! Yay!



Black Giant, Light Brahma, Buff Orpington - these babies were 5 days old (hatched on 2/5, got on 2/7, picture taken 2/9)

Awww - cute baby chicks Toni

so cute.

Such cuties. Keep us updated as they grow up.

I bought 10 chicks today. They are supposed to be pullets, 4 black sex linked, 4 gold sex link, and two barred rocks. 70 years ago this spring my mother was expecting me and 7+ months along. Dad bought 25 Rhode Island Red chicks. He was at work and somehow they got out and my very pregnant mother had to crawl around the garden and catch them all. She often said that marked me as I have loved poultry and have had chickens or pigeons of one kind or another most of my life. I haven't had any the last few years but decided I wanted a few so.........They are currently in my brooder and I am cleaning out a shed [hoarder type stuff] that will be my coop. They are fun to watch

Toni and Paul. Congrats to both of you on your new chicks.

In your blood then, Paul. Good for you! Maybe you can post some pictures later?

Oh yes, we want to see the little chicks.

Here are a couple of poor pictures of my chicks. I took them with the red heat lamp on. I will turn it off next time. They are currently in an unfinished room in my basement which I call my design room. Over many years I have entered artistic designs in many flower shows and these are part of my containers.

Cute chicks!
Paul, that's an interesting collection of containers you have there.

I wonder what will happen to all my "collectables" and those of my late wife when I am gone. My children are not interested. They may need to have a yard sale.

Who ever gets them will get some beauties, of course you could always have a garage sale yourself.

Cuties!!!!

Cute chicks Paul - will you sell your eggs?

Lots of containers you have there

I don't plan on selling eggs. I have a grandson who is a body builder and eats lots of eggs so he will get most of them. I'll eat some and if there are extras I will give them to the neighbors.

You will be a great neighbor to give away fresh eggs!

They sure will

Paul, I have had the Black Stars, and barred rocks. They are both great layers, I've never gotten the Red sex link cross, but I'd expect them to be great layers too. I'm planning to let some of my broody hens hatch some chicks this spring/summer. It's easier to let them raise the babies. It's fun to watch them run around chasing bugs and having fun.

I'm going to have a mixed colorful flock. I've added a couple of New Hampshires, Spotted Sussex, and Brown Leghorns. I would love to have a Brown Leghorn rooster but I'm not sure if the neighbors would appreciate it. I do hear a rooster in the morning when I go outside.....