New Chicks!
As most of you know, I raise chickens, which lay delicious farm-fresh eggs. But chickens, just like everything else, eventually grow old and become less productive. Therefore, it's important to keep regenerating the chicken population by ordering new baby chicks. Because I prefer rare breeds, I get my chicks from Murray McMurray, the world's largest rare breed hatchery. And if you visit their Web site, you can get a virtual tour of the hatchery. It's quite interesting.
This time, I ordered 20 Araucanas, 10 Buff Orpingtons, 6 Silver Laced Wyandotte's, 6 Buff Minorca's, 10 Single Comb Brown Leghorns, 10 Pearl-white Leghorns, and 6 Black Star. The invoice says that they're all female - let's hope so. The chicks are just one day old when they are packaged and shipped. Because they are so young and fragile, it's important to be well-prepared for their arrival. The coop must be ready and waiting for the little peepers. Come and have a look.
1 This is how the chicks arrive at the post office - in a well-ventilated cardboard box. Chhiring went early in the morning to pick up the peeping parcel. This postal worker took good care of the special delivery.
2 The chicken coop was prepared in advance. The floor was lined with newspapers, the feeders readied with chick starter, the waterers filled, and the heat lamps on. The temperature should be 90 to 95 degrees for the first week.
3 The heat lamps cast a very warm glow.
4 The box is opened and the chicks are placed beneath the lamps to get nice and toasty.
5 If you could only hear how much noise these little chirpers make!
6 They look just like little fluffy Easter decorations.
7 Such beautiful markings on these little creatures.
8 The chicks are very thirsty when they arrive and giving them a taste of water right away helps them to find more water soon. Most baby bird loss is caused because the bird doesn't start to eat or drink.
9 In essence, Chhiring is the mother hen, teaching the chicks how to drink.
10 Once he is satisfied that the chicks can drink, Chhiring places them near the food.
11 The chicks are lined up on the feeders.
12 One by one - slowly, but surely
13 Each and every chick is given water and shown the food.
14 Unfortunately, not every chick will survive the journey and the few that perish are replaced by Murray McMurray.
15 It's amazing how fast the chicks adapt to their home as they dart about so quickly.
16 One week later, the chicks are doing beautifully.
17 This is a replacement chick for one that perished.
18 Their plumage is getting thicker and their markings, more pronounced.
19 So adorable
20 And so tiny
21 One day, little one - you will be laying eggs!
So cute and adorable! Good luck!
Posted by: Rowaida Flayhan | September 29th, 2009 at 12:59 am
The chicks are so cute! Good luck with them.
Posted by: luizacc | September 29th, 2009 at 1:22 am
Hi Martha,
We've been getting chicks like this ourselves for twenty-five years. Late this summer one of the Buff Orpingtons hatched two chicks herself in the goat's hay manger and I posted photos on my blog. They are so cute running around here. One chick is black and not like the mother hen. It was probably from the Silver-Laced Wyandotte's egg. After the hen hatched those two chicks she was so satisfied with herself that she abandoned the other five eggs in the nest. They probably would have hatched the next day! We are crossing our fingers that these two chicks do not turn out to be roosters. Already one of the last mail-order batch has turned out to be a cock-a-doodle-doo. Now we have two of them waking us up every morning.
Those varieties of chickens have the cutest chicks don't they?! Cuter than plain yellow ones- like little chipmunks with beaks.
Posted by: Clayvessel from Pie in the Sky | September 29th, 2009 at 2:23 am
I had absolutely no idea one could send live animals through the mail! And that last shot is particularly beautiful. Lovely babies and happy egg laying to you!
Posted by: The Blushing Hostess | September 29th, 2009 at 6:11 am
Whenever I see pictures of little babies, I'm reminded of how precious life is. Your little chicks are just beautiful.
Posted by: Lynn from For Love or Funny | September 29th, 2009 at 6:25 am
These scenes take me back to my child hood when I lived on a 70 acre farm and I was always raising chickens for eggs. I live in the city now but some day I hope to be able to do this again as Martha does. I so appreciate that Martha takes such good care of her chickens. Thank you for posting this as it certainly brought about a good child memory.
Posted by: Darrick Beekman | September 29th, 2009 at 6:59 am
loved the last few photos-----so alert & full of attitude!
Posted by: jonquil | September 29th, 2009 at 7:38 am
Absolutley adorable! Thnaks you - it made my day! After seeing an advertisement for an "Omlette/Egglu" and I wanted to raise 1-2 hens for fresh eggs, unfortunately there iis a city ordinance against raising farm animals!
Posted by: rpm | September 29th, 2009 at 7:49 am
Can I ask why you don't raise the chickens on your own farm? I know nothing about breeding chickens, so I'm just curious about why you mail order them, instead of breeding them yourself.
Also, do you eat the old chickens?
Cute pics! Fascinating that you can send them through the mail.
Posted by: ps | September 29th, 2009 at 8:32 am
Absolutely fascinating! Such a fun reminder of my childhood stays on my grandparents' farm.
Posted by: pamela | September 29th, 2009 at 8:39 am
It's my birthday and I woke up this morning finally with a day off from my job as an ER nurse. The sun was just up and I sat down at the computer to look at your blog what a happy blog to wake up to an a beautiful fall morning. Very Peaceful thanks for my first birthday gift !
Posted by: Isabel | September 29th, 2009 at 8:54 am
Those fluffy little chicks would look perfect next to my bunny - like Easter time! Very cute little critters
Posted by: Kari | September 29th, 2009 at 9:33 am
For PS - Occasionally, we do allow eggs to hatch at the farm. However, this usually means cross-breeding and also running the risk of hatching too many roosters. It is a better idea to repopulate by ordering chicks from a reputable hatchery.
Posted by: Martha Stewart | September 29th, 2009 at 9:41 am
Your baby chicks are the cutest and Chhiring looks completely happy tending to their needs. Your hens lay the nicest colorful eggs which I had never seen until you showed us your chicken coop at Turkey Hill. I still haven't seen one up close which makes me wonder why colored eggs aren't sold in the grocery store when all those kinds of chickens are laying them. I only see brown. Obviously, there is so much I don't know about farming but at least I learn a little bit from you. Thanks. Trish
Posted by: Trish | September 29th, 2009 at 11:10 am
They are beautiful chicks and fortunate to be on your farm as opposed to some "egg-laying factory" somewhere. I wonder...what is the fate of the hens that these little beauties will be replacing?
Posted by: Pat A | September 29th, 2009 at 11:29 am
I think that you have Ameraucana not Araucana chicks. Araucanas have tuffts of feathers around their cheeks (not the cute chipmunk-like puffs that Ameraucanas have) and are rumpless. Ameraucanas can also lay a variety of egg shell colors, from pink to blue and green, where the Araucana will only lay blue shelled eggs.
Posted by: Natty K | September 29th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
I enjoyed seeing the pics of the baby chicks.
Until I was nine years old, my Mom and Dad
got chicks in the mail as you have, and I
remember how hot it was in the small building
where they were kept. I've always wanted to
raise chickens, but have lived in the city
since I left home and haven't had the
opportunity.
Posted by: Vivian Price | September 29th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
Perfect timing...now that we are getting settled at Birch Hill we are considering raising chickens. Eggs are a favorite food in our house and my boys would easily eat whatever our chickies eventually laid. You are my resource for this future project...I am so grateful for your expertise and adorable photos!
http://www.snickerdoodles.typepad.com
Posted by: kerry | September 29th, 2009 at 3:58 pm
How absolutely precious!...I LOVED this little venture, being 'right there' as these little cheepers were getting acclimated to their new home. I learned alot while viewing previous shows, too - how you had to dip their little beaks right away to teach them to drink. Awww. Bless their hearts.
~
I remember in previous show segments how comfortably you handled your chickens - not being astonished by any that got a little boisterous...we could plainly see that you knew your chickens and just what to do in their environment. Actually, in reading previous blog comments over the last year, many folks are interested in your chickens and their coop/yard, etc. (I haven't read any posts for today as of yet, but I'll bet there are hints for you to write more about and show more photos of them!)
~
Schwhew! It would be difficult for me to live on a farm, as I would want to make each and every creature my very own pet. As we all know, that would be impossible (and very costly!), and I'd have a broken heart all the time... [giggle]
~
Enjoy this crazy-weather-so-typical-of-fall day!
=^..^=
~
"Keep your face always toward the sunshine and the shadows will fall behind you."--M B Whitman
Posted by: Cindy Bricker | September 29th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
.
Coming back down from the Boreal forest
The little twittering song birds gather with zest,
A quick hold over to fill up at a feeding station
Then off they go with enthusiastic anticipation.
.
.
Some so small, no bigger than your thumb;
Flock after flock they gather and still they come.
The Canada goose started only a few weeks ago,
Do humingbirds hitch a ride with this noisy fellow?
.
.
Following their same flight path for hundreds of years
They venture forth on their long journey, no fears.
This strong instinctive drive that puts them to wing,
Then beckons again, to lure them back in spring.
.
.
For all my years of witness to this phenomenal marvel
Deep in my heart my prayer is for their safe travel.
Seems strange to shed a tear as they disappear from view,
Stranger still to shed again as they start the spring anew.
.
.
Still smiling at the wee peeps.
Posted by: celia stock | September 29th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
I always raise chicks in the Spring, but haven't in the Fall...any benefits to getting a Fall shipment?
Posted by: Tedly | September 29th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
Dear Martha, I was fascinated by this blog post and it was great to show my kids the level of care and preparation needed to raise chicks. They are still enthusiastic so I'll take that as a good sign!
Posted by: Ramona Barrry | September 29th, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Oh, they are so cute!
Posted by: Sherry | September 29th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
I thought you had to get chicks in the spring (this is when our local grainery sells them). Will they winter over well? We live in the mountains of Arizona. Though its a moderate winter, it usually gets into the teens through most of it. Our chickens, 13 hens and a rooster, are pretty old...over 3 years and NOT producing well and will need to be replaced. Thanks for any advice
Posted by: Elizabeth | September 29th, 2009 at 7:08 pm
HOW ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE!! Thank goodness You and Your helpers create such a warm, inviting home for those little guys!! Again thanks and admiration to you. . .Looking forward to see their progress down the road!!
regards,Nina
Posted by: nina zeumer | September 29th, 2009 at 7:26 pm
The little chicks are so very cute. Because you keep ordering new chicks to produce quality eggs, what do you do with the ones that have grown old and less productive? Just curious...
Posted by: D Williams | September 29th, 2009 at 7:49 pm
Hi Martha, Thanks for another interesting and informative fabulous blog. These little baby chicks are absolutely darling and I just love the look on Chhiring face as he teaches each one how to drink and sets it in front of the food. What a fantastic start they have. I remember you doing the exact same thing years ago on your original TV show. The website for Murry McMurry is absolutely fascinating. I had no idea there were so many varieties of chickens and other fowls. Loved your Palm Springs show today. It was wonderful. Sure hope Francesca is doing better each day. She is in my prayers everyday because I adore her as I do all animals. Love, Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | September 29th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
i have 5 buff orpingtons and they are full of personality... almost loveable and hearty also.... good luck with them
libby...chatham VA
Posted by: Libby | September 30th, 2009 at 7:18 am
shalom Martha, I recently moved to Israel and am thrilled to be able to watch your show every day.
I so look forward to seeing all your great ideas and I loved your show on everyday cooking.
While watching how to prepare shepards pie I remembered that my mother used to make shepards pie often and she would also add a bit of curry to the meat. Another idea is to add a thick layer of mashed potato's to the bottom of the dish, and blind bake that till it is firm and then add a thin layer of breadcrumbs to absorb the moisture of the meat, add the meat and the top layer of potato. It is delicious and adds extra to the meal. Thank you for a great show.
dalia anik kinadee@aol.com
Posted by: dalia anik | September 30th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
Hi Martha,
I check your Blog every day enjoy you show.
What do you do with your chickens when they get too old to lay eggs. Are they good to eat?
Keep up the good work
Thel
Posted by: Thelma | September 30th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
I enjoy reading & learning from many of Martha's well-wishers re: her pets & animals. However, I wish Martha would answere the questions asked of her from these admirers b/c it would help us all to understand & appreciate more of what it takes to have domesticated & undomesticated animals.
I was especially wanting to know (one blogger asked) what Martha does with the older hens? Does she eat them when their egg laying days are over & how do you know when the hen's egg-laying days are over, etc.? Thank you, Sally Gisler
Posted by: Sally Gisler | October 3rd, 2009 at 10:35 am
The photos of the chicks arriving were wonderful. Thanks for sharing them along with the valuable info.
You have a lot of baby chickens there - 68 if I counted correctly - you aren't planning on keeping them all in that small coop throughout their entire life are you? (I'm guessing no, since I don't see any laying boxes for eggs, etc. These pictures must be of a 'nursery' coop.)
To Sally (and others) asking about 'spent' hens - every farmer of sorts is different as every hen has a different end. Breeds that are classified as layers are neither meaty nor tender by the time they reach the end of their egg laying career. All of the chicks that Martha has ordered this year are, however, larger birds (classified as dual-purpose or specialty breeds) - they can handle cooler winters and make a decent stew at the end of their laying cycle.
Most hens are at their prime laying age between 18 months and 2 years of age. After that they still produce but not as frequently and it becomes uneconomical to keep them further.
Hope this helps.
Laura Childs
GoodByeCityLife.com
Posted by: Laura | October 7th, 2009 at 9:55 am
Hello Martha,
I also raise chickens and prefer the rarest. One type of breed that is very hard to find, at least around here, are Marans. There are several varieties of this breed which originated in the town of Marans in France and these are the birds that lay the rich, chocolate brown eggs preferred by French chefs. The French Standard of Breeding requires most chiefly, the feathered legs. You may really enjoy this breed. We have recently started Copper Black Marans and they are bold and beautiful. The eggs are truly gorgeous and I catch myself staring at the striking beauty of these birds.
Posted by: Rachel H. | October 9th, 2009 at 12:05 pm