Chicks Arrive at the Farm
It’s always so exciting when chicks arrive at the farm - I hope you saw the video on my Instagram page @MarthaStewart48.
I’ve been raising chickens for many years. Not only do I love keeping them for their fresh, delicious eggs, but I also enjoy learning about the different breeds and varieties. As part of good animal husbandry practices, and in order to maintain strong egg laying production, it’s very important to regenerate the chicken population from time to time. Yesterday, 54 cute, fluffy, and very healthy chicks arrived from Murray McMurray Hatchery, a 104 year old company in Webster City, Iowa. I got Whiting True Blue, Whiting True Green, French Black Copper Marans, and Silver Laced Wyandottes. The chicks are just days old, but they will start laying eggs in about five or six months. For now, they’re nothing less than absolutely adorable.
Enjoy these photos.
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- The chicks arrive at the post office in a well-ventilated cardboard box. They’re quickly picked up and driven to my Bedford, New York farm.
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- They arrive wide awake and peeping. Because they are so young and fragile, it’s important to be well-prepared for their arrival at the farm.
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- Once they arrive, they are all brought down to the stable feed room, where we set up three brooders – heated enclosures that provide warmth and protection which the chicks would otherwise get from the mother hen.
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- Each chick is closely inspected one by one and then placed into the brooder. It is important to make sure they are clean and alert.
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- Each breed is kept in a separate brooder lined with newspapers, and equipped with feeders readied with chick starter. The waterers are all filled, and the heat lamps are on. The temperature should be 90 to 95 degrees for the first week.
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- The heat lamps are suspended above the brooders. Raising and lowering them will help adjust the temperature. The heat lamps cast a very warm, reddish glow.
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- The chicks are very eager to explore their new surroundings – a sign of good health.
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- They are also very curious about all their visitors. This chick looked straight up at the camera.
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- Whiting True Blue and Whiting True Green chicks display a variety of colors from golden to chestnut to a darker reddish brown. Some chick starter crumbles are put down on the newspaper to help introduce the birds to their food and direct them to the feeders.
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- As soon as they’re in the brooder, each chick is also introduced to the waterer and feeder, so they know where to eat and drink. They are all familiar with waterers and feeders, but it is still a good practice to show them when they’re moved to new surroundings.
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- Usually after one chick finds the water source, the others will follow. Chicks are very thirsty after their day of travel.
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- A good chick starter feed will contain protein for weight gain and muscle development, plus vitamins and minerals to keep them healthy and to build their immune systems. The chicks will be fed organic chick starter feed for the first six to eight weeks.
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- These chicks have several feeders and several waterers in the brooder. A chick should never have to “wait in line”. On average, about 10-chicks can consume approximately one-pound of chick starter feed per day. For 53-chicks, that adds up to more than five-pounds of chick starter feed per day.
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- These are French Black Copper Marans. These hens will grow to be tall, elegant birds that lay the darkest eggs.
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- These chicks all have clear eyes and are very alert.
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- Silver Laced Wyandottes is a breed known for good disposition. Silver Laced Wyandottes are colorful, hardy, and hens are productive layers. Their broad-feathered, smooth fitting silver-white plumage is sharply marked with lustrous greenish black edging.
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- Chickens have their own personalities – some are more active or more curious than others.
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- It’s amazing how fast the chicks adapt to their home as they dart about so quickly. We also include a toy in each brooder – the chicks love to peck at these toys and roost on them.
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- Baby chicks need constant monitoring until they are at least a month old. They’ll stay in this feed room until they are big enough to move into the chicken yard.
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- If you could only hear how much noise these little chirpers make – they have lots to say.
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- It’s hard not to notice the large feet, but it won’t take long before these birds grow into them.
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- This peep looks like she’s ready for a nap.
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- And this one is already sleeping – it’s been a long day for these babies. I am so happy with this group of chicks – they are all strong good eaters, and will be great additions to my flock.
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