Pining for Peeps

Our shipment of chicks arrives the week of May 6th. And I am dyyyyyyyyyyyying.

Seriously. Though, in reality, it's an ideal time. They arrive in the last week of my school semester. I will have time to devote to their early upbringing. The first week is the most stressful, as the chicks have just hatched and a few of them die. Last year, we had six chicks shipped. One arrived dead, and another died within two days. A third weakened within the week, and we ended up taking her to the vet. She is now a lively and healthy Bubo.

Bubo, a Golden Sebright

Our ten gallon tank will be furnished with sand, a screen cover, and a heat lamp. We have a waterer and feeder. I will have PediaLyte and baby parrot food on hand for any chick that looks like it won't survive. I will do my best to not have any casualties.

So, you want to know what kind of chickens I ordered? Of course I'd love to tell you! ;)

Blue Andalusian - a white egg layer developed in Spain

Black Copper Marans - a layer of super dark brown eggs and rare in the US

Blue Cochin - a brown egg layer and a Chinese strain of chicken

Blue Splash Marans - a dark brown egg layer

Buff Orpington - Brown egg layers and great personalities

Silver Laced Wyandotte - dependable and gorgeous brown egg layer

Blue Silkie - Funny, funny bird, from China

Easter Egger - we already have two, and they come in a plethora of colors

Partridge Silkie - LMAO

Mille Fleur d'Uccle - Funny little French chicken with gorgeous feathering

Appenzeller Spitzhauben - I will never be able to take this chicken seriously.

White Crested Blue Polish - I'm going to love this chicken.

White Crested Black Polish - I had a little roo of this kind when I was a kid.

Buff Lace Polish - Yep. That's a real chicken.

Possible substitutions:

Hatcheries give you the opportunity to sub chicks if for some reason a breed you ordered is not available on the day yours is supposed to ship. Our choices for substitution were:

Double Laced Barnevelder - layer of chocolate brown eggs

Buff Silkie - funny looking chicken

 As you can see, we come at this chicken keeping thing with a big sense of humor. How can you not when there are so many ridiculous looking breeds! And all the gorgeous breeds... Plus, our assortment of eggs is going to be the bomb.

What are your favorites?