Joined in on the fun !

[JimP]

Just could not let the rest of you have all the fun ! Yesterday the wife and I saw an ad for 5 Buff Orpingtons hens age 14 months for $8.00 each. We went over to get 2 maybe 3 and of course all 5 ended up in the car before we left,lol.
They seem to be finishing their molting stage and the couple we got them from said they are collecting 2-3 eggs daily.These lil ladies are very calm and gentle. I think I will be pleased with the purchase.
So now we have the 8 lil chicks we got last week and the 5 older girls .I am planning on keeping both flocks seperated .

[Callieslamb]

congratulations! And now you know how addictive chickens can be.

[JimP]

@ Callieslamb ,Thank you .Smiles . Looking forward for the molting to end and the ladys new "dreeses " to be full and lovely .Plus the baby chicks to get their outfits.
Sadly, one of the baby chicks was dead when I checked on them yesterday morning not sure what happened .

[Bearfootfarm]

Sadly, one of the baby chicks was dead when I checked on them yesterday morning not sure what happened .

It's not unusual to lose a few.

You'll like the Buffs.
They are easy going and good layers

[JimP]

@Bearfootfarm, Hi Ya ! Yes the the buffs are really tame and pretty quiet also.We raised RIR on my dad's farm when I was a kid. These buffs are less timid than the RIR were .

[Karen in Alabam]

I lost a new chick this morning. And she was hatched with the Momma. She got out of the next and couldn't get back in. It was not completely dried off, so I don't think able to move too good, it was 49 when I got up this morning. The lip for the nest was maybe an inch or so.

It is sad to lose them, even sadder when its dark and you are looking for them and step on them, but these things will happen.

As my sister says the "sucky part of farming"

[JimP]

@ Karen in Alabam,Yes it is . On the bright side 2 of the ladys gave me eggs today !

[nehimama]

Congratulations on your new addiction, JimP.

[brandkelz]

Karen-I was told that when you let the hen hatch chicks, she will push weaker ones out of the nest sometimes.

I know that it is the "sucky" part of the business raising any animals but the way I look at it is this:
If I did all that I could do and provided a warm, clean, secure environment for mother and the babies and one of them gets pushed out the nest, or with our rabbits, the mother eats one, one doesnt get fed, or the poor little runt is strong enough to compete with his siblings, then nature is saving me the time, frustration, and extra effort in trying to raise and take care of a weak animal.

When I look at it that way, the "sucky" part of raising animals is a little bit easier to swallow.

[JimP]

@nehimama, Thank you .