Chicks

The post office called at 4:00 in the morning on March 22nd to let us know that our peeping package had arrived. Stephen hustled down the mountain with excited children in tow. We wanted to pick them up as soon as possible since they had had a weary and stressful night flying cross country.

They arrived in a tiny box! Twenty six chicks all smooshed together. Everyone was enamored with the fuzzy little balls of fur. The older children carefully watched over them to ensure that Dominic didn't accidentally squish one. Thirteen are bound for our dinner plates and thirteen are laying hens.

The big kids tried hard not get attached to the meat birds, but they are so cute that it was impossible.

Meat birds 

Laying hens

The chicks spent the next week eating and sleeping under a red heat lamp in the office. Normally, I would let them stay longer but 24 (2 didn't make it) birds emit a powerful smell. Stephen brought home two huge boxes from work. We made them a spacious chicken condo on the back porch. Unfortunately, they are starting to outgrow even these accomodations. Chickens grow fast!

Today we made an outdoor pen for them to stay in during the day.  All was well until Thomas, our hunting cat, noticed the noise and decided that chicken dinner sounded tasty.

He and Francis camped out near the pen. Around and around they stalked, trying to find a way in. Thomas would stretch a paw in every time a bird came near the edge. He managed to tickle the chicks' tail feathers, but that was all.

Thomas stretching his paw in, trying to get that white chick.

Quinton guarding the chicks.

The chicks were rather oblivious to the cats. One even casually pecked at Thomas' paw when he reached in. This is not a good thing. We added another layer of wire to keep the cats out of reach. Those chickens are for us, not the cats.