::chirp::chirp::

A few weeks ago, I got a phone call from my mom and it went something like this...

Me:  Hi, Mom.
Mom:  Hi, Angela (she's the only who calls me that even when I'm not in trouble)  {insert chit chat}.  By they way, we ordered Phoebe and Benjamin 25 chicks for their egg business. They'll be delivered the first week of February.  Is that ok?
Me:  Really??? That's great.  They'll be so excited. {chit chat continues for a while}

I'm not sure when I thought the first week of February was, but I wasn't thinking it was Monday. 

So, I was quite surprised when my mom called Sunday and said the chicks would be here tomorrow...yikes! 

And sure enough, I got a 7:30am call from the post office that they would like me to be there at 8:00am to pick up the chicks. 

Here's how they came.  It's the first time we've had chicks delivered through the mail.  They did great.  They are Black Austrolorps.  This hatchery included a free hen (I guess just in case one died in route) and a free "rare breed" straight run chick.  We have no clue what kind it is  but it's the one with the brown on her head.  We're hoping she's a girl.  Esther's named her "Cutie".

We hurriedly set up the brooder cage, or "chicken condo" as we affectionately call it.  This was a hand me down from my mom and her husband who used to keep lots of chickens.  It's way too much for a small operation like ours but it is very nice to have and we are very thankful.

 

As Phoebe and Benjamin took each chick out of the box they dipped the beaks in the water.  They took right to it and  to the feed.

 

Esther and "Cutie".  We're keeping the chicks in the garage since our "barn" doesn't have electricity, yet.

I don't mention our dog, Rascal, here very often.  But I had to include this picture.  When Benjamin and I got home from picking up the chicks, the older children had taken the brooder out of the barn and put it in the garage... and left the gate open.  This is what we drove up to.  He stood there on guard until I walked up and shut the gate.  He's a good dog.

 

Now, we just need to enlarge our coop...

 

This post is shared at Clever Chick's Blog Hop, Backyard Farming Connection,