The day with the second most snow accumulation in a single day of the year was a perfect day to get new chicks. It was 18 degrees out, but the chicks had arrived at the Tractor Supply store, and Adrienne was anxious to get chicks.
Backyard view as we brought the chicks home.
The varieties they had today were Ameraucana and Buff Orpingtons. Our goal is to have about a dozen layers and a rooster and even though the chicks were allegedly sexed we purchased 20 (8 Ameraucana and 12 Buff Orpingtons). The last time we purchased sexed chicks about half were still roosters so we expect that a couple will be lost to sickness or as some say “failure to thrive”, and others will be roosters that will go straight to the pot, leaving us with our desired goal of 12 layers and one strong-willed rooster.
We were planning on putting them in the brooder box in our garage, but the “global warming” in Virginia has made the outdoor temperatures drop to below 0 at night and our garage is too cold for even the heat lamps to keep the brooders at a safe temperature for the chicks. The brooder box in our mud room will stay nice and toasty for the chicks.
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