BIG NEWS

 WE'RE EXPECTING! 

That's right... Brandon and I are expecting 6 baby chicks to arrive (by mail!) on June 2nd, 2017.

We ordered them through MyPetChicken.com because I wanted to select a specific and rare heat-hardy breed: Blue Andalusians. They are a Spanish breed and known for being particularly heat hardy, which has been backed up by anecdotal evidence from my chicken friends on Facebook who say Andalusians can withstand 119*F summers in Arizona no problem -- that's the kind of bird I'm looking for!

So we went a little wild with our "maternity" photoshoot. Brandon's brother's girlfriend is an excellent photographer and volunteered to help us execute this Facebook goof.  

While we were waiting for our package to arrive, we prepared for chicks by setting up a brooder box. A brooder box simulates the environment that a mama hen provides for her little ones after they hatch. It's essentially a box with a heat lamp over it, plenty of food and water for chicks, and protection from the elements.

I've been using this specific wooden box ever since my very first batch of chicks. My dad and I call it the "Caloca box" (or sometimes, the "cloaca box" because jokes). Caloca was apparently the last name of the family who lived in our house before my parents moved in. When my parents remodeled our kitchen, they kept this wooden box that was previously a big drawer for pots and pans. It has "Caloca" written on the side in blue sharpie, hence the name. The box is just the perfect size for a brooder box, and it's held up for 10+ years! It's a good box.


Here's my Brooder Box Prep Process:

1. Sanitize the box. It's important to actually use bleach in this process to get rid of any germs from the last batch of chicks or that the wood may have collected while the box was in storage (y'know, sitting in your garden shed for the last year or so). I dilute bleach in a bucket of water, scrub the box, rinse it with the hose, and let it air dry for at least a day.
2. Find a good spot. Most people start their chicks indoors, so it's easier to control the temperature. Garages are usually best for this, but we don't have one of those - so I used the living room (thanks housemates!). It will smell like baby chicks, most definitely. The smell is different than chicken poop, and isn't decidedly bad but it is noticeable. 
3. Line the box. Lay down newspaper first. I save all the junk mail we get that is printed on non-glossy newspaper. (Most newspapers now use soy based inks so it's all totally biodegradable!) Once you've got a couple layers of newspaper down covering the entire floor of the box, cover that with paper towels. WHY? Even on the non-glossy stuff, little baby chicks can have a hard time getting a grip on newsprint, making it harder for them to stand and walk around. This IS the place where they're essentially taking their first steps, so we want to help them get it right.
4. Add the essentials: heat, water, food. Either hang a heat lamp from the ceiling above the box or clip the lamp to the side. Red bulbs are best because they don't disrupt the chick's sense of night and day. You want the temp inside the box to be about 95*F to start.
   Food and water containers for chicks can be found online or at most feed stores. It's important to use stuff that's low to the ground/floor, like the chicks! I don't add supplements to the water typically, but I do use medicated starter. The organic/non-medicated stuff is more expensive, plus I've just always trusted it. 

That's it! Just add chicks.

Stay tuned for updates when they arrive!!!