Chick update: Week 2
All of our chicks have now crossed the 2 week mark! Yay! Everyone is doing well, including our two youngest and newest additions, the Blue Birchen Marans. It is amazing to see the changes in their feather development every day, sometimes even from morning to evening.
I managed to get some photos yesterday, so let me show you how the crew is growing!
Babies are babies and moms are moms
My bond with these little chicks was almost immediate. So much so that to my surprise, I have been reliving some of the same emotions I had when Sofie was a new infant! Not to the same degree, but definitely present. I find myself worrying about them, whether they are too cold or too warm, if they are all eating and drinking properly. I worried terribly when a couple of our chicks seemed less energetic than the rest. All emotions I felt as a new first time mom to a human baby. I think a lot of it has to do with the “first time” bit. Just not knowing what is in the spectrum of normal, and so anything slightly different is a worry. Though they are all thriving and worrying is just part of being a baby chick parent. We love them lots and all is well.
How do you get chickens?
If you are totally new to the idea of backyard chicken keeping, then like me, you are probably wondering, where in the world do you buy live chickens? Or perhaps you have seen some at a local feed store. Let me outline some of your options to help you get started.
Getting your chicks – Go Local
It is worth the effort to try to get your chicks locally, so that they little guys don’t have to be stressed by being packed and shipped before they get to you. Going through the mail is tough on chicks.
Chick update: Week 1
The Ameraucanas and Javas are now 15 days old, passed the critical 2 week mark! The Easter Egger and Barred Rock are still only a mere 8 days old. It is pretty amazing to see them grow, even just over these last few days. I can’t believe we only just got them this past weekend. I have to keep reminding myself that even though they seem so self sufficient, that they are still babies.
Our chicks are here!
I am sitting next to their brooder right now as they take a little nap. I could seriously watch these little ones all day. Not only are they super cute but everything from the way they move around their brooder box, to how they sleep, to how they interact with each other to how they seem to play is fascinating. Not even 2 weeks old and they seem to have such personalities.
Excited for year 2 of our edible garden
It was about a year ago that work was completed on our landscaping project when we added a number of edibles to our yard. Having just moved from the Boston area I was fascinated by all of the fruit trees in our neighborhood and the possibilities for our own yard. I soon decided that if we were going to plant something new, why not make it edible!
Fruit Plant Inventory
- Cherry Tree – Espalier with 6 varieties
- Moro Blood Orange
- Meyer Lemon
- Dwarf Black Mission Fig
- Grape
- Blueberry
- Raspberry
Herbs we love to have on hand
…and thus grow in our garden!
- Oregano
- Chives
- Italian Parsley
- Cilantro
- Genovese Basil
- Thai Basil
- Thyme
- Lemon Thyme
- Spearmint (this is the variety for Mojitos!)
- Bay
- Which grows as a lovely bush or tree
The Hawthorne Urban Farm 