25 years ago today, I started caring for chickens. In my first McMurray order, there were 1 Exotic, 5 Dominiques, 5 Araucanas, 5 Anconas, 5 Blue Andalusions, 5 Australorps, 5 Barred Rocks and 15 Rhode Island Reds.
I had read about caring for chicks but had no experience. So I wasn’t terribly successful. 4 chicks were dead in the shipment, and one died one week later. I had ordered all female chicks, but they had included 15 “free” male chicks to add warmth to the shipment. So I ended up with 15 roosters that I didn’t want. I ended up giving 14 of them away which was really hard on me as a vegetarian, animal-loving, wanna-be farmer. I knew their fates were not good but couldn’t keep them either. In January of 1999 I had 22 chickens remaining. So there was definitely a learning curve. But it was my first step into farming and exciting for me, and I took a lot of photos of those first chickens, fascinated by them. And this was before digital photography. I feel more like a farmer now, and it started 25 years ago today.
That was an ambitious first foray into chicken-keeping!
Yes it was. If I could only have talked to my early farmer self.
Wow! That was a huge order, especially for a first time! What an experience for you! Did you have any eagles around back then?
Are you ordering chicks this spring?
The minimum order at the time was 25. The RIR were not ordered, just put in for “free”. I do have chicks on order but they are not due to arrive until May 16. There seems to be supply chain issues with chicks too. I am on the hunt for turkey chicks as well.
Hm! I’m just thinking… (Scary!) I’m guessing that they don’t ship that many free chicks now. What do you think? How many chicks did you order this year? I hope you can find the turkey chicks you want.
No they don’t which is good for people who don’t want them. I order 30 chicks this year.
I meant to tell you how much I enjoyed your pictures of the colorful little chicks! So cute!
Have you located some turkey chicks?
They are cute! I have not found turkey chicks yet. I am thinking the bird flu outbreak in the Midwest is the cause. And it is horrific what is happening to those poor birds. So I ordered some turkey eggs from a local small farm, and I think I will be done with ordering chicks after this. We can hopefully breed our own from now on.