Chicks!

 

Last night, Elijah, Emry, Gyunay, and I went to Rural King and got our new chicks!  

We got several new kinds that we've never raised before.  All are dual-purpose chickens that lay 250+ eggs a year (according to the signs).  Some, like the Cinnamon Queens, we've had before, and are great layers.  They are also pullets, so we should have more hens than roosters overall.  Some kinds, like the Rainbow, are new, and are straight-run.  

Here is one of the two Turkens we got.  We also got Mystic Rocks (little black chicks), which should be similar to our beloved Barred Rocks.  I grabbed a couple of Sapphire Gems, which we love.  They are pretty gray hens.  I also got a couple of Starlight Gems, which are supposed to lay green eggs.

In all, we have 20 new chicks living happily in the shed in their brooder.  We are still trying to catch the raccoon that killed all our hens. 

In other news, Malachi and Lydia came home last night.  Nathaniel pulled up with them just as we were unloading the chicks, so they joined the excitement.  Everyone loves chicks!  Pilot hasn't seen them yet, as he is out of town with friends, but even he likes to see chicks.  (He's never had much interest in the chickens.)