And so, my life as an urban farmer begins...

After much discussion and debate, research, meeting with other people who keep chickens as pets with benefits, and a trip to the Poultry Swap (who knew there was a poultry swap in Metchosin??), we finally picked up the new additions to our family; a brahma, a columbian wyandotte, and a silver laced wyandotte baby chick. These designer chicks (not your ordinary brown hens, but heritage breeds!!!) have been sexed (so we know for sure they are females and will lay eggs) and vaccinated. Zack named them Muffin, Eggwynn and I named the brahma (from India) Ganesh, after the Indian god of new beginnings. 

 

Zack holding a chick for the first time




It’s pretty thrilling to have these new little creatures around. They are two weeks old which is good because they are less fragile and can handle the constant attention from the boys better. Zack and Noah are totally obsessed with the chicks.





The "Brooder"



Over the night, I monitored the heat in their brooder (which, to Aaron’s dismay, is in the living room) and that was challenging. Temperature fluctuations meant I was worried and moving the brooder in and out of the light constantly. Aaron thinks I should just relax – but my attachment parenting instincts kept me up throughout the night checking on them! He thinks we are the only people who keep chickens in the living room! To be honest I probably would have moved them into my bedroom just keep a closer eye on them. Talk about a real "family bed"! And to be clear here, they did stay in the living room.

"Four Hot Chicks"  (thanks S.D.)

I have to admit, they're not the smartest creatures. They step in their food dish and knock over their water and feeder countless times. They're a messy bunch, I'll probably have to clean their brooder every day. So that means they are also going to be some work. And, SURPRISE! They poop A LOT! I can now say as a chicken mom, I've been pooped on. Doesn't matter what species, babies poop on their moms eventually I guess.