Hi everyone! I’ve seen many of my neighbors become backyard chicken owners, and I had been thinking about it for quite a while. The more I read, the more I wanted a couple of chickens of my own.
Well, today I jumped in with both feet. I ordered two baby chicks from a local hatchery and went to pick them up!
Let me start by saying: I don’t know anything about chickens. I live in the city and haven’t had the opportunity to interact with these cute little birds before. But I did my research, read all about the different kinds of chickens, and decided on Bantam Silkies.
When I looked to see if Silkies were available locally, luck was on my side. A hatchery nearby had baby chicks in stock, and I ordered two online. Almost immediately, I got an email saying my babies were ready for pickup!
I knew I’d need an enclosure for them, so I ran to Walmart and picked up a clear 66-quart storage container, some pine shavings, and an infrared light bulb. Then I stopped by my local Cal Ranch store and grabbed a feeder, a waterer, and some chick starter feed. After all that, we went to pick up the chicks.
The girl at the hatchery placed them in what looked like a little takeout container and said, “Congratulations!” My daughter and I were so excited. We loaded the babies into the car and headed home. They had a lot to say on the ride—lots of high-spirited peeping!
When we got home, we set up the brooder: storage bin lined with a pee pad and covered in pine shavings. I already had a clamp light, so I screwed in the infrared bulb and plugged it in. I filled their feeder with chick starter feed and added fresh, room-temperature water to their waterer.
When we opened their little box, I was a bit worried—one of them looked like she was struggling. She eventually got up, which was a huge relief, but she’s been a little off today. I’ve been keeping an eye on her to make sure she’s okay.
We placed each chick in their new home and showed them where the food and water were. They’ve been pretty vocal! The smaller one, whom we named Louise, has been a bit lethargic. I started reading up on what could be wrong and came across something called “pasty butt.” Sure enough, it looked like she had it.
I tried cleaning her up with a warm paper towel, but it didn’t work. So I read that running her behind under warm water might help—and it did! But now I had a wet baby chick. Apparently, I needed to blow-dry her, so I did, and I felt so bad. Can you imagine how traumatic her day has been? She left her home, got turned upside down, had warm water run over her butt, and then was blasted with a blow dryer!
Once she was dry, I put her back in the brooder with her sister, whom we named Thelma. Thelma looked at her, knocked her over, and then started eating like there was no tomorrow. Poor Louise just lay next to the food like, “I can’t even,” and took a nap. Meanwhile, Thelma kept climbing over her to keep eating.
Eventually, Louise got up and moved closer to the heat source. After about an hour, I woke her up again, and this time she started peeping like crazy and eating woohoo! That’s a good sign. You go, Louise!
I did forget to get a thermometer/hygrometer for the brooder, so I wasn’t sure if the temperature was right. I ordered one from Amazon that’ll be here tomorrow, but in the meantime, I popped my Ecobee room sensor in there. It read 95°F, and since both chicks were asleep, I think I nailed it for now.
I made it through Day One with my new little flock!
I’ll keep posting updates about my chicks and what it’s like raising chickens as a city girl who knows nothing about poultry. If you’ve ever been curious about raising chickens or just want to follow along come join me on this journey as I become mama to two baby Silkies
Chicken Journey – Five Days In
It’s been five days since I picked up my two baby chicks, and just two days in, I was super worried about Louise. She’s so small, and I honestly wasn’t sure if she was going to make it. I didn’t want Thelma to end up alone, so I ordered another chick, picked her up, and added her to the brooder.
She was the biggest chick in the brooder when we went to get her. The nice man at the hatchery said she looked like the healthiest one, and we brought her home and placed her in with the other two. She took a nap right away, and since then, she’s been just fine! My daughter wanted to name her Gracie, so Gracie it is.
Thelma and Gracie take turns knocking each other over, and I’m happy to say that Louise is doing well now too. I know I probably shouldn’t pick favorites, but Louise has totally stolen my heart. I already love her. She’s so fun.
I still have to keep cleaning her butt, and every time I put her back in the brooder afterwards, she chirps and chirps like she’s telling the others all about her tribulations. She also has this really loud chirp that she does whenever the other two play too rough or try to step on her. It honestly sounds like a little police whistle—like she’s trying to direct traffic. I love it.
All three chicks are doing great and getting fluffier by the day. In the next couple of weeks, I’ll need to move them into a larger broowould enjoy raising these little chicks. I think I might be turning into an obsessed chicken mama!
