Chicks!

We will be getting chicks very soon! Much sooner than we expected!

Last summer we decided to add to our flock, but we really don't have time to raise chicks. We had two adult hens, so we decided to try and get one of them broody so she would raise the chicks for us. We added wooden eggs to the nest boxes and just waited. It took about two months for one of the hens to finally get broody. After a couple of weeks sitting on the eggs we did the ol' switcheroo with the chicks and wooden eggs. She ended up being a fantastic mom.

So we felt it was time to try it again. I purchased more wooden eggs yesterday. We didn't have enough because we now leave a few wooden eggs in each nest box all the time to deter them from egg eating. So last night I added 4 more wooden eggs to one of the boxes.

We didn't have to wait long. Our Buff Orpington has already gone broody. I was really surprised. I guess she's just been waiting for a clutch to develop.

I think we're going to get 2 Rhode Island Reds, 2 Ameraucanas, 1 Buff Orpington (we only have one now) and 2 of some other breed. We're not sure what though. I guess it kind of depends on what is available. I'd like to get some gold laced wyandottes, or maybe Australorps.