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I ordered our meat chickens, a white cornish cross, from a Central Hatchery in Nebraska and they shipped them evening before last via USPS. The idea that these newly hatched chicks can actually survive a trip from Nebraska to Idaho, alive, is amazing to me. The post office called us at 8:43 this morning to tell us they were there, which we knew would happen any minute, literally. We were ready for them, right down to the proper temperature under the heat lamps (95 degrees). We carefully opened the box, hoping like heck they would all be alive and...... Yeah, we are chicken farmers!
I gently took each chick out and dipped their beaks in water so they knew it was available to them and unloaded all 50 of the little cuties. They all arrived safe and sound. Chicks hatch out fed and watered for the first 3 days of life. They absorb the yolk during the hatching phase and can ship immediately as long as they are kept warm. Some hatcheries even ship extras as "packing peanuts" but I ordered the right amount for safe shipping and only got the ones I ordered.
They all found the water and food in short order and should double in size by the beginning of next week. These birds are a super fast growing hybrid bird that are bred specifically for eating. They should be ready to process in 6-10 weeks depending on your method of feeding and whether they are male or female. Your size preference also plays into the time frame. I am letting my husband take most care of these little guys as I don't want to become attached to the fuzzy little things. I am still struggling with raising my own chickens for eating so as little contact with them as possible is necessary for me. I do realize their life will be so much better than at Foster Farms but it still bothers me. We are doing this to raise as much healthy and unmedicated food for our family as possible. I know I cannot name them but just a few came to mind as I unpacked them. Darn it!
Yay!!!! Now the fun begins. This is so exciting. Am I more excited than you are? Maybe because I can't get attached this far away. Good luck and I know you'll keep us posted!
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm so excited for you! When do your layer hens arrive?
ReplyDeleteI got mine yesterday! (a day late, there was a mix up) I'm going to do a post about them tonight.
They are so cute. It is amazing they can ship so easily and all arrive intact.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to the chicken farmers! Brace yourself for a few weaklings that will get pecked on, and perhaps a casualty or two.
ReplyDeleteHeather I am so excited for you. Maybe you could keep a couple. Mine were ordered yesterday and will arrive the week of June 8th. That is good information. I am reading everyting I can and taking in all that I can hold in my little head. I want to be a good mommy. Mine are for eggs and of course pets. I'll be watching their progress.
ReplyDeleteI bet you're happy to see them. They really are cute, I'd have to separate myself from them too. But, you are doing it for the right reason and trying keep your family healthy.
ReplyDeleteMy kids all had chicken projects at one time or other in the county fair. One of them actually won Jr. Showmanship. Good luck with your adventure. It's a challenge to keep their litter clean at first. I don't think that you will like them as much when they get big--so don't worry about the final challenge.
ReplyDeleteWow, they look so healthy, Heather! You're doing everything right. And mlc is right, meat birds aren't like heritage breeds; once they're past the cute chick stage, you probably won't have to worry about becoming attached. Good luck and keep us posted!
ReplyDeleteThey are so cute! I know what you mean about not wanting to get too attached. I can't even have live lobster in my house... jeez I have to have it steamed before I bring it home otherwise I won't let anyone put them in the pot. And, I LOVE lobster! LOL Good luck and can't wait to hear how things progress. --Jackie
ReplyDeleteAwww geee! Such little cuties. I think you are wise in not becoming attached to them.
ReplyDeleteOh I'm so glad they all made it! You are very brave, I would have a hard time 'cause they are so cute right now.
ReplyDeleteyay! so cute straight from the box. good luck in your raising adventures- are you sending them somewhere else to be processed or is your husband going to do it? i feel like i read about it earlier but i cant recall.
ReplyDeletethey are so cute! I could never ever do that. I would become so attached and we would have pet chickens running everywhere!
ReplyDeleteOh, squeal! After our recent loss, it makes my heart lurch with hope to see little ones. Don't name them. And don't give any her own blanket. I speak from hard experience!
ReplyDeleteHi Heather~~ Sweet. The first thing I thought of was, how is Heather going to eat these little darlings? I know they don't stay this cute but still... Husbands are much more pragmatic about things like this. Keep us posted.
ReplyDeleteOMG they are adorable! My little one has an incubator in his class kinder class right now. By open house they will be looking like these little guys!
ReplyDeleteI say name away- good luck keeping track of those little fluff balls!
Neat! Although I don't know if I could eat them if I raised them from that cute little fuzzy ball stage. I think raising hens for eggs might be about all I could do! Will you take them somewhere to "harvest" them you do you plan to do that yourselves?
ReplyDeleteHeather, try thinking of them as fish, that might help. And having your husband deal with them is a good idea. They look great. I congratulate you on raising your own chickens to eat.
ReplyDeleteWill your egg layers arrive soon?
Oh my! It would be hard not to get attached to them. Cute!! But, you are doing the best thing for your family, just keep thinking that way.
ReplyDeleteFantastic! Congrats on their arrival! Can't wait to follow their progress! Yea for chickens!!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, they are adorable. I love chickens (alive and on my plate!!). I remember going to a farm when I was 9 with school (before health and safety went mad!) and holding new born chickens, they were so delicate and warm form the lamps I wanted to stick one or two on my pocket. Looking forward to seeing them grow up but it the minute, oh, so cute!!!
ReplyDeleteHeather, You have soooo many. I hope they all behave. Could you imagine chasing 50 chickens around the yard? Oh dear...
ReplyDeleteThis is so grand. I can't wait to see how you do and how well they taste. I've never had one so healthy.
ReplyDeleteoh my god these are so stinkin' cute! I love them.....how fun!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! I'm almost 7 weeks into my chicken adventure and have been loving it! I had planned on raising half for eggs and the other half to eat, but a dog killed half of my flock so I'll have to hold out on the butchering part. I made it a rule right off the bat that they would not be named and my son and I talk all the time about how we have chickens to eat them! :-)
ReplyDeleteBest of luck!
very cute, i might have a problem with that too... but these are better off than the ones you'd buy at the market...
ReplyDeleteYou are made of stronger stuff than I! I wouldn't even be able to unpack them without becoming attached. Hard to believe that in such a short amount of time they'll be ready for processing.
ReplyDeleteCindy