Everybody Needs Somebody to Love

They're like potato chips. You can't have just one. A lonely chick will peep incessantly. And that my friends will drive you nutso in a hurry. Luckily the farm stores nearby were selling chicks this weekend. Our sole survivor now has six little bantam friends to play king of the sock with.

You don't know what you're getting when you go there. It's just a big stock tank labeled "assorted bantams". Figuring out what you ended up with is part of the fun. I used Suzanne's method of sexing the chicks. When you pick one up, turn it over. If it's legs draw in it's a girl. If the legs splay out is a boy. And if only one leg draws in it's no good, put it back and try another. I have no idea if it works or not but figured what the heck it's worth a shot.

When I got home I logged on to Cackle Hatchery's website. I'm pretty sure that's where the farm store gets their birds. Anyway I crossed referenced the pictures of the chicks on their site and what I had in my box. I think I ended up with

one Mille Fleur D'Uccle
one Black Breasted Red Old English Game
one White Cochin
two Golden Sebrightsand a Silver Duckwing Old English GameI know for some of you that doesn't mean diddly squat. But the chicken people lurking around out there reading this site know exactly what I'm talking about. Because they have the hatchery catalogs memorized just like I do. I'm sure of it.

Of course bantams aren't the only thing for sale at the farm store. Nope. They sell full size egg laying machines, too. Polly was surprised to realize she was suddenly the mother of a New Hampshire Red and a Golden Comet pullet!

I declare there is nothing in this world cuter than a couple of chicks climbing up and around and under their momma hen. If you need me, you'll find me on the back porch watching them.