Preparations

My laying hens shipped yesterday and should be delivered tomorrow or Thursday.   I cleaned the brooder today and set the heat lamp lower for the new arrivals.  The breeder I bought the Silkies from suggested a starting temp of 100 degrees.  I rearranged the brooder, so the Silkies would have room away from the light, since they are now acclimated to a lower temp.  I am hoping that the chicks will all do well together.  If not, I will need to make a second brooder.

The coop is coming along slowly.  We've had weather issues, and a busy schedule lately.  Another week or so and things will slow down some and we will start back on the coop.  My husband did build the trusses the weekend before last and worked on framing the window and the coop itself this past weekend.

 Last week when I cleaned their brooder, the weather was really nice, so I took them outside for a bit to snap some pics.  I was really nervous the whole time.  I kept looking for hawks.  I think I overreacted a bit, but I was just protecting my babies.  :)  They all made it back inside safely. 

Blue Silkie at 3 weeks.  Splash Silkies at 2 weeks.

I went out of town over the weekend and I can't believe how much the chicks grew in just a few days! 

Blue Silkie at 4 weeks.



They are really starting to fill out and get fuzzy.

The chicks are very active and run all over their coop.  They are also VERY loud.  I keep them in the basement and can hear them on the main floor of the house.  I can't imagine what it will be like when I add the 6 laying hens.