This arrival was not as smooth as the first. We did not have the coop ready in the basement. I was afraid to just put up the chicken wire without it being secure as I thought they would escape (imagine 50 chickens loose in the basement!!) So I put them into a large plastic tub with their food and water. Everything seemed to be going fine, Jonathan and I was up and down all day checking on them and moving the light up and down depending on their behavior. But, around 2 I checked on them and most of them were soaking wet and they were all huddled in the corner away from the light. I think they must have gotten too hot and tried to cool down with their drinking water? I don't know but that is my guess. Many of them- probably almost 10- were listless and looked like they were going to die. Now, its after 2, the girls get off the bus at 3 and they have a friend coming over and they are so excited about their new chickens, and I have a fifth of them looking like they are dying. not good. so I quickly set up the chicken wire and got them out of the box. the ones that were looking the worst I held (couldn't stand to see them falling down) and took turns dunking their beaks into the water and making them drink. I had them lined up down my arms and legs- I'm sure it was quite a sight. by the time the girls came home there was only 2 that looked bad, and they still looked so much better than they had previously. by the end of the evening they were all fine. thank goodness- talk about guilt!!!
We got a second coop from a relative that used to have chickens and put that down back near the other coop. They went outside much earlier than the first group. We had to, these chickens were so different then the first group. I think because they are egg machines- they went thru food and water faster that I could keep up with them. When we had the one gallon water bucket, I was filling it up twice a day, and really it should have been three times.
When they got big enough, we put an add on Craig's list. Almost immediately we started getting emails from people who wanted to buy the chickens! Warren was right, and I couldn't believe it. I think in total we had over 20 people email with interest in the chickens. We sold 7 of the polish silkies and 18 of the ri reds & araucanas to a man all the way from New York! We sold 2 of the polish silkies to a woman and her daughter that wanted to add some friendly chickens to their flock. We sold 5 aracaunas and 2 ri reds to some women also adding to their flock. they came to get 6, left with 7 and would have taken more if they had room for them in the crate. They loved the polish silkies and even more so the buff laced polish (the kids forbid me to sell any of these as they are the favorites). They did not have a second cage to put them in and even briefly considered going home with the chicken loose in the back of the car- they decided against that option. We sold 7 of the ri reds to a woman also adding to her flock- 6 were for her and the last was for the neighbor that wanted one too if we had any extra. One woman came and got 2 of the ri reds to go with her other 2 ri reds that were full grown. she brought us an egg that looked more like a baseball than an egg. I can't wait for our chickens to be laying eggs like that!the thing we found so interesting is how much people loved their chickens. we have thoroughly enjoyed having our chickens. We certainly think of them like pets more than food producers. And we are not alone. Most of the people who came were sure to mention that they would be getting good homes. We had a couple send emails telling us they had adjusted well and even some pictures.
So now we have sold all the chickens that we want to and our flock is back to its original size. We moved the babies in with the older chickens the day after Christmas and they all have adjusted fine. It is much easier manging one coop instead of two. But, I know there are plans on the horizon for the next round of chicks......
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