Our post office is the kind where you know everyone who works there. They know everything about you because they deliver your mail. They know which bank statements we receive, which credit cards we have, and they handle a million pieces of junk mail for me alone. I admire them. But our post office is so small that they pay attention to your mail. When we got there, about 7:05, we rang the bell. I could hear the peeps through the door. Debbie answered and handed us the small box - how could that box handle 20 (later we found out -22) chicks? She said, "I peeked inside, all different kinds!" And sure enough, one of them, Ruthie, had a white top hat! So pics are a must:
Already I am in love with these girls. Here are some more pictures:
This is an Americauna or Easter Egg chicken. She has tufts coming out the side of her cheeks. She'll lay green or blue eggs.
We also have this odd chick - not sure what kind she is. I will post pictures of the others tomorrow. Already it's been a stressful day for them, and me. Earlier, two of the rhode island reds were aggressive, so we increased the size of their brooder and now they are happy, thank goodness. It's a good thing we read about how chicks nap - they look dead! Or they look terribly sick - head bowed, wings slightly ajar, until someone comes along and bumps them, either by accident or intentionally, and UP they pop, wide awake. Chicks are not for the faint of heart.
We also had a couple that were self pecking. It was as though they could not stop grooming themselves. And once the chicks show a little red skin, well, everyone else thinks it's ok to peck too. I picked them up one at a time and rinsed off their little furry breasts. Apparently that did the trick.
Anne at Echo Mountain View Road chickens
