6am call

I got up this morning a little before 6am and started a fire.   As soon as I was done the phone rang, it was the Post Office saying my package of chicks had come in.  I said, "I'll be right there!"  I got the kids up, made a quick cup of tea to go, and jumped in the car.  It takes me a little less than 20 minutes to get down our hill, through the valley, and into town.  I made it back in time for us to have a peek inside the box, then I ran the older kids to the bus stop.

10 days ago, I ordered 25 jumbo Cornish cross chicks from McMurray hatchery.  We've never ordered chicks through the mail, so this was a fun new experience.  In my order they also included an extra freebie, "a special rare chicken".  We'll let it grow and feather out, then it will join the laying flock,  and wait to see what kind of surprise chicken we got.  They also included 3 extra chicks, possibly in case a few died in transport.  Well, I'm happy to say they're all alive and thriving.

Kaley is the next to wake up, I take her to the bus stop an hour later at 8am.  Here she is holding one of the babies as we all sit by the warm fire.  We know these are meat birds, I told her that they're really only bred to grow and get big for a certain amount of time, like 8-10 weeks.   This will be our first batch of chickens that we are specifically raising for meat, 28 chickens will be ready right around Thanksgiving time.   I will raise them with the best life I can give them, and as we sustain them now, they will sustain us.  I am going to love going into winter with a freezer full of the best homegrown chicken. 

You can see my surprise chicken is the only black one in the bunch.