vituperation

Two of the new chicks have died, one Ameraucana (like Flappy and Frick) and another White Orpington (meat). That brings the total chicks down to 20 from the 27 we expected. There’d actually be 19, but they stuck an extra Rhode Island Red in the box. Grand totals: we were shorted 4, 2 died in transit, and 2 died within 48 hours.

The remaining chicks all look healthy and good, except one of the White Crested Black Polish (aka the Don King chickens) looks a little runty and sleeps more than the others. The Black Jersey Giant we called Oscar last year was like this, and she ended up fine. But…the two that died this week also started out like this. I’m keeping an eye on her; if she starts going downhill like the other ones I’ll make sure she doesn’t suffer as long.

Based on anecdotal evidence, it looks like the hatchery may be having some serious problems with sick chicks this year. This thread at Backyard Chickens makes it look like a pretty widespread problem, and there are some good theories in there about what may have happened. On the downer side, based on that thread it looks like we’re not out of the woods yet — several people have had their chicks suddenly get sick and die at about two weeks.

McMurray was great about it. They refunded all the money for the missing and dead chicks, as well as for the weak-looking Polish I mentioned above, “just in case.” They offered to send more chicks as replacements, but for warmth they would have had to pack the box with extra roosters (”packing peanuts”). Because they get aggressive with others when they go through their sexual maturity, those roosters would have had to be moved to a separate living space before they were ready to eat. That’s more of a pain in the ass than I’m willing to deal with, so I took the money.

As to other chick questions:

How exactly are they shipped? I realize it’s by mail, but what kind of container are they in??

They’re shipped in a special box with holes in the top (and lots of labels) via the USPS. According to the hatchery, they go on heated trucks from there to the postal center, then on jets to various regional locations. Here are last year’s chicks when they arrived:

Even though we used a different hatchery this year, the chicks came in virtually the exact same packaging.

I know the company can’t guarantee safe delivery of all of the chicks, but what is the reason for having 28 listed on the packing slip when only 24 were shipped?

Someone miscounted. They told me they take miscounts VERY seriously, and that memos go out to all the people who count when it happens.

As to other comment questions:

How’s the stink around the pigs? Were you right about the big pen = no stink?

The pigs do not smell. They have a slight animal smell that’s not unpleasant at all, not nearly as bad as a dog who lives outside and smells dog-gy.

Their poop, on the other hand, has some serious stank. It’s not an issue yet. You can smell it a little around their shelter, a vague sort of barnyard smell, but it’s not strong. If you’re a little ways off and the wind’s blowing the right way, you’ll catch a whiff of that same barnyard smell. It’s not overpowering like it was at the place where we picked them up. I suspect I’m not going to know for sure if it will be bad until around July or August, when it’s hot.

We’ve never smelled the pigs from the area around the house, even when the wind is blowing the right way.

Pig noises??!!

What can I say, we’re communicating. The smaller pig has developed a new oink when we’re talking, one that’s different from his normal oink when he sees me. He opens his mouth more or something, and it’s much louder and deeper. I suspect it means something like “bring on the food, bitch!”

The big one has taken to raising his head for a good scratching, and he sits down like a dog when I do it. Pretty cute stuff.

However, they’re both getting obnoxious about the food, crowding the gate and rubbing their snouts all over my shins and making me worry I’ll spend my senior years explaining that a pig ate my leg off. That obnoxiousness makes them cute, but not too likable.

Did you hear? I live with a couple of stars.

Yesterday was so nice and springlike I went around and took pictures of what’s going on at Crooked Acres.

I switched the chicks off of an old sheet and onto pine bedding yesterday.
They were scared of it at first, but seem to like pecking around in it now.

Their feathers are starting to grow. The Rhode Island Reds (like above)
are getting feathers of a different color / pattern than I expected. I always
thought they were just a coppery color, but it looks like it’s going to be more complex.

This one should grow up to look like Frick…

…and I think this one will look like Flappy.

Those little puffy-headed Don King chicks sure are cute.

A Delaware keeps herself clean

This is the free rare chick, and looks to be a Dominique.
If it is, it’ll look almost identical to our Plymouth Barred Rocks (the speckled ones).

Can we has some scratch now?

The rising star herself.

Cock in the sun.

Is the food guy looking this way?

FOOD MAN! FOOD MAN!

NO NEW FOOD IN BOWL! YOU HAS FOOD?

FOOD?

PLEASE LETS US HAS THE FOOD!

Pigs will scratch themselves on anything handy.

A spot I tilled outside the pig yard for corn, beans, and melons.
The post/hole in the foreground is for water that’s supposed to be installed today.

Compost ready to go in the garden soon.

The first peach blossom of the year.

The peach trees are ready to wake up.

As are the plum trees. The apple trees are still mostly dormant.

The garden has been tilled twice, and is ready for compost, fertilizer, and seeds.

The daffodils are busting out all over.

Mister Boogers is ready for spring.

Proof that I am loved: