The Chicks Are Coming! The Chicks Are Coming!!

Its almost SPRING!!! And for us that means new life. New chicks are ordered and on their way! As I've written before my hatchery of choice is McMurray. I love the flocks I get with them. Great birds and awesome customer service! But, I did go a little different. Usually I've been getting a dual purpose bird. The Orphingtons. Buff are my fav. Their beautiful and large birds that dress really well. They're also great mommas and layers! The cocks aren't that aggressive which is important when you raise a lot for meat.

This year I ordered their bargain assortments. I wanted a flock with lots of different chickens. I chose the brown egg layers. Which are Black Australorps, Lt. Brahmas, Dark Cornish, Black and White Giants, Buff and White Orpingtons, New Hampshire, Rhode Island Reds, Barred, White, Partridge, Buff Rocks, Delaware, Sussex, Turkens, White, Silver Laced, & Columbian Wyandottes, Red Star and Black Star. From this list you get at least 5 different.

Then, we ordered their BBQ special. Which are the Cornish X Rocks and or Cornish Roasters. These are fast growing with the best feed ratio.

The price difference on buying the bargain assortments vs a straight run of Orphingtons is Orphingtons: $2.06/per bird and brown eggs layers: $49.75/ 25 birds BBQ: $39.50/ 25 birds. But this way I'll have the opportunity to see the other temperaments of the different chickens. Laying and setting habits etc. Maybe I'll have a new favorite. Or maybe I'll stick with Ophingtons next year.

Our order is placed and they should be here around Valentines!! I'm so excited. Now our geese, ducks and turkeys we'll get from the local feed store. Just because theres no way I'd need enough to fill an order. We'll get maybe 4 ducks, 2 turkeys and a couple of geese. McMurray has a Barnyard combo that's a pretty good deal for a combo of turkey/ducks/geese. Three different ways. Either 16, 15 or 12. But you can't choose the breed. And I wont change my preferences. I love my toulouse geese and I favor the Broad Breasted Bronze turkey and Jumbo Pekin ducks.

Now that that's done and on their way, we have a lot of work ahead of us with preparing the garden. Maybe this will be our year!! I've tried and failed the previous planting seasons but I will not give up. My lemon tree gave fruit this year!! Tiny but yummy! Keeping out the varmits is going to be my only goal! I'm also thinking of planting in buckets like I explained here. If I can find enough buckets! I'm such a procrastinator, I should of been on the lookout all this time for buckets.

Also at the end of this month we'll be getting 3 pigs, if their ready. I'll post pics of our new arrivals!!