First Chicks of 2006

The first batch of chicks arrived on Wednesday evening. We got a call at about 6pm that they had come into the post office in Montrose, which is about 10 miles north of here. The postmaster said he'd leave them out on the dock and I ran up and got them. Just before chicks hatch they absorb the rest of the yolk, which makes it possible for them to go the first 3 days without any food or water. That makes it pretty convenient for them to get sent in the mail. Most of our chicks come from Quakertown, Pa and always arrive the day after they are sent. So far they have always arrived in great shape. These chicks go into a brooder for about 3 weeks before they are ready to go out on pasture in the field pens. Once they are out on pasture they get moved to fresh grass every day. They get about 70% of their nutrients from the grain ration we have made up for them. The other 30% comes from the grass and insects on the pasture. They are ready to process at about 8 weeks and dress out at about 5 pounds each.