When a 360 area code call came up on my cell phone I almost answered, “OMG DO YOU HAVE MY CHICKS???” I decided to go with a nice sane “Hello” instead.
And here they are!
We all find them quite fascinating.
Chick FAQs:
Are you going to eat them?
Despite the fact that they are exactly the same size as a McNugget, no. They’re pets. Pets that produce food (eggs).
What kind did you get?
Two Buff Orpingtons, one Rhode Island Red, and one Black Star. All breeds chosen for heavy bodies (i.e. cold resistance), calm demeanor, and tan/brown eggs.
Where do they live now?
In a brood box that I built from scrap lumber. I call it the Chicken Fortress. Chicks have to be kept warm for the first two months, until their adult feathers grow in.
Then where will they live?
In a chicken tractor. A chicken tractor is basically a mobile coop that you can drag around. This gives them better variety of feed, and helps keep disease and bacteria from building up the way it would in a stay-put chicken yard.
Are you building the tractor yourself?
That’s the plan! Chicken tractors cost about $1500 pre-built.
Are you using plans that I can borrow?
Err, no. Plans cost between $20 and $50. I’ll be drafting up some plans myself, with pen and paper. You’re welcome to a copy, though!
I’ll try to remember to post it online. After I, you know. Draw it up.
Do chickens get sick?
It seems like as long as they’re well-kept, chickens don’t get sick very often. Aside from plumage, humans haven’t messed with chicken biology very much. They’re pretty sturdy creatures.
What happens if they get sick?
I’ll take them to a vet.
I mean, really really sick?
I’ll take them to a vet to be put to sleep. And cry a lot. Seriously, people, I’m not going to eat them. They’re not for eating.
Have you chosen names?
I picked out four names of First Ladies: Martha, Abigail, Dolly, and Harriet. I haven’t decided which chick gets which name.
How long until they can go outside?
They should start getting their adult feathers in about 3 weeks. After that, it’s just a matter of gradually introducing them outside, a little bit more every day. It depends on how quickly their feathers grow in, and what the weather is like.
Where did you get your chicken information?
As with all things where the quality of information matters, I relied on books (instead of the internet). I read several, but Chickens In Your Backyard: A Beginner’s Guide has been my favorite so far.
awwwwww, so cute! they really are a lot of fun. Hope none are roosters, though…
No roosters, just hens!
It’s nice that you’re naming your chickens after a convicted felon, an awesome country singer, my dog and someone named Abigail. But wouldn’t it have been more fun to choose a theme of some sort? You could name your chickens after ALL my pets!
Fabulous names! I look forward to reading all about them and their fabulous coop!
You’re right! How about Clara, Harriet, Adah, and Waylon (she’s “confused”).
I thought about giving them “chicken” names. Nugget, Little, Robot, etc. But that seemed kinda weak.
Now me, I’d name ‘em Ranch, Caesar, Chipotle, and Thai.
Er, not for eating. Missed that part…
How about Scrambled, OverEasy, Fried, and Poached?
You’re going to have so much fun watching them! I always miss our chicks when they get big enough to go live outside. They’re more fun than Sims!
We *ahem* DO eat our chickens, so we don’t name them. It’s really hard to enjoy a big forkful of “Sweetie-kins”…
I’d probably name them “One” “Two” “Three” and “Four” so I’d cry less when one of the many predators in my area (SRSLY: hawks, coyotes, bobcats, feral cats, loose dogs…) gets one of them.
I look forward to seeing them grow and produce. I thought you needed a rooster in order to get eggs.
I’m so excited that you have chickens!!! I’ve had some experience with my country friends’ chickens, but sadly I can’t have any in the big city where I live. As soon as I retire though, I’m getting some.
Yours are so cute, love the names you gave them; the cats are so funny – fascinated.
My farmer friend said he had a rooster because they lay more eggs, but I’m not sure if it was just because he wanted a rooster, kind of a guy thing. Both roosters he had were mean bastards, attacked if you got close to them. He’d be laughing, telling me to kick it in the chest to make it stop. Very funny (not!) The eggs were yummy though.
Great job on the chicken fortress too.
As you can see I’m way more interested in your chickens than your Simms. Post all details and plenty of pictures!
My other post looks like I think the roosters lay eggs. I know that it’s the hens, the theory is the HENS lay more when they have the company of a rooster.
I can’t get over how cute they are. Are they eating ketchup packets in that one twitter picture?
If they lived in my house, they would die from the kissing, unless my asthma killed me first.
See? I told y’all the arcane device was a cat toy.
I would eat them when they got too old to lay eggs. I’m brutal that way. Besides, a well-kept, elderly laying hen is one of the tastiest things on this earth for soup, casseroles, slow-cooker.
But if you want to limit yourself to their unborn embryos, that’s fine.
No roosters needed, thankfully! The ladies drop eggs regardless of whether they’re fertilized or not.
The ketchup packets were just for seasoning.
Kmkat – NOT FOR EATING.
Eating your pets babies. Niiiice.
Cute peeps!