5 Chicks and 2 Web-Footed Friends

Cracker our first Sultan chicken died last summer.

I order 5 chicks, 4 Sultans and 1 Easter Egger (a green egg layer) from mypetchicken.com.

 I told my sisters and neighbor that I was thinking about going by Tractor Supply and adding a couple of ducklings to my new flock.  

I was considering not telling my dear husband about the ducks.  But Monday night, I dreamed that plan actually exploded in my face.  In the dream I received 3 ducklings in the mail along with 4 very strange looking eggs.  First the ducklings were about the size of a dime or more like giant flees.  They immediately met their demise.  As I picked up each bulging color-changing egg, it exploded in my face.  So Tuesday when I woke up, I decided it would be best to run the idea of getting a couple of ducklings pass Don.  I told him I thought about just getting a couple of ducks and seeing what he said, but I had an awful dream and decided to ask him about getting the ducks.  He didn't respond. So I went outside and started gardening.  When I came in a couple of hours later; he asked me what I would name the ducks.  So therefore, we are getting a couple of ducks!  First I said Daffy and Donald. But Daffy is too negative, so I changed to Daisy and Donald; but of course those names may have to be adjusted when their gender becomes apparent.  Then we had to discuss what kind of duck.  I wanted a Pekin (okay I actually like the Aflac duck) and of course Don wanted a Mallard.  So we settled on one of each.


Well, my husband's name is Donald.  We were newly married when we went to his 20th Class Reunion and all the guys kept coming up, slapping him on the back and asking, "How are you doing, Duck?"  I could not understand this and I could tell by his face that he hated it.  After half a dozen guys had greeted him like that, I had to ask him why.  Of course, it was because of Donald Duck.  I was never really a fan of that cartoon, so it had not occurred to me that that was why.

The chicks in the box they were mailed in.

Today, I picked up the chicks from the Post Office and the 2 ducklings from Tractor Supply. 




 I will wait until the grandsons return from the beach to discuss all the names with them.  
That usually doesn't go the way I would choose, because grandsons have a way of getting their choice.

The Easter Egg chick is the brown striped one.

Tentatively being called Donald and Daisy.  Awaiting Grandsons' approval.

Placed an Order for Chicks

I currently have 6 hens and 1 rooster.  Two of the hens were hatched here, and are half Copper Maran and half Plymouth Barred Rock.  They turned out to be a beautiful black with a green sheen.  But I am still unhappy with the loss of my little Sultan hen, Cracker.  So when My Pet Chicken http://www.mypetchicken.com/  sent out the e-mail that spring orders would begin on Dec. 1; I placed an order for 4 Sultan hens and 1 Easter Egger hen. My Pet Chicken is perfect for my mini urban farm, because I can order as few as 3, day old chicks and they arrive at my house by mail.   I've even bought 2 coops from them.

I only have one hen that lays a green egg, so since the shipping is so high and it is the same if I ordered 3 or 5 chicks, I went ahead and ordered 5.  It was kind of sad to have just one Sultan.  I always thought Cracker must be lonely.  She was much smaller than the others and could not see very well.  When she was out of the coop, she always sat under something like the back of the coop or a bush.  Sometimes the chickens who were not raised with her would peck her in the head.  So when the new chicks arrive the end of March, I will keep them in a coop by themselves.

The little Sultan was always the friendliest chicken.  The boys loved holding her and even road her around in a wagon.