New pets

Bruce and I were in Missoula at Murdochs right when the baby chicks came in!  This is an event! People line up outside the doors waiting to come in and buy their chicks. They usually sell out in a matter of hours.  We'd been researching a few different breeds, and were intrigued by Sex Link pullets.  Supposedly, you can tell male versus female when they are chicks- greatly decreasing the odds of getting a rooster.  And another rooster, we do NOT need!  (not that I don't love the two roosters we have... but a third rooster is just asking for trouble!)  AND Sex Links are good laying hens, with a mild disposition. When we saw they had Sex Link chicks, we decided to buy two of them.

And so.....

I now introduce to you...

Livvy (short for Olivia)

and

Ebby (short for Ebony)

They will be kept separate from our big hens and roosters until they're almost fully grown-probably Sept. They won't be producing eggs until this Oct. or Nov.

They sure are sweet.  AND we're supposed to be getting 6 Barred Rock chicks sometime soon. Chelsey says they are the luckiest little chicks in the world!  :)

These babies should start laying eggs just about the time our old hens stop completely. Even now, with 7 hens, we only get an average of 2 eggs a day. They've earned their retirement, but Bruce and I can't imagine buying eggs from the store.  We're hoping this is a good solution.