The Rent-A-Chicks all returned home safe and sound to the farm...Yes - all 35 of them. Every single one!
Nice to have the pitter patter and chirps of little peeps again. We are excited to watch the colors of this flock develop since we have added some rare heritage varieties to the bunch. Chocolate eggers (Welsummer), Easter eggers (Americana), and two different types of Brown Eggers - the gorgeous Silverlaced Wyndottes and our standby favorite New Hampshire Reds.
Judging from the feedback and smiles, All of the rent-a--chick participants had a great time. The chicks were happy and healthy too. Most were already testing their wings at the end of the two weeks and were trying to graduate out of the playpen by the end of it! Two weeks seemed to be the ideal time before they became ready to explore their big coop.
Lots of great stories were heard of kids being entertained for hours at a time by the chicks and a few peeps even got to visit school class rooms for show and tell.
We determined there were only a few things we needed to tweek about the rent-a-chick program - we will be doubling the shavings in the take home kit and adding a block of wood to lift the water and food off the floor to prevent shavings from getting in. The book really seemed to help give instructions and the parents were quick to mention - little to no pasty-bum issues!
Over the next few weeks the chicks will be growing out of their cute fluff and into their awkward teenage stage. They look more like little hawks than chickens at the moment. The momma hens are looking quite healthy and plump this spring and are enjoying their lush green pastures and spend their days hunting for bugs in the grass.
Soon the chicks will be developing into full feathered ladies like the big hens on the farm.
It takes 5 months from hatching to egg production so we are about 4 months away now.
That is great because the egg demand has gone up so much we have back orders accumulating!
Those girls better get crackin'!
I leave you with a view of the sun setting on the farm stand on a warm June evening.The next blog post will be showing off all the flowers that are on the verge of blooming. 
It's been really pretty weather and with some much needed rain, nice to see everything greening up again on the farm. A big thanks to all the Rent-A-Chick families. The chicks are all doing great! 
What a great program and how rewarding it must be for everyone. Kids and chicks are a great pair, both so adorable. Your farm is coming along beautifully. I hope that sometime hubby and I can drive down (from Warrenton VA) and visit you. Perhaps when the flowers are in full bloom.
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Lorie
Wasn't that rain nice yesterday? Tomorrow the heat wave starts again... I can't wait until we see all the flowers in bloom when we drive by you!
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