Bring on the baby chicks

By Angie Bicker
Lifestyle Editor

June 17, 2009 10:25 am

— In my wildest dreams, I could have never dreamt anything cooler than seeing my baby chicks for the first time. I am the proud mama of 26 pearl white leghorns and one Golden Polish. As a free gift with my order, I received one rare, exotic chick. Since she is brown, with a little tuft on top of her head, she really stands out among the other yellow puffs. When she grows up, she will be quite the looker.
The days leading up to their arrival were filled with anticipation and a little anxiety. Like most first-time mothers, I worried about them arriving safely from the hatchery. My construction crew and I finished my chicks’ condo on Sunday. By the end of the day, I had their little brooder set up complete with heat lamp, pine wood shavings, two feeders and two waterers.
On Monday morning, I anxiously awaited for a phone call from my local postmaster. Then around 11 a.m., I received the happy news. “Hello Angie. Your babies are here.” I can’t tell you how relieved I was. When I entered the post office, around lunch time, I could hear my little girls waiting for me. That was very cool. It was a little strange to carry something live out of the post office. Most of my packages don’t cheep incessantly and move around.
When I got home, I called my neighbor, Julie, who also raises chickens, for a little help with my girls. We had to take each chick and dip her beak into the water so she would know how to drink. We also introduced each one to their food too. I can’t tell you how much I am living the chicken dream.
I finally introduced Cordy to her new little sisters. I didn’t know quite what to expect since she has been an only child for so long. I was very proud of Cordy — she didn’t even bark at them. She just peered over the little cardboard pen looking around at all those little yellow peeping puffs. I have given Cordy a lot of nicknames over the years including Cordoramma, Cordolini and Cordums and now she has another one — chicky mama. Lucky dog, huh?
I checked on my little girls off and on during the afternoon to see how they were doing. After seven long years of waiting, I couldn’t believe they were actually there. My aunt Marilyn and uncle Donnie came over to check them out as well as my very large- and out-of-control garden. I can honestly say, no one will ever go hungry at my house. My aunt also told me she has been saving egg cartons, which I will happily use later on. I can’t tell you how good that first scrambled egg will taste.
A co-worker at the Clinton Herald, Kevin, jokingly said that my friends and co-workers should have given me a baby shower. I think that would have been a great idea. There would have been one item listed on the baby registry — a 50-pound bag of start and grow feed. So, keep that in mind for the next time.
Last night before I bidded them goodnight, I just sat in the chicken house and watched them for about 30 minutes. They are so funny when they are little. If one would get curious and peck at their cardboard pen, then all of them would rush over and do the same thing. Apparently, peer pressure is a universal thing. I have to admit that watching my baby chicks was better than watching TV.
I am looking forward to our journey together — my chicks and I. Like the quote in the movie, “Jerry McGuire,” my chicks complete me.

Angie Bicker is the lifestyles editor with the Clinton Herald. She has been with the Herald since 2001.