January 30, 2017

The Araucana

The Araucana is our top selling breed here at Woodville Ace Hardware. This bird is truly unique in many ways. The beauty of this chicken is in the eyes of the beholder. They were developed in Chili in the early 1900's by a professor of animal sciences. They were bred from birds kept for centuries by the Mapuche, a native Chilean tribe.  Lacking a tail and their earlobes are partly hidden by an “earring” or tuft of feathers. Some have a ruff of feathers around their neck called a beard. I have heard them called “rumpless” but have also seen these adult hens and roosters with a smaller than normal rump and beautiful blue green tail feathers. These traits come from the crossing of the South American Collonca with a Quetero, both laid egg colors from baby blue to green.

 

The Araucana can lay eggs of many colors, mostly green or blue, but occasionally pink, yellow and shades of brown. This is how hatcheries came up with the term “Easter Egger”. They first showed up in the US in the 1970's and have become a favorite chicken for their eggs and hardiness. These strange chickens are known for their long egg laying season. They range in body colors from silvery white, brown to tan, with black, blue, or green and sometimes white in their wings and plumage. Their colors are as unique as their eggs. When you see a coop of these different colored chicks it is fun to pick several of different colors, even the small chicks can have tufts and ear muffs. As adults they have small combs, small or absent wattles, both bright red. 

Another chicken bred from the Chilean breeds is the Ameraucana an improved breeding to produce mostly true blue eggs, not to be confused with the Araucana but with the same origins.

SURPRISE! Chicks came a day early!!!! This morning the store came alive with baby chicks and thanks to a great team we had them all snugged into the brooder by mid-morning. All special orders are called and we have lots of beautiful baby chicks ready for you. These chicks are all $2.99. We offer a small 5 pound bag of medicated Start-N-Grow for $3.99 to get you started. Come in and we can get your set up with lights, feeders, waterers, boxes and such. If you can’t make it in today we can take your pre-paid order over the phone and we will hold your chicks for 24 hours.

 

January 19, 2017

One week and our store will be filled with the chirp of baby chicks! Our first delivery will hatch on January 25 and should be here on Thursday January 26^th. We are taking Pre-Paid special orders at this time for the first delivery and any chicks that we have preordered. If you want to make a special order, please come into the store or call, we can take your order over the phone. The Chick List can be found in the left hand column of this blog. ALL special orders are Pre-Paid! You will be called when the chicks arrive and you will have 24 hours to pick up your chicks. After the 24 hours we release the HOLD so that these new baby chicks can be sold. If you miss your pick up date/time you can wait for the next delivery or get a refund. This policy is to prevent  over- crowding in the brooder, and helps us give the chicks best of care. If you have a rare breed or a wish list of chicks please let us know. If you want to be called when chicks arrive we have a Will Call list. Read our policy and procedures in the left hand column, if you have any questions please let us know.

What do your new baby chicks need?

Lets start with the basics. They will need containment, warmth, food and water. Your chicks are newborns, They only hatched one day before they arrived by mail to the Woodville Ace Hardware brooder. We recommend that if you are buying a chick as a pet please buy two, only because they get lonely. And the more the happier. For eggers plan on at maturity an egg a day.

 

 Lets get started!

 

If you are buying chicks in the cooler months, we recommend that you keep them inside to protect them from the cold and temperature changes. Their brooder should be kept at a constant temperature until they have feathers to protect them.

 

-YOU WILL NEED THE FOLLOWING ITEMS BEFORE OR WHEN YOU BRING YOUR  CHICKS HOME

 

• BROODER BOX
  A box big enough to hold the number of chicks you purchase with plenty of room for them to move around. Best to start with something they can live in for the next 6 weeks as they grow. And it must be cleaned daily. Your box should be made of plastic or wood with an open top. Cover the top with wire or grating protects them and as they grow it prevents them from flying out.
   

• LIGHT
  We recommend a 125 watt white or red flood light (incandescent or halogen) for warmth depending on the size of your box. Recommend 90 degrees inside the box at all times. The light should be protected by a hood or shield for safety. If you are using wire or grating on top of your box the light should sit at one end, so the chicks can get away from it, if it is too hot. This light is to be left on at all times .But, be sure to watch to see if your chicks are too hot, they will escape the light or too cold, they will huddle right under it. 
   

• WATER
  We recommend small jar chicken waterers. These fit in a small box and can be easily refilled and cleaned. When your chicks are small we recommend an additive of antibiotics (tetracycline) for the first week to keep your chicks healthy.
   

• FOOD
  Start and Grow chick feed (Purina) comes in 25 and 50 pound bags, medicated and non-medicated. During chick season we offer 5 pound bags to get you started. You can use a jar type feeder or a tray feeder that fits into your box, similar to the waterer. Fill and clean the feeder daily. Keep food for them at all times.
   

• BEDDING
  Newspaper or card board makes daily clean up easier. Wood shavings or bedding can also be used but must be changed often. Chicks are messy and as they grow, their mess grows. Keeping the brood clean and dry keeps your chicks health and happy.
   

• HANDLING
  They are cute, cuddly and fun to watch and play with, but like human babies they need their rest. Protect them from the family cat and dog at all times. Wash your hands before and after handling chicks.
   
  -FAQ'S:
   
  How long do I keep them in the house?
   
  -Depending on the weather conditions they should be kept inside till they have feathers, about 6 weeks.
  Start staging them outside in a shaded area during warm weather and gradually increase their outside time till they can be put into an outside coop.
   
  -We recommend a booklet, Managing your Small Flock, by Purina Poultry Feed. Pick one up in our store.

Our new Chicken Blog is under construction!

It is that TIME!! Chicks are coming!! Our first hatchlings from Mount Healthy are scheduled January 26th! Get your brooders ready and stay posted here.