First Animals Arrive!

Wild Type Ranch officially became a livestock farm with our first batches of chicks!

Arrival Details

March 18: 30 laying pullets arrived - 18 Golden Lace Wyandottes and 12 Delawares. Both are dual purpose breeds that are stouter than straight laying breeds.

April 1: 70 meat birds arrived (Standard Cornish Cross).

Care and Training

On arrival, Justin gently lifted each chick from their box and dipped their beaks in water twice to ensure they got a drink. We did 2 am checks on the brooder temperature during cold March nights the first week. Daily 'sticky butt' checks were performed, gently cleaning blocked vents with warm water and a soft toothbrush.

Foraging Training

We enriched the chicks' environment to prepare them for life as pastured birds by adding logs and bark (which they pecked at immediately), kitchen greens, fresh grass, lady beetles, and earthworm pieces.