Egg-specting Greatness: Meet the New Recruits!

Last Tuesday, we welcomed 2,040 day-old Lohmann Brown chicks to the farm. They’re currently snug and toasty in the brooder house, where they’ll stay for about 8 weeks before they’re old enough to move out to pasture.

The team prepped the brooder with fresh shavings, water, and chick starter feed before the chicks arrived. On Tuesday, we all pitched in to unload them from the van and settle them into their new home for the next couple of months. It’s crucial to make sure every chick finds food and water in those first few hours — hydration is essential to get them off to a strong start.

For the first few weeks, the chicks will stay warm inside the fully enclosed shed under heat lamps. They’re checked regularly to prevent pack-ups and make sure they’re eating, drinking, and thriving. This early stage is all about building strength, monitoring growth, and helping them adjust to their surroundings.

As they grow, so does their need for space. At around 4–5 weeks of age, once they’ve feathered up and can regulate their body temperature, we’ll open the bottom sides of the shed, giving them access to a larger enclosed outdoor area. This lets them roam, scratch, dust-bathe, and start behaving like proper little chickens! It’s always a bittersweet moment — they transform from adorable fluffballs into curious, feathered teens (with a fair bit of cheek!).

At this point, our oldest dog Betty joins the team to help protect the “small flock.” Nearing retirement, Betty takes on a lighter workload now — and while the chicks need some time to get used to her, they usually come around quickly.

By 8–10 weeks, they’ll be ready to move out to their new pasture. This will be their forever home on the farm, and it’s perfectly suited to support their next stage of life — adolescence, and soon enough, laying. That move takes all hands on deck (and often happens after dark)… but we’ll save that story for another post!