Up until this year, we have depended on a local auction for laying hens.

We decided to be purposeful about what we wanted and order them as chicks.

AJ was thrilled to receive the call from the post office that our chicks were ready for pickup.

He immediately ran to the coop he and Dave prepared yesterday, removed the door, switched on the heat lights and filled the water jars.

Over the last year, this has served as a whey tank, calf hut, piglet home and now chick coop.

When he returned from the post office, he was beaming.

3 Turkens (Naked Necks)

3 Rhode Island Reds

3 Buff Rocks

12 Black Australorps

AJ is the chicken man.

He has taken on the responsibility of caring for these birds and will receive payment for each one that reaches laying age.

He’s one proud boy today.