Chick Day 2026

This is it!

After months of preparation, selling our home, moving to the country, building equipment, learning from my mistakes on the first batch of chicken, our “Founding Members” batch is finally here and started.

We’ve invested about $10,000 of our own money to get here and help from our founding members deposits to secure the feed.

It’s with both a sigh of relief and anticipation that we are looking ahead.

Mistakes are part of the process

Although we were much more prepared for the second batch (the one that we are selling) we still managed to learn a thing or two on the day off.

We were all excited and happy to receive all of those chicks. Brooder had fresh bedding, the lights were installed, temperature regular was set in, etc.

But when we moved the chicks, they kept falling and getting stuck in the waterer. I had forgotten that my new waterers were WAY too big for day old chicks and that if I didn’t find a way to keep jumping in, some would die of pasty butts or hypothermial.

First we tried to cut donuts out of cardboard…which failed. Then we boiled rocks from our driveway before adding it to the waterers. To our relief, it worked!

The next week is critical

The first 72hrs is where most of the mortality come in. Birth defects, management issues, etc.

If we can make it past the first week without too much mortality, we will be able to take a sigh of relief.

Until then, we check every few hours to make sure that the bedding is bone dry, no amonia builds up, plenty of water and food and that the temperature is just right.

The Blessing Of The Flock

All of this is very humbling. We are learning that as much as we can prepare, plan and control some variables, we are ultimately not in control 100% of the outcome.

We are not masters. We are stewarts.

And so we prayed together.

Here are the collects:

The Collect for Fruitful Seasons

O GRACIOUS Father, who openest thine hand and fillest all things living with plenteousness; We beseech thee of thine infinite goodness to hear us, who now make our prayers and supplications unto thee. Remember not our sins, but thy promises of mercy. Vouchsafe to bless the lands and multiply the harvests of the world. Let thy breath go forth that it may renew the face of the earth. Show thy loving-kindness, that our land may give her increase; and so fill us with good things that the poor and needy may give thanks unto thy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Collect for the Blessing of the Animal

O Almighty God, Creator and Sustainer of all things, who didst bring forth the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air for thy glory: We humbly beseech thee to look with favor upon these thy creatures. Send down thy heavenly benediction upon them, that they may be preserved from all disease, predation, and harm. Grant that they may thrive in the abundance of thy creation, fulfilling the purpose for which thou hast made them; and give us grace to be faithful and merciful stewards of thy bounty, to the honor and praise of thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

This Is Only The Beginning

We are only a few days into this batch and there is still a long way to go.

There will be more mistakes, more lessons, more early mornings and probably a few moments where we wonder what we got ourselves into.

But this is what we wanted.

We wanted to build something with our hands, involve our children, care for the land and raise food in a way that we could be proud of. Not perfectly, but honestly and faithfully.

We are deeply grateful to our Founding Members who trusted us before there was much to see. Your deposits helped us secure the feed, purchase equipment and take the first real step toward making this farm possible.

We do not know exactly how everything will turn out.

But the chicks are here, the brooder is warm, the waterers are working and the journey has officially begun.

Now we keep showing up, doing the work and trusting God with the parts we cannot control.