Bumblebee was a special Polish chicken. She was part of the 3rd set of Chicks (pullets) ordered for ours and your entertainment in the Covid lockdown. Her breed was considered inferior to others and she was a survivor in our order #3 against that which inadvertently included hyperbred super Chickens that didn’t seem to need sleep and ate nonstop…

She was a White Crested Black Polish pullet hen. Her speedy reflexes helped her stay a step ahead of the Hercules chicks.

It wasn’t many hours before her Polish sisters were in trouble. Their aversion to food, not water got them off balance. They needed spa treatments for their fluffy bodies. Meanwhile, Bumblebee ate and drank water equally and didn’t have those issues. She was always wired and supported her sister “Sweetie Pie”, another Polish, that peeped nonstop for 48 hrs, as her belly had indigestion while it grew and matured. A normal Chicken would have fed her to the lions, but she stuck to her family and allowed her to complain it out.

Meanwhile, the Hercules chicks got into trouble pecking another Buffed Lace Polish sister, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”.

In short order, the chicks were separated and the brooder was split with 2 heat sources. Some readers may know what that meant. However, the quattro set owners knew also. They quickly setup their brooder and got ready to parent.

The quattro set, happy foster Mom and Dad appeared to collect their babies and off they went.

Meanwhile the Polish stayed with us till the batch #4 arrived.

Our random visitors were impressed! This 6 year old boy was beside himself as “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”, we let him giggle it out as Sweetie Pie balanced on his hand.

At 6:30 am, on the day the Polish ticked 4 weeks old, we got the call! Our 4th order of baby chickens had arrived at our local Post Office. We went to work preparing 2 more brooders.

We decided to prepare the brooders Before the set of 14 arrived. Our goal was to rehome 10 of them including the 3 month old Polish, on the day the chicks arrived. It was a tall request of 2 busy families that wanted them, in the Covid lockdown.

For the brooders, first we collected 2 rubbermaid containers, and then 2 heat sources.

Since Bumblebee and the 2 Buffed Lace Polish Chicks no longer needed their heater. They didn’t seem to mind losing it because daily practice flapping wings and hopping 3 feet at a time, dancing and bumping boossoms took up most of their day.

Mid morning, we had the triple brooders ready. I was ready for a morning work break and my shadow and I drove the 2 miles to the local Post Office. We were amazed at the additional COVID updates…They included plastic sheets and more distancing signs compared to last month.

We used our elbows to push door buttons open. I gave the Post Office lady named Jody my name, handed them ID and were provided a box of chirping delights. We were off to the car and couldn’t help but peek at them. We drove off and my Shadow hollered, “Slower Mom, they are babies!”

At a stop light, the shadow had an Americana Easter Egger in his palm…Naturally, I snapped a picture!

Upon arrival home, we introduced our 3rd set of chicks, to water. The shadow carefully developed a system to move those drinking to the 2nd container. Then, once they were all drinking, he moved eating and drinking back to the original container.

Then, it was time to sort. We had 8 types of chicks to sort for 3 different families. We had: Easter Egger, Salmon Favorelle, White Crested Polish, Buffed Lace Polish, Silver Laced Polish, Barred Rock, Silver Lace Wyandotte and Speckled Sussex.

We consulted the Hatchery web site to separate them. It was an exciting challenge to look at photos of their allowed colors. It took the shadow a while to figure out which was what type, but I was proud of his abilities. He discovered that we had a rare Silver Laced Polish in our set.

I texted the two families and crossed fingers that they would come soon. My wish came true and both confirmed they’d pick up chicks. Whew!

The 12 yr old, his brother and Dad came at 3pm and we encouraged him to consider a Salmon Favorelle, a French Breed for show. He was happy to trade a slated Polish and off they went.

Around 5pm, the 11 yr old came with his Dad to collect Bumblebee, the 2 Buffed Lace sisters and 4 day olds: Polish, French Salmon Favorelle, Barred Rock and Silver Laced Wyandotte.

It was a happy day!

We waved goodbye and a week later we got wind of status of Bumblebee The 3 Polish were having a blast free ranging! They headed out for grubbs in the morning and back to their Roost at night. They were grew so fast in just a week!

Overall, it was neat to raise the chicks and see them grow. We all needed a positive and interesting new source of news to follow. These babies provided that positive distraction that was much needed. We look forward to more smiles in the near future!