Things you need to know in caring for your new baby chick:

BROODER BOX
1. You will need a brooder box. It can be as simple as a storage container. You can use sand, 1/4" hardware cloth or pine wood shavings for the floor of the brooder. Shavings are our preferred method. Shavings can be dusty but absorbent.

HEATING DEVICE
2. The chicks will need heat. A broody hen will work but if you don’t have one of those around, you should probably get a heat lamp or a ceramic bulb heater to keep the bottom of the brooder for chicks as close as possible to 95° F for the first week. You can decrease the temperature by 5° per week. Once they have a good portion of their feathers you can move them outside. A good rule of thumb, if you are outside in a light jacket and get cold, chances are the chicks will get cold too. You might want to provide an outside source of heat or wait to move them out of your garage. Make sure brooder lamps are secured and away from flammable material.

FEED & WATER
3. Feed & water. The chicks require a 22-24% starter and a water dish that they won’t fall in or try to go swimming. As they grow, please read our guide to raising and feeding juvenile pullets. Since there are numerous feeds available, you will need to follow manufacturers guidelines for appropriate feeding. Once they are laying you can try your hand at things like growing meal worms or fermenting feed to supplement their diet. We do a combination of pasture, pellets, and fodder system for our birds.

KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR LEG ISSUES
4. Watch for leg issues. Chicks are very resilient but if you notice any leg issues you can let us know right away so it can be fixed. Leg issues can be caused by a variety of reasons, the number one reason we've found is slippery surfaces such as brooder floors that can cause slipped hocks or tendons or splayed leg. It’s also important to keep feed and water readily available.

BIO SECURITY
5. Simple bio security. As a precaution you should wash your hands prior to handling chicks and after. As irresistibly fluffy and cute as they are, you should not let them run around your house or snuggle with them. Try not to track anything into their area. If you have the flu or cold, you should wear a mask around your birds.

​PASTY BUM
6. Tips on pasty butt. If your chicks get pasty bums from fluctuating temperature or stress related to shipping or handling, you can add play sand to the brooder to fix the issue. Check daily and don't let the accumulation of dropping prevent the chick from going potty. I don't know the "science behind" what it is about the sand that resolves the issue, but I do know it works. Additional cleaning may be necessary but not likely.

MORE..
Another tip: chicks aren't like dogs and cats, you won't notice them going number one, or little puddles of pee in the brooder box. You will only see droppings. No cause for concern.

More information is readily available online or by sending us an email.

If you have any questions or suggestions for this publication please contact us.

​Email: springcreekheritage@outlook.com
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DOWNLOADABLE SHOPPING LIST:

 Have you ever wondered how to get more flavor out of your eggs, or whether the chicken or the egg came first? For those of you looking for something to do this weekend, our farm manager Matt Nelson is booked for a chicken workshop at Christianson’s Nursery in Mount Vernon, WA.
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Matt will be speaking about chick rearing and raising backyard chickens in the Pacific Northwest. He will also discuss the different plants that can help your chickens thrive in your garden. Matt raises some of the finest breeds of poultry and table birds outside of Europe. His knowledge in raising poultry has come from his love of preserving for future generations as well as years studying and refining his methods.

This class is for both the beginner as well as seasoned poultry keeper. Depending on attendance, Matt will cater the conversation to best fit the group's needs. As he learns about you, he will customize his talk for the majority of the group making it a fun and a learning experience. He will share a few of his secrets and I assure that you’ll learn something new!

Pre-booking is required. Please contact Christianson’s Nursery to reserve, 360-466-3821.  We hope to see you there! Here is a link to Christianson's Nursery and Greenhouse's classes and workshops page:  https://www.christiansonsnursery.com/events/classes-workshops/

​We are grateful to be featured in the fall-winter edition of Bellingham Alive! We are so thankful for this opportunity to share about the farm and our chickens. A visit from their editor-in-chief Cocoa Laney and her partner was one of the highlights of our year at Spring Creek Heritage Farms! It was quite motivating to meet someone who is truly passionate about Bellingham and all that it offers. The enthusiasm for local food, products, events, farming and nature was quite inspiring. The way they happily helped pick ingredients from the field and then enjoyed the meal we prepared for them was truly heartwarming. One thing about Cocoa is she isn't just any editor, she’s a passionate editor! She has made our hard work and endeavors come to life on paper.  We do our best to provide our customers with quality chicks, poultry breeding programs, sustainable seasonal vegetables, fruits, and flavorful chicken for your table.  

The article is entitled "Chickens Raised With Knowledge, Care, and Fresh Air"; page 109 of the November-December 2021 edition of Bellingham Alive! Please grab a copy from a local store.  It’s also available online, here is the link to the article on their website: Chickens Raised With Knowledge, Care, and Fresh Air | Bellingham Alive

The Hungarian Yellow is a new release here at Spring Creek Heritage Farms for the Summer of 2021.  Please click here to read more about this rare breed.

These somewhat flighty birds are related to the extremely popular Svarthöns (Swedish Black Hen).  We imported these last year to the USA and continue to add genetics from other hard working NPIP farms to our flock to create the strongest and hardiest layers possible.  While the typical Swedish black hen can only be black, the Blå Höna produces stunning variations of blue genetics.  This is the most cost effective bird that we keep next to our imported Appenzeller Spitzhaubens.  Time and time again we are excited to offer ultimate backyard chickens! 

These birds carry the same type of fibromelanosis gene as the Ayam Cemani or Silkies.  The bones and intestines are a blue/ black color.  Our birds were developed North of the border in conditions similar to their homeland and are very hardy.  Our birds have been selected for the darkest, but the majority of selection has been made for winter production traits. These are our highest producer of winter eggs here in WA State. The hens produce approximately 200+  white eggs per year and birds weigh between 3.5-6.0 lbs.  The amazing thing about this chicken is that it produces 3 stunning colored birds in one depending on how you pair them!  See chart below:

The Blue gene theory according to Gregor Mendel's laws of inheritance

Blue x Blue = 50% Blue, 25% Black, 25% Splash
Blue x Black  = 50% Blue, 50% Black
Blue x Splash = 50% Blue, 50% Splash
Black x Black  = 100% Black
Splash x Splash = 100% Splash
Splash x Black = 100% Blue

These lines were originally bred out of 2 "sports" ( or genetic variations) from large FM breeding programs. It has been developed into a desirable pool of affordable genetics for the masses. Some mulberry combs and other traits may exist. We have also found a pathway in which black can be switched off to allow red pigments to come through allowing for some very gorgeous fowl. 
Other cross bred varieties can be found and are known by other names such as Chinese Black, Asian Black chicken, Blue Fibro, Swedish Blues, and several other monikers.​

Spitzhaubens were originally imported from Switzerland.  They have a unique comb and an ultra exotic forward facing crest on the top of their head. Chickens with mohawks are awesome! We've raised multiple lines of Spitz, including the American stock rumored to be from the original imports.  As we furthered our breeding programs we acquired European lines as well as breeding stock in numerous colors from Canada. Each has their own qualities. The American is noted for its hardiness, the European has some inbreeding issues but are gorgeous when you get a bird that conforms to the standards. Our new Canadian imports are the most unique given the majority have new colors not yet found in Europe or the USA. Golden, blues, silvers, birchens, white, chamois, black and some colors we are in the process of sorting. 

Since our birds come in standard as well as non standard colors we are always looking for more breeders.  We are now in the process of selecting the traits we like the best without compromising productivity for our breeding programs.  These birds will lay a medium white egg about 3-4 times a week irregardless of the weather. Our 2018 breeding program are currently our best layers next to the Bla Hona. We have no lighting or heat and are currently smack dab in the middle of a Pacific Northwest winter.

Appenzeller Spitzhaubens prefer to be on range or bug hunting in a forest but do tolerate confinement.  One of our relatives raises them in the Colorado mountains and has found them not as winter hardy as marketing on the world wide web would suggest. A positive note is that the small v shaped comb is less likely to freeze. You cannot expect these birds to thrive if you just let them loose on the plains of North Dakota in January, you actually cant expect that of any domesticated fowl. If you've worked outdoors in North Dakota (or live there) you know exactly what I'm talking about.

The birds we raise are likely to command much more than our advertised pricing.  In some instances, we have found people charging up to 99.00 for a bird. (Das isch mir e chli z'tüür.)  Is it possible that some imports of Spitzhaubens have evolved to lay copious amounts of golden eggs and can fluently speak Swiss-German and English? Not likely. You may ask why ours are inexpensive by comparison. The simple fact is, we have some of the largest flocks in North America and we only sell them as straight run.  We also have hopes that this offering re-invigorates the enthusiastic poultry person to collect some of these rare breeds in their flocks.

Our birds are raised the old fashioned way on spring and summer pastures by the hundreds where we will select the best and home the rest.  These are a good choice for the fancier and the backyarder looking for a bird that can escape predators. It is also an all-around productive, happy, and lively chicken.

We are currently flock breeding multiple groups with assistance from our veterinarian and other poultrymen and do not take specific orders for colors. We do our best to send you a variety and can almost guarantee at this price you will order them again and again. They don't lay golden eggs, or have a Swiss accent but we are sure that you wont be disappointed.

Feel free to give us a yodel and place your order for the 2019 spring season!