The 50 new Buff Orpington chicks arrived this morning from the hatchery!
I love the arrival of the new chicks. We get the early morning call from our local post office “we have a box of chicks for you!”
![Box of chicks](https://indigohousehistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Box-of-chicks-300x168.jpg)
I check that the brooder space is ready; feeders full, waterer full, heat up to the 90s. When they get home the first thing to do is to take each little puff ball of a chick and dip its beak in the water and the feeder to show them where to go and release under the lamp.
![chicks get first drink](https://indigohousehistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/chicks-get-first-drink-168x300.jpg)
Some peeps are smarter than others and immediately begin drinking, eating and skittering around. they become the leaders for the slower guys – one can see the pecking order began to form even at such an early age.
![chicks settle in under heat lamp](https://indigohousehistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/chicks-settle-in-under-heat-lamp-1024x576.jpg)
But the peeps are tired and often within minutes of drinking and eating they fall asleep on their feet!