Adoption day

So, what do you take to the store to purchase chickens, one might ask?  If you are a born and bred city slicker like me, NOTHING, but your purse and some super excited kids.  What else could you possibly need?  Happy Easter!! 
We invade Tractor Supply and head straight for the chicks.  The kids are running circles, screaming, "Get this one Mom!  No, get this one! Oh wait, these are cute!  Can we take these home?  Mom!! Mom!! "  I think you get the picture.
I, on the other hand, calming ask a more knowledgeable person who works at the store to please help us.  I believe these were my exact words.  "Hi there.  We would like to purchase some chickens.  I would like them to be good egg layers (that is the purpose, right?) and they need to be all girls.  Thank you."
Do you know who can purchase chicks?  ANYONE!  You don't need a special license, a special certificate showing you passed "How to raise chickens" class, a college degree in farming, NOTHING...just the strong desire to have chickens.  CRAZY!!  I think my inner warning signals might have been going off around this point, but being a smart and in tune individual I chose to ignore them.  
The wonderful lady was a God send.  I have to admit she amazed me..she had all the answers and all the questions...frankly I wanted to bring her home.  I have come to know her very well in the past couple of months.  I still think she is amazing!  (AL = amazing lady)
AL - Have you ever raised chickens before?
Me - No.
AL - Okay, well...you need to have food and water dishes.  We sell a starter kit, but the chicks out grow it fairly quickly.  I would recommend going for the bigger sizes and not worrying about trading the dishes out as the chickens grow.
Me - Okay.  Ummm..Son, you might need to go get a cart. 
AL - Now you need to think about feeding them.  Here is the baby chick feed.  I recommend the larger size bag, more cost effective.
About this time, my inner warning signals are shooting red flares but again I ignore them. 
I am thinking to myself, "Oh my! Holy cow! Hubby might shoot me.  Am I really doing this?  Where is my common sense?  MOM!!!!"
Me - Okay.  So this 50 lb bag should do it right?  Son, can you help me load this on the cart.  Daughter can you grab the 2 feeders? 
AL - What are you going to keep them in?  Is it plastic, wooden or metal?
Me - Hmmm.....good question.  Keep them in??  Well, we have a plastic tub for right now. Will that work?  I mean, we plan, okay, well my husband plans on making a bigger box. (brooder box, I have since learned) They should be in that box in the next few days.  Is that okay?  Will they be okay in that?
AL - Yes, as long as you don't keep them in the tub for long you should be good.  Plastic can breed disease and you don't want that.
Me - Disease?!?!  Okay, okay, I will get my hubby going on that box asap.
Mental note: Hubby is definitely going to kill me.  I can't believe I thought we could do this. Holy Cow! Yikes!  MOM!!
AL - Now for the chicks...what type do you want?  We have only a few left.  And the other choices aren't good for you because we can't tell if they are boys (roosters) or girls (hens). 
Me - ONLY girls, I must come home with only girls!  So that narrows my choices to these 2 bins.  Hmmmm....why is that little chick all by herself?  What is wrong with her?  How could someone just leave one little chick alone.  I can't leave her..can I have her?  We need to take her.  What is she?
AL - She is a Leghorn.  She will be long and tall and lean.  Really pretty.  If no one buys her today I was going to take her home.
Me - Consider her mine.  Will she get along with the others I pick.  I don't want them arguing or picking on each other.  (Yes, I did say that out loud) 
AL - She should be fine.  You will love her.
Me - Okay, now to pick 3 others......
AL - Oh, you have to buy 6 total.  We like to keep them together in groups.  Better for them as a flock.
Me - What?!?! I have to buy 2 more! 
Warning signals, Warning flares, Warning sirens....all in full force....MOM!!
AL - How about 5 of these Amberlinks...they are cute and will be white like the Leghorn.  They are going to be shorter,a little rounder...
Me - Ummmm.....okay.  Kids, you okay with this? 
AL preceded to put all chicks in a cardboard box.  Kinda like the type you put a 6-pack in.  I am in disbelief.  I can't believe they are going to just let me leave with them!  In a BOX! 
I have to tell you that what was truly going through my mind was almost identical to when I gave birth to my son.  I remember thinking at the hospital, "They are going to let me leave with this child.  NO books, no classes, just me and this child.  What in the world are they thinking?"  They aren't thinking...that is what is happening.
AL - Just a couple of items for you to get.  Wood shavings, get the big size so the chicks don't eat it.  You can order that up at the register.  Also, don't forget a heating lamp.  To keep them nice and warm.
Me - Okay, okay...I think I got this...we can do this.....we can do this.....  We can do this, right?

Baby chicks in the box for the ride home

**Side note:  Yes, I was silently screaming for my Mom!  I am not ashamed to admit it.  I don't know too many people that when faced with a new situation, an uncomfortable event, feeling ill, or purchasing chickens for the first time don't scream out for their Moms.  I feel it is a natural chain of events.  Moms are supposed to come running, ready to assist or rescue, no matter what.  Never mind the fact that my Mom is not a chicken owner, never took a class on chickens, or even knew I was calling for her.**