We’re starting off 2025 crossing off a MAJOR mini-homestead dream of mine that I’ve been chasing for the last 5 years!!

WE BROUGHT HOME BABY CHICKS!!!!!! 🐣

We spent weeks preparing: picking out, buying, and setting up their chicken coop. Picking out their brooder home & putting it together. Buying food & accessories. Reading, researching, and watching videos about raising backyard chickens. Deciding what breeds we wanted based on our needs.

This is their baby brooder home. They will live in this up to about 4 weeks, probably less depending on available space as they grow (and they are already growing fast!!). Since it will still be too cold here in Ohio in 4 weeks, they will have to move to a bigger brooder – a small horse trough/galvanized tub with a larger heat lamp until at least 8 weeks, depending on the Ohio weather at that time. We are realizing they may be living inside until closer to 10-12 weeks, but we’re used to living in a zoo 🤪.

Once they finally make it outside, this is their starter coop. We have plans to buy a small wooden shed like the one we have that I painted to look like a barn and turn it into a large size, walk-in chicken coop with more boxes for nesting and warmth for future winters.

I got a metal fence through my Amazon Products Testing gig for “free” (in exchange for a review) that my husband built around and secured to the chicken coop to create a little “yard” for them. Once early Spring arrives, I’ll be able to begin decorating their coop with a rock wall & herb planters filled with herbs that help chickens with health & egg production. I’ll definitely buy them enrichment toys for their run!

We also started out 2025 with massive Winter Storm Blair. We got the most snow we’ve had in decades. It was amazing! I love snow so much & how magical it makes the world feel around me. My kids have been playing outside & building snow castles. Rumor has it, we’re getting another heavy round of snow over the weekend. 🤞🏼

Unfortunately, I also learned a huge life lesson on Greenhouse Winterization. I’m devastated, but choosing to be grateful that it wasn’t our home. While it’s just snow for us, it was a stark reminder of what families in Ukraine are going through, but way worse – waking up to their family home caved in from bombs, losing everything & possibly loved ones.  We’re lucky it wasn’t our home and everyone is safe. We didn’t lose power & we didn’t have to worry about running out of food or water.

I’m hoping there’s a way we can salvage it or at least build around it and it won’t be a total loss (ideas? Experiences? Help!). My husband is less of a dreamer than I am. He says it’s done. I guess we’ll see when the snow clears. I’m glad I took one last photo of it as the snow began coming down, before it caved in.

We picked up our one day old babies from Mt. Healthy Hatchery on January 8th. I chose 4 breeds: Ameraucana, Barred Plymouth Rock, Rhode Island Blue, & Golden Comets. They threw in an extra one that I am unsure of the breed – she’s a reddish, brown and doesn’t look the same as any of the other babies. I really like her a lot though. I got the Ameraucanas for fun for their different colored eggs. The rest I picked for high egg production. All of the breeds I chose are known for being good around children & other animals which was important to us since we have a large family and many pets.

When we first brought them home, they huddled together in their brooder. They were probably nervous from their big trip and they were probably cold even though I kept the heat on in the car during the trip. As the day went on, they spread out (a sign of happiness & contentment) and began eating, drinking, and exploring their new surroundings. We have had a couple of hiccups along the way, but we are learning as we go. Everyone is healthy and getting stronger day by day.

I really love the way the Ameraucanas (in the middle) look. They remind me of baby cheetah print. They are so fluffy! I spend so much time just sitting with them, admiring them all. I also think the Golden Comets are really adorable.

We’re currently bonding with them and teaching the children (especially young ones) about chicken safety for both us & the chickies, and of course referencing our Farm Anatomy book! We are all so in love with them!

Chicken Mamas 🐓🐥, bless me with all your advice please!!!

Until next time ♡ Mama Morozov