No, this is not a dating guide. If you are looking for your soulmate, volunteer with an organization that aligns with your values and priorities. All those other volunteers are your pre-filtered field of candidates. Now, back to chicks . . .

You have reserved your chicks and your turn has finally come! Hooray! Here is a list of what should happen next.

• Have your brooder all set up and the heat source turned on before you leave to come get your chicks. If you need guidance on the best way to set up your brooder, this is the blog post for you: Brooder Tips. If you need to rent a brooder and all the accoutrements, we can often do that too.

• When you arrive for your chick pick-up, pull into the north driveway, Try to leave room for another car next to you as chick pick-up days are busy. If you are going to be more than ten minutes early or late, please let me know; my number is in your appointment confirmation email and/or your appointment reminder email.

• If no one pops out and waves at your within a few minutes, give a little honk. I’ll appear and confirm your name and what I have for you.

• It will take me a little time to box them up for you, as I may have up to 100 zippy little chicks running around in the brooder and I have to find the right ones.

• While you wait, enjoy the mountain view or admire the chickens or pet the kitties, but please do so from the outside of the gate. For biosecurity, we appreciate if you do not come in.

• Be aware that the hot fence surrounding the runs is in fact hot. This is especially important if you have children with you.

• I will have a cute little ToGo box for your chicks and will bring them down and hand them to you over the gate.

• You can pay cash (Cash is King!) or Credit Card or gold bullion. I do not accept Venmo, PayPal Zelle, Cash App, or first-born children — mine are grown and flown and I am a happy empty nester.

• Happy to chat about chicks and chick care over the gate, or over texts and emails in the days that follow. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns, keeping in mind the second part of our Mission Statement.

Please drop any remaining questions into the comments below and I will fold them into the post.