PAGE – Baby chicks are chirping away right now at Boston’s Ace Hardware. The first batch of 100 chicks arrived this morning and 20 were sold before noon, according to Dianne Schuler.

The baby chicks are $3.99 each.

“When we get them, they’re two days old,” said Schuler, the feed department manager at Ace Hardware on North Navajo Drive, in an interview today, March 15. “Right now, (we) have the Leghorn (chicken) family, which would be the White, Red, and Brown Leghorn, and black Australorp.

Schuler says Ace Hardware will be receiving a new batch of baby chicks every Friday for the next couple of months and each batch will be different.

“Right before Easter, we’ll be getting ducks, turkeys, geese, and chickens,” she explained. “And we have all the feeds, the equipment as far as feeding dishes, and the tubs. Those are all personal of course. (But) whatever you want to put your chickens in–– as long as it’s high enough to where they can’t fly out.”

When people buy chicks here, they can also buy supplies for a brooder, or the chicks’ home. Schuler says the store has everything one needs for a brooder, such as a heat lamp, litter (or shavings), feeders and waterers, among other things.

“We typically use Purina products, (which) are all top of the line and have the nutrients and the medications in the feed that they need to sustain,” Schuler explained. “In about a week’s time, they’ll start flapping around and they could fly up to 13 inches, so you need something at least that tall to keep them protected.”

There are hundreds of backyard chicken breeds. Some have fancy, colorful feathers while others can produce up to 300 farm-fresh eggs each year, according to Purina Animal Nutrition LLC., of which Ace Hardware is a retailer.

Schuler says White Leghorn chickens are excellent egg-layers. In fact, the White Leghorn hens can lay up to 330 large or jumbo white eggs per year, according to the Hobby Farms website.

This is one of the most exciting times of the year at Ace Hardware because these baby chicks are a sure sign of spring.

“People get very excited about it … (because) we’re all kind of tired of winter,” Schuler said. “So, they kind of symbolize spring coming and new birth as well.”

Schuler says dozens of locals, including tourists, usually come into the store just to see the chicks.

“We do have a lot of people (who) come by,” she added. “It’s really an attraction to them. Some people bring their kids just to see them.”

Information: 928-645-2428