I actually ordered 12 chix

These are buff orpington chix. I've also ordered six of these. The Wyandottes are coming (or at least scheduled to come) April 5th, the day after Easter. The Orp's are coming on the 12th.

Chix need to be kept very warm when they're born, my book says 95 degrees. So, I have a 'brooder lamp that I'll hang over the area. The book says to decrease the heat by 5 degrees per week. I can do this by raising it higher above the floor. I need to find out if I can put both broods together. One will be a week older than the other. Hmmmm?

These are grown buff orpington's.
Orpingtons are big, friendly dual-purpose birds originally developed in the UK, and for many small farms Orpingtons are the only way to go! They're friendly and cold-hardy due to their fluffy plumage. The Buff Orpington is the most popular and all varieties, especially the black and blue, are rare.

When I say 'dual-purpose I mean good egg layers and good meat birds.
OK, you say, are you going to be able to kill one of your chix? I don't know.