Jackson, 8, pets one of his new baby chickens Sunday in his family’s house in Auburn. His brother, Wesley, and mother, Christa Metivier, play with their own chickens in the background. “These are not meat chickens,” Jackson says. “We are going to eat their eggs.” Andree Kehn/Sun Journal Buy this Photo

Jackson, 8, and his brother, Wesley, 3, play Sunday with several of their new baby chicks at their house in Auburn. The two boys have been learning about the chickens and say they visit them when they wake up each morning and before going to bed each night. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal Buy this Photo

Jackson, 8, reaches into a playpen Sunday to pick up one of his new baby chicks at his family’s house in Auburn. His family has recently bought 14 chicks, and Jackson and his brother say they love to play with them. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal Buy this Photo

Jackson, 8, encourages two of his new baby chickens — Red and Roady — to kiss Sunday at his family’s house in Auburn. The family started with eight chicks and a week later got six more. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal Buy this Photo

Jackson, 8, reaches into a customized playpen Sunday to pull out a baby chick under the watchful eye of his mother, Christa Metivier, at their house in Auburn. Little brother, Wesley, 3, plays with another chicken at right. The family has recently bought 14 chickens and has been learning about their care. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal Buy this Photo

Wesley, 3, stares at one of his new baby chickens Sunday at his family’s house in Auburn. He and his brother have been naming their 14 chickens, with help from family and friends. Wesley, who says he loves dinosaurs, named one chicken T-bone and another Rex. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal Buy this Photo