ginam, your breed choices sound good, they are all fairly mellow, friendly, docile breeds that should get along just great--just make sure you have enough room for all the birds to roost and in the coop, overcrowding ANY breed can lead to fights, picking, etc. I agree with fancifowl as to the comment on heavier and lighter breeds...but--! I have to laugh at myself, since my own flock of 40 chickens is a wild mix of just about everything...bantams and standard size, Silkies, Polish (White Crested Black and Buff Laced), Americaunas, SLW, Dark Indian Cornish Rock, Cochins, MilleFleurs, Jersey Giant, Frizzles, RIR, various mutt banties and Sultan. I'm guilty of Impulse Chicken Buying, I think I need a 12 Step Program! *G* With the exception of the minor, fleeting squabble here and there (as in any flock) they all get along great. In the rare instance I've had a bad bird develop, I've gotten rid of them--but that's only happened twice in the last 10 years--roos both times. I highly recommend the Polish. They are entertaining, VERY friendly, comical and curious. Two caveats: #1--Most of the time you will need to trim their facial feathers a bit to help them see (I'm convinced that the reason Polish have a reputation for being skittish or flighty is just plain because they don't SEE things until it's right on top of them--I'd jump, too!). If you visit browneggblueegg.com, go to the 'articles' section and click on 'Helping Silkies See', he has terrific guidelines on how to do this. Silkies are like Polish and have trouble seeing due to their heavy crests and facial tufting. I've found that once I trim my Polish and Silkies facial feathers, because they are out in the yard I don't have to do it again, or at least not until the next molt. #2--Crested breeds, due to stupid humans breeding for bigger and better crests, have developed a hole in their skull (see more info on browneggblueegg) through which their brains actual protrude! This can make them more susceptible to brain injuries from a peck to the head, and mine have trouble in heavy rainstorms when their crests get weighted down by water (this can also cause brain injuries). Keeping the feathers around their eyes trimmed so they can see and avoid threats from aggressive flockmates can help them avoid head pecks, and when it rains my Silkies and Polish come indoors and hang out in the kitchen for a bit. I keep my coop open during the day and they don't have the sense to go in the coop where it's dry...*sigh* Instead they stand out in the open in the rain, getting drenched and looking miserable. I figure a little mud in the kitchen is cheaper than a visit to the vet. Even given the extra care, the birds are a treat and I'll always have them in my flock. Shortly I'm putting up some pictures of my flock on my site, so you'll be able to see what my setup and birds look like. Velvet ~:>

In the spring, Sempervivums make new rosettes that grow on long thin stalks (rhizomes), sometimes several inches long. These can be removed, and potted. The larger the rosettes are when removed, the better, because there will be more stored water to tide the plant over while it makes new roots. I don't leave very much of the rhizome when removing pups. It is a specialized kind of root from Mom. Eventually, the pup will have to make its own roots, and these will form directly under the rosette. You can just lay them down on the ground, and they will root quickly in the spring.

Cut the "stem" and place the chick on some soil until it produces roots. This may take more than a week. Nancy

No problem! Three of them look quite alright, the last spindly one not so sure. Good call with bringing them much closer to sunlight - these types need as much as they can get. Under good light the plants will be compact and leaves close/pointed upwards together. If light is not ideal, the leaves will grow more 'open' and facing downward, in attempt to collect more light in their given location. As long as they don't start stretching like beanstalks due to lack of light, I don't think it's a major issue. All depends how you want your plant to look and the best conditions you can give them. =) Side note: In Canada it's cold and mine should technically be outside. However, my plant was a gift and I was afraid it wouldn't survive and am growing it under lights indoors instead.