Treats for Chicks

Sadie our Dominique Chick

During lunch yesterday I paid a visit to Del's Farm supply; it was time to upgrade the waterer and feeder. The less expensive plastic versions are not proving to be useful for more than one day each anymore. I should have started with the larger, sturdier galvanized models. Since the chicks are eating between two and three pounds of starter feed each day the new 11 pound feeder should be much better. The new waterer holds 3 gallons versus 1 gallon for the plastic one. I won't have to worry about the girls running out of either if I can't get to them every day.

While I was browsing for more feed and the upgraded feeders, I noticed something called dried mealworms and grabbed a bag as treats for the little pullets. I have read that this might be a great way for the chicks to begin to tame down a little bit. Until now every time I open the brooder lid to change water and add feed, the chicks scattered to get as far away from me as possible, even though I move very slowly. Today I put a few of the dried mealworms in my hand and slowly lowered it into the brooder and almost immediately Sadie, the Dominique chick (the oldest one) came over an started pecking at the worms. Once she was comfortable and gobbling all the treats, the others soon followed and before long they were picking worms and running off to their own corner to enjoy their treat before coming back for more. I should be fun to see how they react to me today.

Outsmarting the Chicks

Our chicks can make a mess in a hurry during the day while we are at work. Two of them are bigger than the rest and they love to try to fly already. As I watch them, they fly to the top of the feeder and have tipped it over making a mess when the bottom nut on the feeder fell off (I still have not found it). Now I have noticed that when the water gets low, it gets light enough to rock back and forth spilling water in the brooder and making a big mess.

Last night I decided to clean the bedding and while I was at it I put the water on a solid base so they can't move it as easily. We will see later today if my plan worked. The chicks are eating and drinking a lot every day, which is surprising considering their size. When I bought 25 pounds of food the sales person quipped that it would last me about a week; I almost laughed! Well 10 or so days into that first bag it's about half gone already so he was not too far off, and they seem to be eating more each day. I might have to buy a bigger, more sturdy feeder sooner than I thought!

Here is a portrait of one of our barred rock chicks. So cute...

Busy Chicks

Before I left for work yesterday I filled the chick's feeder and noticed that the nut that holds the feeder together was missing. I have no idea where it went, but looking through the bedding was fruitless so I set up a title platform and set the feeder on it and headed to work.

When I got home the feeder was on its side and the food was everywhere in the brooder. I took me a while to find the feeder parts. They must have been playing pretty rough with it all day! Terri located a replacement nut and I put the feeder back together and things are back to normal.

This weekend, work on the coop continues. It won't be long before these chicks will be living outside and running around the yard. Watch out bugs and slugs.

I plan to get some chick portraits today too. That should be fun.

Wing Flapping

My morning visit to the brooder found some of the chicks roosting on the new roost, and others sleeping in the bedding material. When they saw me they all popped up and two of them stretched their wings and started flapping them! The Dominique and Golden Sex-Link are getting lots of feathers and they do lots of preening and flapping.

I moved the heat lamp out of the brooder because they can now almost reach it when they are on the roost. This will give them a little more room too.

They all seem to like their new home!

They Made It

The six little chicks made it through the day without us! When I got home the Dominique was taking a "dust bath" in the pine shavings and she seemed to be enjoying herself a lot. She was also spreading her wings and hoping up to the top of the feeder trying to roost I think. I made them a little roost so they can get used to that too. After I put the roost in the brooder, I left them alone for a few minutes. When I returned they were all hopping up on it and pecking at it. I guess they like it!