Several questions on raising chicks

One of my favorite pics of my sleeping brood. The Delawares blend in xD

I bought three chicks last week. I think they are 4-6 weeks old. They are different breeds. Silkie, polish and a Marans. They are doing well. I made them an outside pen yesterday and they love it. They sleep in a cat carrier at night and i hear one them picking or chewing every night before they go to sleep. (I bring them inside at night due to night temps). And it kicks straw and shavings out.Do you think there is a problem? There is plenty of sleeping space and they have lots of room during the day.

Also i wondered about them having some bare patches...only two of them, the silkie and the polish. Could it just be they are losing their down? I dont see any picking at themselves or each other. They are very active and happy acting.
Thank you

vpatt said:

I bought three chicks last week. I think they are 4-6 weeks old. They are different breeds. Silkie, polish and a Marans. They are doing well. I made them an outside pen yesterday and they love it. They sleep in a cat carrier at night and i hear one them picking or chewing every night before they go to sleep. (I bring them inside at night due to night temps). And it kicks straw and shavings out.Do you think there is a problem? There is plenty of sleeping space and they have lots of room during the day.

Also i wondered about them having some bare patches...only two of them, the silkie and the polish. Could it just be they are losing their down? I dont see any picking at themselves or each other. They are very active and happy acting.
Thank you

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Yes the bare patches are likely down loss and soon feathers will appear. I have 5 week old chick's all almost fully feathered except my silver penciled rock as they are slow to feather and her back now has large bear patches on it! Soon she will feather as well. I have raised silkies in the past years and still have two that are about 3 1/2 years old. They will have to be kept separate from my other 10 standard chick's. As silkies are Extremely docile!! I am not sure of the temperaments of the Marans or Polish. I would tend to think the Polish and silkies would be fine as they are both small birds. However I might be cautious once the maran reaches full size. I'm unsure of their temperaments but you might check. If they are docile they should be fine. The maran will want to roost to sleep, the silkies won't, unsure of the Polish. You might read up on the breeds.it can help in the future

realsis said:

Yes the bare patches are likely down loss and soon feathers will appear. I have 5 week old chick's all almost fully feathered except my silver penciled rock as they are slow to feather and her back now has large bear patches on it! Soon she will feather as well. I have raised silkies in the past years and still have two that are about 3 1/2 years old. They will have to be kept separate from my other 10 standard chick's. As silkies are Extremely docile!! I am not sure of the temperaments of the Marans or Polish. I would tend to think the Polish and silkies would be fine as they are both small birds. However I might be cautious once the maran reaches full size. I'm unsure of their temperaments but you might check. If they are docile they should be fine. The maran will want to roost to sleep, the silkies won't, unsure of the Polish. You might read up on the breeds.it can help in the future

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Thank you so much for your help! My 2 bantam cochins do not roost. I really want some more silkies. I know someone who will probably trade me a silkie for the Marans. Also, the chicks were quieter last night.