It's getting crowded in my wading pool size brooder for my 14 chicks, so I've been taking them outside in a little pen for an hour or so every other day (gonna try every day this week). It was so cute the first day, how they all crowded around me before getting enough courage to explore. Yesterday was their 3rd time out. All but 3 started to line up to be picked up to travel, so maybe they're starting to make the connection that when I get them out, they get to go play? Opal and Granite (roo), the SLWs, spend most of the time perched on my leg. Mr. Feathers, the apparently dominant roo, spends the entire time running this way and that with this intent expression. Chick squawks, he zooms over there to check it out. Two chicks get into a staring contest, he zooms over to get in between them. Pearl perches on the tip of my shoe, and he zooms over there to try to stare her down. When that doesn't work, he'll jump on my ankle and peck her off. The other two boys, Granite and Rock, seem to just stay out of his way and don't exhibit any of this behaviour.
They're so much fun to watch!
They're so much fun to watch!
