4 weeks in with 2 broody hen hatches.

[Pstock44]

This is the biggest chick of the 4 week old hatch. They're growing like weeds! I'm so curious what they'll look like when they're grown. Batman is papa, I have one Gold Laced Orpington and the rest are Buff Orpingtons. 3 of the chicks are buff colored but look like they may have lacing in their wings, the dark ones vary from looking like they'll be all blue to something blue with some possible lacing too. There's to many to keep all of them so I think it's going to be hard to pick.

 

[sunflour]

Great pics of Batman, I love his anklet. Thanks for posting.

The chick is interesting - at this age hard to say cute

 

[Pstock44]

I let them all out today so they could mingle for awhile. Everyone has been getting along good. After awhile I put them back in the run with mama #1 in the adult run for the 2nd time. She's getting picked on only if #2s babies and her get to close together, plus the fact she's been in the brooder coop/run for 5 weeks so the pecking order needs to be reestablished. She actually laid an egg 2 days ago and has been squawking like she's ready to lay another today. I think I'll try and keep her and her 5 week old chicks in the big coop tonight and see how they do.

Here's everyone out mingling this morning.

Mama #1 and 5 week old babies.

Mama #2 and 2 week old babies.

 

[Chicken Chat]

Ahhhh, they look so happy running around. I wish mine could free range again but I've lost too many over the years to stray dogs people let run the countryside and now I've got fox problems. I love Batman's anklet!

 

[Pstock44]

Ahhhh, they look so happy running around. I wish mine could free range again but I've lost too many over the years to stray dogs people let run the countryside and now I've got fox problems. I love Batman's anklet!

What's been interesting is the chicks free range all day, none ever seem to go more than 15 feet from the run. The little littles only about 5 feet. I've been free ranging everyone for several days, totally supervised, to start integration of the chicks into the main flock. It's been working well and last night was the first night they all spent the the main coop. It was fun catching 8 little chicks that can really use their wings, it was a fun game of "keep away"! Its going to take a few days to teach them where their new home is.