Amazed by chicks

[Twoleggedmotherhen]

Got 4 week old chicks last Sunday. They have amazed me with how fast they are changing. Almost completely feathered, little fluff on Penny's neck and Henny ( the one with more white) has just a few fluffs left. Can see the feather shafts poking out.
They have figured out the roosting bar (2 inches off ground). Today saw them fluff up and chest bump. Doing their pecking order I think. Every morning when I open their coop door they run out, right to the fence and chirp at the older hens. Older hens come over and check them out. Once in a while older hens will peck the fence. Plymouth Rock (Lily) has been show in them I will not hurt them. When I am in the run by their area, she will come up to me and squat wanting pets. So I pet her and tell her what a good girl she is. Henny & Penny watch the whole time. After the pets Lily goes up to the fence and makes soft sounds to them. Lily is the head hen.
When it comes time to go in at night chicks go to the corner that is close to the big girls roost. Wanting to follow them into their roost. When I go into the run, they will go into their coop, peek out. I tell them good night and close the door.
Today I started the handling process with them. I let them get settled in. Held them a little, put their heads under my chin and cooed them, while I did a little petting. They were quiet as long as I cooed.

 

[LittleMissCountry]

Isn't it fun? Mine are 18 weeks now, and it has been a fun adventure. When I let mine out, they do that fluff and chest bump thing, too. I still haven't quite figured out pecking order, as there doesn't seem to be a clear leader in the group of 4. I know who the one on the bottom is, as she is frequently left out of the group, or lagging behind.

 

[Pipers chicks]

Fun!! If you put Lily in with them, she might adopt them. Then you would have less work.

 

[Twoleggedmotherhen]

Isn't it fun? Mine are 18 weeks now, and it has been a fun adventure. When I let mine out, they do that fluff and chest bump thing, too. I still haven't quite figured out pecking order, as there doesn't seem to be a clear leader in the group of 4. I know who the one on the bottom is, as she is frequently left out of the group, or lagging behind.

It is fun. I knew they grow fast, wow the changes I have seen in a week. They had not bern on dirt, the second day the big girls were scratching, Henny & Penny started imitating them. That was cute. When the big girls made their dirt nests, they followed suit.
New to chickens but not birds. Have a 16 year old cockatiel and a 17 year old African Grey Parrot (have had them since they were babies). Yes the parrot talks, likes to hollar for the dogs to come. Says Bo is a brat (his name is Bo), I'm hungry, when I'm in the kitchen area, will say Are you hungry?
Have 3 Chihuahuas (2 are 4 pounds, then the moose at 12 pounds). Scrappy is the big one. He takes his toys over to the chicken's fence tries to get them to play. Of course being raised with birds inside, he is protective of them.

 

[Twoleggedmotherhen]

Fun!! If you put Lily in with them, she might adopt them. Then you would have less work.

All 3 big girls (plymouth rock, EE, & Brahma) are protective of the chicks. One neighbor came over to look at them and they all 3 stood with their chests out and it sounded like they were growling. I told him to take a couple steps back, he did and they calmed down but kept their eyes on him.
If one of the girls would have been broody, and chicks were younger I might have tried to see if she would have accepted as her babies. Going to wait until they are bigger. Not exactly sure what age (thinking 16-18 weeks) to try to introduce and if I should introduce at roosting time, or wait until I am out there to keep an eye on them. I will make some hiding places and have another feeder in there.I'm hoping by having them in the same run, with the barrier between for at least another 2 months, it will go a bit smoother. I know there will be pecking order to be worked out, and not to let it get out of hand. Kind of like introducing a new dog with established dogs.

 

[Pullet5]

View attachment 1441726 I have 4 chicks.Black Tail and Buffington cross.Theyve been with the flock since hatching,little pecks here and there but nothing major.Stay close to mum mostly.Its been amazing to watch them grow over the past few weeks.This the naughtiest,I suspect he’s a Roo

 

[Pullet5]