Chantecler Thread!

[Folly's place]

I've been checking the Cackle site obsessively, and tonight was able to order ten to be shipped 17April. May they all arrive safely! That's three Cackle shipments coming this spring... Must be out of my mind! The others will be other breeds, and I'm ready for the chicks who shipped today.
Mary

 

[RogerChicken]

I've been checking the Cackle site obsessively, and tonight was able to order ten to be shipped 17April. May they all arrive safely! That's three Cackle shipments coming this spring... Must be out of my mind! The others will be other breeds, and I'm ready for the chicks who shipped today.
Mary

Wow that's right around the corner! I'll be very interested to see how they all do.

 

[bruceha2000]

I guess at some point I should get them off paper towel and onto a more common sort of bedding, but I'm not really in a rush. This has been pretty convenient.

That is what I use when the chicks are in the house with their Mama Heating Pad cave in a large cardboard box, very convenient. Out in the barn they have pine shavings same as the rest of the chickens.

Glad your birds are doing well.

 

[RogerChicken]

14 April 2023, Day 12: Everyone's doing well. First thing in the morning they tend to pile up on top of the box, so they're possibly getting a bit chilly -- looks like the ambient air temperature drops to 25C or so. But they perk right up soon enough, and during they day they don't really huddle together.

Their intermediate brooder in the basement falls to about 15C overnight, which is better than going outdoors right now, but still on the chilly side. I'll see how long I can keep them upstairs.

They're flapping more and more when they're trying to get away from me, and hopping higher and higher.

Getting big.

A look at how they're feathering in.

It's not unusual for there to be a loner or two, and to see the main flock in a couple groups of 4-6. It doesn't seem to be the same loners every time, so I'm not too worried.

 

[RogerChicken]

16 April 2023, Day 14: Two weeks old! And it's moving day!

Not quite to outside, alas. But I set up a space in my basement where they'll have more room -- it's about 2' wide by 8' long.

They were a bit disoriented by the move but they settled in soon enough. Eating, drinking, pooping, and renewed efforts at trying to fly.

The cleanup tonight seemed a bit easier, so that's good too.

 

[RogerChicken]

18 April 2023, Day 16. Everyone seems to be doing pretty well. Temperatures are ranging from 16C to 19C or so. They're getting pretty good at all getting under the mama box when the lights start going out.

I weighed them, and they range from 143 grams (!) to 87 g, with lots averaging about 120g, or a quarter-pound. So they've increased in weight about 250% since Day 4.

The entire flock. Haven't lost anyone yet, knock on wood.

Awwww.

 

[RogerChicken]

Cleaned out their brooder tonight and noticed some of them had cold feet.

I failed to put in much of a thermal break between them and the bare concrete floor.

But now I have, and I think they'll be happier! We'll see.

 

[Folly's place]

We use 2" styrofoam as padding between the concrete and the brooder for that reason.
Mary

 

[RogerChicken]

Good thinking, Mary. I've got an airgap and some towels and some other engineering now, so I think it'll all be okay.

20 April 2023, 18 days old: They're doing okay. I've been refilling the quart-jar feeder twice a day and that hasn't kept up, so today I switched them over to the 'big boy' feeder.

I noticed one of them trying to dust-bathe -- ineffectual, but cute. I might need to get them a little tray at some point soon.

The top is open and that won't be a problem when it's installed in the coop, I don't think, but for now it's sort of worrisome, so I just shoved a towel in there. I've got a bigger waterer too, but that can wait a bit longer.

The little guy center-left has something going on with his forehead. Is this just what it looks like when the comb comes in? He doesn't seem distressed by it or anything.

Cheers,
Roger

 

[Folly's place]

Has he been pecked? See how it all changes as more feathers come in.
Nice chicks!
Mary