Chick raising Diary! 🐣 First time raising babies, with a first-time broody-mother (cute chick photos incoming!)

[Ambera]

Friday 6th October 2023

@Farmgirl283420 your chicks were so sweet! I should try the cuddly jumper trick and see if they like it!

The chicks continue to grow and love life!! It was lovely and sunny today so they made the most of it!

I've noticed Nugget is getting a slight green sheen to their wings when in the sun!

I have to laugh too, because Popcorn looks so silly at the moment! The way their wings are growing means they have two "tufts" behind them when standing... they look like two little bum fluff tufts!!

Popcorn's wing pattern is starting to come through though!

Lilac is looking adorable and fluffy as ever... of all three they're the only one I'm confident will be a hen, and I do love her! (ignore this cursed photo of Lily!)

Nugget Age: 17 days
Lilac & Popcorn Age: 20 days
Highest daytime temperature: 19c (66f)
Overnight lowest outside temperature tonight: 13c (55f)

 

[Ambera]

Saturday 7th October 2023

Lilac and Popcorn hit three weeks old today!! They don't look it in my opinion, I guess because they're bantams?

Today was baking! We're getting a mini-October heatwave, with temperatures up to 26c across the UK this week! Lily had the BEST dustbath in the sandpit today, I swear she was purring!? She's doing it in the first video

Lots of dustbathing photos from today!

When Lily got a bit over-enthusiastic with the sand-shaking, poor Nug and Popcorn retreated to hide under the sandpit in their little hangout spot!!

It was weighing day again! Lots of weight put on by all of them, including Popcorn even!!

• Nugget: 124g (+20g)
• Lilac: 99g (+13g)
• Popcorn: 77g (+16g)
• 

Just some more cute photos! I was actually getting Lilac and Popcorn mixed up at first glance today, proof that Popcorn is growing and fluffing out! They also look a bit less yellow and more grey, I think it's the wings!

Question of the day:

Does anyone know if an orange-comb in chicks indicates rooster? The top of Nugget's comb is kinda turning orange from certain angles, and Popcorns is also a bit orange... Lilac's is for sure not very colourful! Has anyone had an orange comb turn out as a pullet?

I at least have a for-sure home for Nugget if they are a cockerel, as his dad's owners will happily take him back to replace Marcel.

My bets are now Popcorn and Nugget as cockerels, and Lilac as a pullet. My family even said they saw Pop and Nug flying at each other "fighting" today...

Nugget Age: 18 days
Lilac & Popcorn Age: 21 days
Highest daytime temperature: 22c (66f)
Overnight lowest outside temperature tonight: 13c (55f)

 

[GreenJay]

Popcorn is so adorable, pretty wing feathers, those feathered legs!
Still smaller so must be taking after his bantam side

 

[Farmgirl283420]

Saturday 7th October 2023

Lilac and Popcorn hit three weeks old today!! They don't look it in my opinion, I guess because they're bantams?

Today was baking! We're getting a mini-October heatwave, with temperatures up to 26c across the UK this week! Lily had the BEST dustbath in the sandpit today, I swear she was purring!? She's doing it in the first video

Lots of dustbathing photos from today!

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When Lily got a bit over-enthusiastic with the sand-shaking, poor Nug and Popcorn retreated to hide under the sandpit in their little hangout spot!!

View attachment 3654272View attachment 3654273


It was weighing day again! Lots of weight put on by all of them, including Popcorn even!!

• Nugget: 124g (+20g)
• Lilac: 99g (+13g)
• Popcorn: 77g (+16g)
• View attachment 3654267

Just some more cute photos! I was actually getting Lilac and Popcorn mixed up at first glance today, proof that Popcorn is growing and fluffing out! They also look a bit less yellow and more grey, I think it's the wings!

View attachment 3654268View attachment 3654269
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Question of the day:

Does anyone know if an orange-comb in chicks indicates rooster? The top of Nugget's comb is kinda turning orange from certain angles, and Popcorns is also a bit orange... Lilac's is for sure not very colourful! Has anyone had an orange comb turn out as a pullet?

View attachment 3654261View attachment 3654262

I at least have a for-sure home for Nugget if they are a cockerel, as his dad's owners will happily take him back to replace Marcel.

My bets are now Popcorn and Nugget as cockerels, and Lilac as a pullet. My family even said they saw Pop and Nug flying at each other "fighting" today...

Nugget Age: 18 days
Lilac & Popcorn Age: 21 days
Highest daytime temperature: 22c (66f)
Overnight lowest outside temperature tonight: 13c (55f)

My roosters used to play fight all the time! So maybe? And my roosters did have big combs when they were little. They are all looking great!!!

 

[Ambera]

Thanks for the replies! I think I'll stick with my bet on Lilac being the only pullet then!

Sunday 8th October 2023

I was out for most of the day so didn't see the chicks much! They had a lovely day though, it was another baking one!

Nugget Age: 19 days
Lilac & Popcorn Age: 22 days
Highest daytime temperature: 22c (72f)
Overnight lowest outside temperature tonight: 14c (57f)

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Monday 9th October 2023

Nugget and Popcorn seem to have some comb development, with Lilac lagging behind! Popcorn is getting a tiny tail tuft finally! They look so silly!

Human climbing is still their favourite game! Popcorn in particular loves to sit on my lap and curl up into the warmth of my hand.

Weighing day! Another one where Popcorn hasn't put on as much as the others, they're just destined to be tiny!

• Nugget: 137g (+13g)
• Lilac: 111g (+12g)
• Popcorn: 84g (+7g)

I made the mistake of attempting to let the chicks into the big run today! It didn't go so well... the chicks got easily scared by Pepper checking them out and they scattered to the wind! Under the big hen house, behind it, running around... and Lily wasn't doing much to help them! She was mostly just clucking around minding her own business, not really caring that the chicks were scared of Pepper!

Pepper wasn't being mean in any way, she's just a big scary new chicken! She was very interested in checking the chicks out, walking up to the them and staring...

I herded the chicks back into their run... much to Pepper's disappointment! I noticed Pepper then actually was acting a bit motherly, she was picking up food and making the "Food" noise afterwards! And clucking sadly to herself... I think she is planning to steal Lily's chicks!!

Think I might wait another week until they're a month old, then they'll be bigger and integrate a bit better, and Lily may start to wean them off her?

Nugget Age: 20 days
Lilac & Popcorn Age: 23 days
Highest daytime temperature: 20c (68f)
Overnight lowest outside temperature tonight: 12c (53f)

 

[Farmgirl283420]

Thanks for the replies! I think I'll stick with my bet on Lilac being the only pullet then!

Sunday 8th October 2023

I was out for most of the day so didn't see the chicks much! They had a lovely day though, it was another baking one!

View attachment 3656002

Nugget Age: 19 days
Lilac & Popcorn Age: 22 days
Highest daytime temperature: 22c (72f)
Overnight lowest outside temperature tonight: 14c (57f)

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Monday 9th October 2023

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Nugget and Popcorn seem to have some comb development, with Lilac lagging behind! Popcorn is getting a tiny tail tuft finally! They look so silly!

View attachment 3656019View attachment 3656020
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Human climbing is still their favourite game! Popcorn in particular loves to sit on my lap and curl up into the warmth of my hand.

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Weighing day! Another one where Popcorn hasn't put on as much as the others, they're just destined to be tiny!

• Nugget: 137g (+13g)
• Lilac: 111g (+12g)
• Popcorn: 84g (+7g)

View attachment 3655994

I made the mistake of attempting to let the chicks into the big run today! It didn't go so well... the chicks got easily scared by Pepper checking them out and they scattered to the wind! Under the big hen house, behind it, running around... and Lily wasn't doing much to help them! She was mostly just clucking around minding her own business, not really caring that the chicks were scared of Pepper!

Pepper wasn't being mean in any way, she's just a big scary new chicken! She was very interested in checking the chicks out, walking up to the them and staring...

I herded the chicks back into their run... much to Pepper's disappointment! I noticed Pepper then actually was acting a bit motherly, she was picking up food and making the "Food" noise afterwards! And clucking sadly to herself... I think she is planning to steal Lily's chicks!!

Think I might wait another week until they're a month old, then they'll be bigger and integrate a bit better, and Lily may start to wean them off her?

View attachment 3656033View attachment 3656035

View attachment 3656039
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Nugget Age: 20 days
Lilac & Popcorn Age: 23 days
Highest daytime temperature: 20c (68f)
Overnight lowest outside temperature tonight: 12c (53f)

That’s sad and sweet! Poor peppers ready for some friends!

 

[Ambera]

Tuesday 10th October 2023

Nugget is now three weeks old! My little fluffball is starting to look all grown up!

Another busy day, so no chick photos from Tuesday.

Nugget Age: 21 days
Lilac & Popcorn Age: 24 days
Highest daytime temperature: 17c (62f)
Overnight lowest outside temperature tonight: 15c (59f)

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Wednesday 11th October 2023

Lilac and Popcorn are approaching their one month birthday!

They're all doing really well!

Popcorns comb seems to have grown and started turning quite red in the past two days, see the photos! With that, along with their slow feathering I am now feeling 90% sure Popcorn is a cockerel.
Pop is growing well though, and the wings are almooost complete now, with a small tail nub too!

Nugget is going through their kinda gangly teenage phase! They're still the biggest, and growing at a more rapid pace than the two bantams! I am 50/50 on whether Nug is going to be female or male.... they have a kind of orange comb that has grown a tad, and they like to stand up tall and crane their neck up! However, they did also feather in very quickly, like Lilac.... time will tell! Nug also won't ever stand still for a photo, so excuse the pics!

Lilac meanwhile is looking super cute and fluffy, no ugly teenage gangliness here! Her comb is still small and pale, and she feathered really quickly, so I am now 90% sure she will be a pullet.

I made a slightly bigger run for them to explore today, basically barricading off an area with some grass for them to scratch around in, safe from nosy Pepper!!
@Farmgirl283420 you're right, Pepper is lonely! She was making cute "Food" cheeps again today at the chicks, she is desparate to mother them! Maybe next week I will RELEASE them.... I just need them to be big enough to not escape!

They were loving pecking at and eating grass, and any bugs Lily found for them!

They are still SUPER friendly - with Nugget being the first to fly onto my lap at the first inkling of any corn! Lilac actually decided to climb onto my head today... her instinct seems to just tells her to go UP so she loves climbing up my sleeves!

It's been an unseasonally mild October, meaning I haven't worried much about the chicks keeping warm as they grow their feathers! I haven't seen them huddling under Lily in the daytime for a while now!

It was also weighing day! They're getting too big for my jug, I need to find a new weighing container!

• Nugget: 157g (+20g)
• Lilac: 120g (+9g)
• Popcorn: 92g (+8g)

Nugget Age: 22 days
Lilac & Popcorn Age: 25 days
Highest daytime temperature: 19c (66f)
Overnight lowest outside temperature tonight: 13c (55f)

 

[Farmgirl283420]

Tuesday 10th October 2023

Nugget is now three weeks old! My little fluffball is starting to look all grown up!

Another busy day, so no chick photos from Tuesday.

Nugget Age: 21 days
Lilac & Popcorn Age: 24 days
Highest daytime temperature: 17c (62f)
Overnight lowest outside temperature tonight: 15c (59f)

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Wednesday 11th October 2023

Lilac and Popcorn are approaching their one month birthday!

They're all doing really well!

Popcorns comb seems to have grown and started turning quite red in the past two days, see the photos! With that, along with their slow feathering I am now feeling 90% sure Popcorn is a cockerel.
Pop is growing well though, and the wings are almooost complete now, with a small tail nub too!
View attachment 3657514View attachment 3657512
View attachment 3657513View attachment 3657515

Nugget is going through their kinda gangly teenage phase! They're still the biggest, and growing at a more rapid pace than the two bantams! I am 50/50 on whether Nug is going to be female or male.... they have a kind of orange comb that has grown a tad, and they like to stand up tall and crane their neck up! However, they did also feather in very quickly, like Lilac.... time will tell! Nug also won't ever stand still for a photo, so excuse the pics!
View attachment 3657518View attachment 3657517
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Lilac meanwhile is looking super cute and fluffy, no ugly teenage gangliness here! Her comb is still small and pale, and she feathered really quickly, so I am now 90% sure she will be a pullet.

View attachment 3657520View attachment 3657521
View attachment 3657522View attachment 3657523

I made a slightly bigger run for them to explore today, basically barricading off an area with some grass for them to scratch around in, safe from nosy Pepper!!
@Farmgirl283420 you're right, Pepper is lonely! She was making cute "Food" cheeps again today at the chicks, she is desparate to mother them! Maybe next week I will RELEASE them.... I just need them to be big enough to not escape!

They were loving pecking at and eating grass, and any bugs Lily found for them!
View attachment 3657525View attachment 3657524
View attachment 3657526View attachment 3657527

They are still SUPER friendly - with Nugget being the first to fly onto my lap at the first inkling of any corn! Lilac actually decided to climb onto my head today... her instinct seems to just tells her to go UP so she loves climbing up my sleeves!

View attachment 3657528View attachment 3657529

It's been an unseasonally mild October, meaning I haven't worried much about the chicks keeping warm as they grow their feathers! I haven't seen them huddling under Lily in the daytime for a while now!

It was also weighing day! They're getting too big for my jug, I need to find a new weighing container!

• Nugget: 157g (+20g)
• Lilac: 120g (+9g)
• Popcorn: 92g (+8g)

Nugget Age: 22 days
Lilac & Popcorn Age: 25 days
Highest daytime temperature: 19c (66f)
Overnight lowest outside temperature tonight: 13c (55f)

So sweet they look great! Popcorn does look like a roo! My chicks also used to love to sit on my head just maybe don’t let them sit on there too long! I found that out the hard way

 

[Ambera]

Thursday 12th October 2023

Already looking back at their "baby" photos I can see how much they've all grown!! No longer tiny fluffballs, they're becoming proper chickens!

I've started setting up a temporary run which I can let them into when I'm supervising! They love a chance to scratch around, flap and run! I've seen Nugget fly to the top of the fencing and perch, so I can't leave them to their own devices!!

I laughed today as Lilac was checking out and pecking at her reflection in a metal dish! I've also noticed Popcorn spends a lot of time alone, whilst the other two are always tripping up under mum's feet... Popcorn is also getting more flighty now he actually has wings!

Nugget Age: 23 days
Lilac & Popcorn Age: 26 days
Highest daytime temperature: 15c (59f)
Overnight lowest outside temperature tonight: 14c (57f)

Friday 13th October 2023


It was a lovely sunny day today in the morning so the chicks enjoyed some sunbathing in their temporary run with mum! It then TIPPED it down all afternoon, so I didn't see the chicks but they were happy enough!

Lilac and Nugget were again following each other around, with Pop minding his own business... starting to wonder if I've got two hens and a roo!

Weighing day again today! I really need a new chick container!!!! Nugget basically doesn't fit anymore!

• Nugget: 177g (+20g)
• Lilac: 134g (+14g)
• Popcorn: 105g (+13g)

Nugget Age: 24 days
Lilac & Popcorn Age: 27 days
Highest daytime temperature: 18c (64f)
Overnight lowest outside temperature tonight: 8c (46f)

 

[Ambera]

Saturday 14th October 2023

Lilac and Popcorn are a month old today

The weather has taken a turn for FREEZING this weekend! It felt really cold today, and this evening is almost down to freezing! We'll have a frost overnight for sure. I changed the chick house bedding at bedtime today, and this poor chicks were chirping as they were cold! I put extra bedding and hay in them for to nest in, poor Lily could barely fit in there with it all!

I've not heard them begging Lily for warmth for a while now, so it must be very cold for them!

I was out all day, so only saw them in the morning and evening today, but they are all happy! Nugget and Lilac seem to have proper little tails now, super cute! They have feathers on their back now, just the head to go!

They DEMOLISH the bowls of chickcrumb mash I give them now, I need to top up several times a day!

Nugget Age: 25 days
Lilac & Popcorn Age: 28 days
Highest daytime temperature: 12c (53f)
Overnight lowest outside temperature tonight: 3c (37f)