Chicken Math Got Me Bad....

[Sefirothe]

I love that chick stage of feathering in where they start getting feathers just above their wings. They look like little linebackers with massive shoulder pads on.

 

[Sefirothe]

I thought about opening up small door in the brooder cage this weekend to let the littles start exploring.

I just worry about Gimpy if she should decide to go out to the run. I don’t have a ramp to the pop door, just a stump of wood to let them hop in and out easier.

Not sure if Gimpy would be able to navigate that at this point.

No fear for the other littles. They are already trying to jump/fly out of the brooder when I open the top to clean/refresh food and water.

I could wait another week too, but they are starting to get a bit crowded as well.

They are all getting quite big and feathering up nicely. Except the chocolate orp Coffee Bean. She seems a little slower to feather than the others. I think orps mature slower tho?

 

[TheChickenGirl16]

That are AdOrAbLe!!
Yes, Coffee Bean took WAY longer to grow out her feathers.
It’s normal!

 

[Sefirothe]

I guess I will be opening up the brooder this weekend. Since they are attempting to excavate their way out now, with the help of the adults.

 

[TheChickenGirl16]

Orrr…. The adults think the bedding is layer pellets! Lolol

 

[Sefirothe]

Orrr…. The adults think the bedding is layer pellets! Lolol

Naw, they figured that out right quick when I first started using pellet bedding.

But they do like going after the chick crumbles any time they get a chance. I think they are digging thru the bedding hoping to find the chick crumbles.

 

[TheChickenGirl16]

Nice!
I bet the pellets are nice. They probably don’t get all kicked into the waterer.

 

[Sefirothe]

Nice!
I bet the pellets are nice. They probably don’t get all kicked into the waterer.

Yep, the wood pellets mostly stay put. Except now with some determined excavators….. The baking tray I keep the food and water in helps too.

They still manage to kick food into the water tho. I hung a small nipple waterer a few days ago. Most of them are reliably drinking from that so when I open the brooder up I’ll probably remove the open waterer.

 

[Sefirothe]

Why do chicks gotta have death wishes?

If they dump that baking tray on their heads by digging under it before I can get home from work and fix it…..

 

[Sefirothe]

The wood pellets are back leveled out. Caught the ones who still had leg bands on and removed them because once they're not confined to the brooder I dont want to take the chance I wont be able to easily catch them again.

So now I'll have difficulty telling the difference between Laverne and Shirley as well as Eleven and Gimpy. Who is getting around pretty darn good and her hock swelling has gone down a bunch.

I was going to open the brooder this afternoon but we are under a wind advisory and off and on rain. I figure I'll wait until tomorrow morning so they'll have all day to explore and the weather is supposed to be better.

Janeway the Swedish Flower Hen is living up to her name to go where no chick has gone before. She made it to the top of the brooder from inside on the floor of it.