I'm raising 4 urban chicks in downtown Montpelier, VT. My chicks arrived in late June and early July. Although they are young, it is quite warm here during the day... so I have been putting them outside in my composter (black plastic design). The composter is only about 1/3 full, so it acts like a brooder. I put a piece of hardware cloth on top, with a board to weigh down the mesh and also provide some extra shade.
They make very happy chick noises while they are out there. They love rooting around in the compost for bugs and greens. I give them water and food, too. There are a few branches in there, that they can practice perching on.
They've been going outside since they were only 3-4 days old, and it seems to be a good thing. I don't put them out if it is very hot or too cool.
They come inside at night. I hand carry them one at a time. Since I only have 4, this works out OK!
I did have a scare when my dad put some beets in the compost. Apparently they really liked the beets. I didn't know he'd given them beets; when they started pooping out reddish poops, I was worried about them! Turns out that was fine.
They also are already very fast at picking bugs out of the air. They really love earwigs, as well. I have started setting earwig traps in the garden from rolled up newspapers, and bring the newspapers over to the chicks to unroll. The chicks are quite ready to gobble the earwigs up.
They are not crazy about being picked up, but they seem to like me OK because I bring them earwigs.
They make very happy chick noises while they are out there. They love rooting around in the compost for bugs and greens. I give them water and food, too. There are a few branches in there, that they can practice perching on.
They've been going outside since they were only 3-4 days old, and it seems to be a good thing. I don't put them out if it is very hot or too cool.
They come inside at night. I hand carry them one at a time. Since I only have 4, this works out OK!
I did have a scare when my dad put some beets in the compost. Apparently they really liked the beets. I didn't know he'd given them beets; when they started pooping out reddish poops, I was worried about them! Turns out that was fine.
They also are already very fast at picking bugs out of the air. They really love earwigs, as well. I have started setting earwig traps in the garden from rolled up newspapers, and bring the newspapers over to the chicks to unroll. The chicks are quite ready to gobble the earwigs up.
They are not crazy about being picked up, but they seem to like me OK because I bring them earwigs.
