My 8 girls are ten days old. I've given them yogurt and eggs (not at the same time) and they lap it up. They know when the little ceramic bowl comes into their brooder that there's going to be good stuff in it. Hilarious to watch them.
At least once a day, I take each chick into my hand and bring them up to talk to them. Every day they react differently, but if they're particularly fussy I shush them 'til they calm and won't put them down until they are calm. Sometimes it helps to turn away from the brooder so they can't see that "safe" spot for a second. At least once a day I reach into the brooder and just rest my hand in there close to the wall. I'll scoop each one of the chicks into that hand and for some reason they will just sit there and never fight to get away as I pet their backs. Sometimes I have to skooch them off to take another in.
I have them in a large clear plastic tub. We have to SNEAK by them sometimes because they're always trying to peer out and if one sees us walk by they alert the media and they all wake up or run over to watch the movement. There's a wire lid on the tub and when I take it off I have to now make sure Kitty is nowhere around because the Wyandotte and the Easter Egger will jump right out of the tub up to my shoulder. Not too happy about that. I really didn't want to have to clip their beautiful wings that are just coming in. Just trying to be super careful.
Don't want to be a human perch and don't want them to think they can fly down to the floor either.
I've taken them outside twice on super warm days (not so hot here in the Northwest yet). I bring them out in a basket with a towel and they stay pretty close to the basket. We just sit on the grass with them and they run in and around, but always close. The dogs sit with us and they snuggle up to them too. When they get tired, they start going back to the basket and bundle, which means they are ready to come back inside to the brooder.
So far, other than losing my silkie on that second day home, they have been a joy and amazing to watch. Every one except my big white cochin, Miss Bitty White has got tail feathers. Every day they get bigger and change. I still worry about this and that, but have taken lots of suggestions from BYC. Thanks everyone! I'm loving this.
At least once a day, I take each chick into my hand and bring them up to talk to them. Every day they react differently, but if they're particularly fussy I shush them 'til they calm and won't put them down until they are calm. Sometimes it helps to turn away from the brooder so they can't see that "safe" spot for a second. At least once a day I reach into the brooder and just rest my hand in there close to the wall. I'll scoop each one of the chicks into that hand and for some reason they will just sit there and never fight to get away as I pet their backs. Sometimes I have to skooch them off to take another in.
I have them in a large clear plastic tub. We have to SNEAK by them sometimes because they're always trying to peer out and if one sees us walk by they alert the media and they all wake up or run over to watch the movement. There's a wire lid on the tub and when I take it off I have to now make sure Kitty is nowhere around because the Wyandotte and the Easter Egger will jump right out of the tub up to my shoulder. Not too happy about that. I really didn't want to have to clip their beautiful wings that are just coming in. Just trying to be super careful.
Don't want to be a human perch and don't want them to think they can fly down to the floor either.
I've taken them outside twice on super warm days (not so hot here in the Northwest yet). I bring them out in a basket with a towel and they stay pretty close to the basket. We just sit on the grass with them and they run in and around, but always close. The dogs sit with us and they snuggle up to them too. When they get tired, they start going back to the basket and bundle, which means they are ready to come back inside to the brooder.
So far, other than losing my silkie on that second day home, they have been a joy and amazing to watch. Every one except my big white cochin, Miss Bitty White has got tail feathers. Every day they get bigger and change. I still worry about this and that, but have taken lots of suggestions from BYC. Thanks everyone! I'm loving this.
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