Mom, I'm booooored. And it's sooooooo hot. (Update: so much happier!)

[Uzuri]

Maybe I'll put the amazon.com box back in there; I took it out because they didn't seem interested, but maybe they were just too young! (Or just not in to internet shopping)

 

[coolchickens]

I'm just following this post and was wondering...why can't the brooder be somewhat duplicated to entertain chicks like the broody mom does? I've only used my broody mom to hatch mine and I just love watching how she handles the babies. She takes them out on day one into the coop and they all start scratching dirt and laying with wings out like mom sun bathing. When they get cold them run and warm up under mom. They never pick or fight as they are busy all the time. Seems bordom is the problem with putting them in brooders. Won't a plate of dirt and more space solve the picking problem and be more natural for them? (My broody on her third setting now,day 9, 15 eggs under her!)

 

[columbiacritter]

I've never had picking problems, but after the first 4 or 5 days I've always made sure there were things in the brooder to entertain and break up their lines of site so they can escape each other. Sticks, weeds, clods of dirt and grass, boxes, etc. And I change it around periodically so they have to explore it all over again.

 

[Uzuri]

So they are so much happier now

One, the weather cooled down. I left the lamp where it is, but they seem plenty warm enough.

Two, they got a little "perch" and a box to play in and they seem to have a lot of fun with both (mostly with dirtying both)

Three, they got some egg yolk! Of course, all 7 wanted the same little piece, so they also got some exercise :eyeroll

And four, I'm a dork, and my "picking problem" was actually just somebody's bum feathers coming in XD