My babies are here!

[flirty31]

I am BRAND NEW to this urban chicken farming thing and on Friday the 7th my husband and I brought homw our first 3 chicks from the feed store




This is Gertrude, our Americana. We also have Adelaide, a barred rock, and Marge(ne), a Rhode Island Red. They all have little wind feathers and the beginnings of tail feathers that have recently sprouted. Any idea how old that makes them? We thought they were 48 hrs old when we got them, but now I am thinking they're actually a week old.

Any tips on handling? Can there be too much handling? It's 85 outside today so I was going to take them outside of their brooder to run in the grass. Anything I should be weary of outside at this young age?

Thanks!

 

[jennyworley35]

Watch for predators and don't leave them unattended.

 

[flirty31]

Thank you! I have two dogs, but I will lock them in the house for sure. I will probably never leave them alone with the chickens, ever.

Also, I am planning to be outside with them the whole time. I wonder if it's okay for them to scratch and peck at the lawn (there's no fertilizer or chemicals on the lawn), since that's probably what they'd be doing in the wild.

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Thank you! I have two dogs, but I will lock them in the house for sure. I will probably never leave them alone with the chickens, ever.

Also, I am planning to be outside with them the whole time. I wonder if it's okay for them to scratch and peck at the lawn (there's no fertilizer or chemicals on the lawn), since that's probably what they'd be doing in the wild.

Maybe use a large box with bottom cut out. That way they have a boundary and can't get to far away from you. They are pretty fast, even at that young age. And yes, Never leave them unattended until they can fly away from predators.

 

[flirty31]

Thanks for the idea of a box with the bottom cut out. That would probably work!

 

[Jenny1]

They are cute

 

[Missbehavin]

Mine started getting those feathers at about 4 days. So it's safe to say they are about that old. Mine are a week and a day old today. For the past two days I have been taking them out to scratch around and they seem to love it. I am always standing with them. I have a bag of treats that I shake and call them, and now they come running to me. My way of training

. It is about 85 here in the afternoon so I am not worried about temp right now. Good luck with your little fuzzy butts