My first chicks and ducklings are four weeks old now. I lost two ducklings within a few hours of arrival and have one lame duck, but all of the chickens are doing well. I got a crazy assortment and now the breed personalities are starting to come out. Probably no surprise to you more experienced chickeners, but fun for me to see. The dark cornish are by far the most daring, agile and assertive. The first to use the perch, the first to try to hop over the divider, etc. I have one crested something (MM mystery chick) who thinks he's boss and dashes over to challenge my foot every time I step into the coop, the little chicks play leap frog over the cornish X's because they're too fat and slow to get out of the way. I have seen some of the littlest ones sleep on the backs of the cornish X's and on the backs of the ducks. I'm really glad they're out of the brooder and into the coop now, as the ducks made an awful mess of the brooder and I didn't really have a setup to separate them. They're still together but I've figured out a slightly better water situation that the ducks can't do quite so much damage with. At any rate, I just wanted to say how much fun I'm having with them and that I'm really glad I just jumped in and got them. Of course now I want more and am planning my next order for next spring, or next month...
