My Flock Story -- 2023

[3KillerBs]

This one:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/attachments/img_20230202_105823486-jpg.3393485/

That's just the angle of the photo. The toes are pink, but the foot is black further up.

 

[3KillerBs]

22 Easter Eggs!

 

[3KillerBs]

I widened the babies' horizons today.

Isn't this a pretty face?

Here they are getting their first peek at the outside world.

 

[3KillerBs]

Meanwhile, over in the main coop, somehow the January hatch keeper pullet has managed to get into the integration pen with the March babies. Maybe she jumped in behind my back while I had the lid open to put feed and water in?

I couldn't catch her so she's stuck in there until roosting time tonight when I can nab her in the dark.

 

[3KillerBs]

All babies safe under their plate. I haven't had one get lost yet, but I've heard of it happening so I check.

Also, the January girl was removed from the integration pen. There is no sign of any conflict. Look at how they'd cuddled up for the night.

 

[3KillerBs]

Opened the chick openings in the integration pen today so the March chicks could integrate. First thing that happened was the January hatch chicks going in to drink from the open waterer.

They came out to explore but couldn't figure out how to get back in to go to bed -- except for one little one who ended up in the feather pile with the January hatch -- so I had to put them back through their door.

Funny how some batches won't go out for a couple days, some go in and out right away, and some go out but can't find their way back.

 

[3KillerBs]

A very bad photo of one March chick in a pile of January -- with my most junior male, Rameses Jr.

 

[3KillerBs]

Opened the brooder entirely today:

I should have taken the heat lamp out because we *ought* to be past last frost, but I'm concerned that 22 chicks might be too much for the plate once they get a little bigger so it's staying until I'm certain it's unnecessary.

 

[3KillerBs]

Not all chicks got photographed because they're slippery little escape artists at this age.

When I went out to do this I found one little unfortunate stuck down inside the nearly-empty feeder. Can't have been there long though because I offered it water immediately after I rescued it and it didn't want any.

 

[NanaK]

Little ones can really move!

I see your feeder in one of your pictures. I have one just like it and had a chick end up trapped too. I took a lid from a butter tub the same size as the top of the feeder. I cut a space for the handles and no more babies trapped. Works great and you just lift the side to fill.
Just thought I'd pass it along.

Those babies really are darlin! Can't wait to see the splashes grow out.