NC - My 1st Chickens

[Jx2inNC]

Here's the greeting I get when I go out in the morning, that I photographed today:

For some reason, I get the feeling the chickens are being watched. I'm not sure why...

 

[FlockMama]

Love the white cochin bantam and the rir....soooo cute!

 

[Jx2inNC]

Quote:
Thanks so much! I appreciate it.

 

[Jx2inNC]

Well, there's good news and bad news:

Good news - the black silkie is now a mama!

(Albeit to a mixed batch of eggs...)

Bad news - she already threw 2 chicks out.

I think the must have either been unhealthy or weaklings, but still. I suppose that's the chances you take by letting the mother handle things herself.

I do know there are more. How, you might ask?
Because when I lifted her up, through the tornado of pecking that covers my hand, I saw the little tiny sets of legs sticking down from little fur balls squished up in her wings and all over. Woohoo!

On a side not - since they are up in the nesting box, I'm hopeful they won't hop out or something and I'll find them squished on the ground after work or something. I'm not too worried though.

 

[Jx2inNC]

 

[Jx2inNC]

The little black one should be a silkie (we'll have to see as to who the dad would have been...possibly the white or buff roosters I have?).

If I had to guess about the others, I'd say those were probably from the sex links or RIR (father of course unknown, but I've only got one standard size rooster...so it should become more obvious in the coming weeks).

 

[LC orps]

welcome to N.C....

 

[Jx2inNC]

Well, it has been fairly chilly (for the chicks) the past day or so, but I checked on them this morning and they seemed fine. I pulled the heat lamp closer to the ground/box, but the thermometer still only read 60-something* this morning. But there they were, mom and chicks under the lamp, chicks going under her wings, and back out to check around, the squeeze back under when I get close.

I know at this young they need to stay warm, which I wouldn't be able to do short of bringing them inside, but mom is taking care of them just fine, so I'm not worried!

 

[Jx2inNC]

Silkie mix

1 of the 2 others (Speckled Sussex & RIR or sex-link likely)

 

[Jx2inNC]

I think I got lucky yesterday...

The chicks are maybe a week and a half old, if that. I came home at about 7:30, already 50* or under. Checked in the coop like I always do, pick up the mother, look underneath...you know the drill.

Well sure enough...only 2 chicks. My first thought is they must have gone outside during the day and one got trampled or something. Of course I could find a flashlight worth a crud, so that took me 10 minutes alone.

Got in the pen, looked EVERYWHERE. Couldn't find evidence of the chick at all. I actually wondered if it mistook the other silkie sitting on eggs as mom and went near her. But then I check way up under the coop, and squished in the crevice of a log and the edge of the coop is the little chick, head first, seemingly shivering. I thought I might be too late but I lunged to grab it and the LOUD chirping indicated otherwise!

Of course, mom jumps out of the box so fast when she hears this I don't know if her feet touched the ground. She knew it was hers and even threw in a couple gratuitous pecks at my hand (which is pretty rare now that she's used to me) and then gathered up all 3.

Figuring that these chicks need bein about 85*+ temps, I don't suppose the chick could have been out there all that long and still be alive with as cold as it was. Either way, glad that I found it in time!