I received my lil' chickies yesterday morning from Murray McMurray. I ordered 13 RIR pullets, 12 BO pullets, 5 BO roos. They sent 1 extra BO roo and what looks to me like a White Crested Black Polish (bantam??) probably a roo. These little buggers are so cute and active already. One or two seem a little lethargic, but hoping they will perk on up.
Yesterday when they came, I just had a big rubbermaid box for them. I didn't realize how many chicks, and how much room they would take up. So my hubby went and bought one of those long galvanized troughs for me to put them in. Now they have plenty of room to move around, get in the heat, get out of the heat, and not be crowded.
They still seemed to be pecking at each other a little. The RIR are some feisty little bullies it seems. So I went outside and dug up a lump of grass with the dirt clod on it and put in there for them to play one and nibble on. They loved it! Had it picked apart by this morning. And it stopped all the picking on each other. I read about it somewhere online.
I guess what I'm getting at, does anyone have any more tips or ideas like this for me? Are RIR always this assertive? I bought those for egg laying and the BO for eggs and everything I read says they are easier on kids. I'll post some pics of my little ones later. I'm also trying to talk hubby into letting me get some goslings later this month. I've always loved birds and since I can't have inside birds, I'll have all the outside ones I can get! We live in the country so we have room!!
Yesterday when they came, I just had a big rubbermaid box for them. I didn't realize how many chicks, and how much room they would take up. So my hubby went and bought one of those long galvanized troughs for me to put them in. Now they have plenty of room to move around, get in the heat, get out of the heat, and not be crowded.
They still seemed to be pecking at each other a little. The RIR are some feisty little bullies it seems. So I went outside and dug up a lump of grass with the dirt clod on it and put in there for them to play one and nibble on. They loved it! Had it picked apart by this morning. And it stopped all the picking on each other. I read about it somewhere online.
I guess what I'm getting at, does anyone have any more tips or ideas like this for me? Are RIR always this assertive? I bought those for egg laying and the BO for eggs and everything I read says they are easier on kids. I'll post some pics of my little ones later. I'm also trying to talk hubby into letting me get some goslings later this month. I've always loved birds and since I can't have inside birds, I'll have all the outside ones I can get! We live in the country so we have room!!