Peeps going nuts!

[LauraCTChick]

Oh my gosh my week old chicks are losing their minds!

They keep flapping the wing feathers they have gotten and running around and pecking each other. I'm a little nervous about putting in the new hatchlings that are coming this week. Are they supposed to do this?

 

[smallcitychick]

Yes

They're getting used to their environment and testing out new little feathers.

 

[goldnchocolate]

Yep....they get crazy

. If you don't already have a top on your brooder now would be the time to do that

I actually had a 2 covers on my brooder but there was a space approx 3 inches between the 2 covers. The dust had begun to build up on the covers so that one day I was able to see teeny tiny footprints on the cover. Those little rascals had hopped up there and walked around before hopping back into the brooder.

 

[LauraCTChick]

So when can I move them into the yet to be built tractor? I am going to put some screen mesh over the bucket so the heat and chicks stay in. I didn't know they would get this advanced so quickly! Dang!

 

[Serrin]

Give them another week and you're really going to see some serious flapping!

I had one of mine get so carried away with herself at 2 weeks of age that she flapped herself clean clear out of the bath tub!

It was shortly after that incident that I decided they had outgrown the bath tub....good-bye tub brooder, hello closet!!

Just relax and enjoy this stage. They're so entertaining from here on out.

On moving them outside, a lot is going to depend on your weather conditions. (i.e. cold and or wet) If you're having nice warm days and mild nights (above 50F) then they could probably go outside at about 4 weeks of age. But, if you're in a climate like ours, we had to wait for things to warm up a bit. The chicks didn't go out until they were 6 and a half weeks old. But, you could put them outside for the daylight hours and bring them back in for the night. Lots of people do that.

So, when do we get to see pictures of your little goobers??? Must have pictures!

 

[LauraCTChick]

Well here they are . . .

There are 12 in this bucket. Another 12 are in lockdown as I type. We think it's hilarious that I have four yellow and eight brown. You can see on the brown ones their wings that have grown in. On the yellows, their wings are a little more hard to see.

This is our first hatch so we're pretty pumped. The weather here in northwestern CT is still very chilly and damp so they will remain indoors until May I'm thinking. As long as I can keep them contained. Say a prayer, huh?

 

[Boo-Boo's Mama]

Lord, please send LauraCTChick the strength she will need in this undertaking. AMEN!

Good luck and enjoy! They have given us so many funny moments...actually better than America's Funniest Home Videos!

 

[goldnchocolate]

They are so cute!!!!! Are you able to make something like this with a box. Even when the box gets too small you just add another box to the end of the first box and cut a door to make the two boxes into one box. Duct tape and zip ties are your friends

 

[LauraCTChick]

That's a fantastic idea! Thank you.