Show off your baby chicks!

[tinakevin]

She is a cross between a silkie dad and I believe a barredrock. Or it could be a barnvelder glw or a rir but def a silkie dad lol

 

[Nathan J]

Just got these little ones in the mail yesterday. Hatched Monday, Cackle Hatchery in MO, received Tuesday at 3 pm. 16 total (ordered 15). 5 Black Australorps, 5 Barred Rocks, and 6 Golden Comets (sex links; proprietary Cackle breed: "The parent stock is made from a proprietary Cackle Hatchery

bloodline/strain of the Cherry Egger male and the Rhode Island White female.")










Using the Mama Heating Pad method and I reduced the brooder down to pretty small for just the first couple days (on advice from someone on this forum) until they get the idea thru their head to go under it for warmth. Feeding fermented chick starter which they seem to love, as they don't touch the dry in the feeder.

They seem to be doing very well. Eating, drinking, cheeping happily.

 

[tifanicole]

They're SO FLUFFY!!!!

 

[mobius]

@Nathan J Great job so far, doing all good things for your babies! Next stop in a few days: roost sticks, playtoys, dirt/grass clumps! Then a little later grit, treats, dust bath and field trips...

 

[mandbjaussi]

Our new chicks that came in this morning. Thelma (darker on left) and Louise (lighter on right) our Ameraucana chicks.

Thelma

Louise

 

[Nathan J]

@Nathan J Great job so far, doing all good things for your babies! Next stop in a few days: roost sticks, playtoys, dirt/grass clumps! Then a little later grit, treats, dust bath and field trips...

Yep, got all that planned. I have a big(ger) brooder (3.5'x7') in our small barn next to their coop (needs to be finished, but almost there) that will give them lots of room to explore/play. I have roosts and some big wood pieces, etc. And planning to get them out on the grass when things warm up again. That'll be interesting as our 2 cats and 2 dogs get used to these new creatures in their midst.

I'm also growing mealworms, so that will be fun (and nutritious).

Thanks

 

[mobius]

Yep, got all that planned. I have a big(ger) brooder (3.5'x7') in our small barn next to their coop (needs to be finished, but almost there) that will give them lots of room to explore/play. I have roosts and some big wood pieces, etc. And planning to get them out on the grass when things warm up again. That'll be interesting as our 2 cats and 2 dogs get used to these new creatures in their midst.

I'm also growing mealworms, so that will be fun (and nutritious).

Thanks

Yay mealworms yes I got those and it is a great way to train them if you want, or just for a great protein treat especially for molting! Because I kept the chicks (protected) inside for a bit, my small dogs got very used to them and there is no difficulty...dogs were trained to leave them alone early...now they are all out in the yard together...and chickens are big enough now that if there is any infringement, a little peck on the nose takes care of it...after about three weeks with the chicks I would take a dog into the bathroom, sit on the floor with the dog a ways away, and carefully bring out a chick in my hands....for a short time. The dog satisfied his curiosity and eventually the chick could wander around on the floor with the dog just watching. Now the dogs actually kind of protect the chickens...by barking a lot if anything or nothing is going on in the yard. It CAN be done, but my dogs are small and don't have a high prey drive. Cats, no idea here...

 

[Nathan J]

It CAN be done, but my dogs are small and don't have a high prey drive. Cats, no idea here...

Yeah, I'm not so worried about my dogs (Golden Ret & Lab/Golden mix, 11 yrs old), they'll be curious but especially since they're a bit old it won't be a problem. The cats are more of a wild card. I won't be leaving them alone unattended, for sure, but I think they'll ignore them after an initial curiosity stage. But I'll always be watchful at least until the chicks are grown.

 

[tifanicole]

So, our two newer chicks just would not cooperate for a photo shoot but here you go

Rose

And Blanche

 

[mobius]

So, our two newer chicks just would not cooperate for a photo shoot but here you go


Rose


And Blanche

Aww! Look they are feathering already, what cuties!