Small feathered piglets

[polkadotchick]

Hi guys! I am a first time chicken momma for about a month now, and boy do I love my little munchkins! Although I swear nothing can prepare you for how much these little monsters eat! I told my husband that we must have bought small feathered piglets instead of chicks, and they are now collectively referred to as 'the pigs'. This is a little confusing for visitors, even more so because we also have a dog named Monkey and a cat named Possum. Our friends think we're nuts....

We have 3 RIRs and 3 barred rock. We bought these because that's what they had at the feed-store and we have noticed that the barred rocks are way more friendly! Has anyone else found this? The little reds are sweet and all, but they don't jump all over me like the rocks do. And little Muffin just wants to sit on me all the time! And come one, come all..... It's never long before all three rocks are in my lap. My life has been reduced to sitting on a bucket in the shed, talking to chickens!

I bought a big bag of dried mealworms for them, and they were like, meh.... So for treats they get fresh strawberries out of the garden and some raisins which they go crazy for!

We are still finishing off the coop and run, and I am getting more and more anxious about their first night outside....

 

[scratch'n'peck]

I have a couple of Barred Rocks as part of a mixed flock and they are real characters and usually the first chickens on my lap when I sit down, too. I remember sitting on the bucket in the garage with them at that age. I think they are just as much fun as adults. It is a good thing they love food, because that is the best way to train them. Treats are the best way for me to get them back into the run after a session of supervised foraging.

Your chickens may develop a taste for dried meal worms when they are older. I wonder if you put the sealed bag of worms in the freezer if they would help preserve them.

It can take a little while for them to get used to going in at night and roosting once they graduate to the coop, but don't worry, they will figure it out.

 

[TwoCrows]

Your flock is just adorable!! They look so happy and comfortable with you.

I have found that RIR's are not all that friendly. It's like they tolerate you and you had better just feed them. That is it. LOL I have some 4 week old Barred Rocks and they already are lap hounds. Can't get them OFF of my lap. Sweet as can be!! So a big vote for the Barred Rocks!

Enjoy your flock!