Sumatra babies - 1 day old to current - come along and watch me grow!

[JellybeanJean]

I was fortunate enough to be gifted these four beautiful Sumatra chicks. 3 black and one blue. I thought it would be fun to share with you their growth from 1 day old to current. This is my first time with this rare breed. So far they are very curious and love hanging out with their Mama. They crawl all over my hand and jump on my arms, shoulders, and head!

I originally named them to be all girls - just in hopes the universe was listening. I really don't know though. So there is: Clover (originally orange, but now green leg band), Rachel (no leg band), Thumbelina (pink leg band) - who now I call Thunder because I think it's really a boy, and the little blue girl Peggy Sue.

Please enjoy the photos.

They are 3 weeks old now. I will add more as they grow.

 

[JellybeanJean]

5 weeks old. Moved out to 5x7 tent in breezeway with their sweeter heater. Doing well. Outside temps have been between 30-50° at night. I have the sweeter heater hanging with a thermometer on the floor reading 70-75°.

Black Sumatra:
Thunder (red leg band 9/16")
Clover (blue leg band 9/16")
Rachel (no leg band)

Blue Sumatra:
Peggy Sue (no leg band)

Thank you. Enjoy.

 

[JellybeanJean]

12 weeks old:

Just on que, Thunder is starting to crow! It's been a busy week getting my old garden prepped for them to move into. I got the Hoopty Coop mostly constructed. Now I need to move the coop in and work on that. They will be fine in the tractor for now. It's 5x8 so there is plenty of room for the 3 of them.

 

[JellybeanJean]

They will be 4 weeks old on Monday. It will be so much fun to learn more about them as they grow.

Do you have Sumatras?

 

[JellybeanJean]

Here is a few fun pictures I caught of the first time I saw clover fly up to the high bar about 2 1/2 weeks old. Also one of clover stretching to show how big her wings are getting.

 

[JellybeanJean]

Aww....adorable! No I have never kept them but they are definitely on my "have to have" list! I will definitely be following along here to live vicariously through you.

From what I've read they are quiet flighty and nervous birds. More like a pheasant. But i think bonding with them when they were first born has really helped. They come running over to greet me every time I go to their cage. They love to cuddle by my face and pull at my hair like it's a toy.

 

[JellybeanJean]

They are growing so fast!!!! Adorable!

6 weeks old:
I have found that Thunder, who I'm 98% sure is a male, is very quite compared to the girls. Clover, Peggy Sue, and Rachel will be chatting it up while eating from my hand while Thunder doesn't make a peep. They are all really growing into their own personality. I put a dust bath in there tent and so often when I walk by they are just standing in there looking at me , like "What mama?!" Peggy Sue was flopping around one day trying to get everyone else out of the dust bath so she could have it all to herself. She would scoot her head in-between their legs and start flopping her wings which would toss sand all over the other chick! The other chick would decide they didn't like that and get out of her way. What a silly girl.

 

[JellybeanJean]

7 1/2 weeks old:
Moved the Sumatra chickens outside into a make shift house. Very temporary until the meat birds go to freezer camp. Then they will go in the chicken tractor (5wide x 8long x 4high), until their coop is finished. The green/blue iridescent on the black Sumatra chicks is really starting to show. Beautiful in person. They move too quick, but I got a some what okay photo that shows the iridescent colors.

 

[JellybeanJean]

10 weeks old. The rest of the Freedom Rangers went to freezer camp this weekend. We got the chicken tractor pressure washed and ready for the Sumatras to move in. They will be in there until I finish their coop up in my garden.

They are truly a gorgeous breed. I have been continuing to, twice a day, hand feed them. Clover and Peggy Sue really like to come stand or sit on my hands. I have been holding them more, even Thunder. I find that went I set them back down, if you apply a little pressure to their back, it will make them submit. I feel this had helped show them that I am the "Mama rooster". After they are in this position they let me softy pet them. I feel this has really helped build our trust together. For such a nervous breed they really have responded to these techniques.

Appearance: their legs and toes (on the top side) are now all black. The pad of the foot is the only yellow remaining now. This last week was the first I've noticed (all be it very subtle) some growth in the comb. The iridescent feathers on the black Sumatras are a gorgeous green, blue, and purple.

 

[fluffycrow]

Oh I'm definitely tagging along if you don't mind! I love Sumatra!