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

[TwoCrows]

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.

They are going to be do pretty when they grow up!

 

[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.

 

[TwoCrows]

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.

They are really looking good!!

 

[JellybeanJean]

8 1/2 weeks. Sad news today, there was a coyote attack and Rachel (aka little Ricardo) was seriously injured. I had to make the hard decision to not let him suffer, he was humanly sent to chicken heaven to be with Elvis Peckley. Thunder, Clover and Peggy Sue where in a state of shock after the incident. We moved them into a safer location to get them settled down. Any typical day they would fuss if they get held, but they were so in shock that I just held all three in my lap for ten minutes. I wanted them to know they were safe and I was safe. They hung out in their cage with the big girls for the day. They seemed relaxed after I came home from work. The big girls went out to play and the Sumatra chicks got to run around the 200 sqft run. The took a well deserved spa break in the dirt and ran about in a happy demeanor. Phew, chicken keeping can sure be an emotional rollercoaster. I'm relieved they seemed to bounce back after such trauma. Resilient chicks!!

 

[TwoCrows]

8 1/2 weeks. Sad news today, there was a coyote attack and Rachel (aka little Ricardo) was seriously injured. I had to make the hard decision to not let him suffer, he was humanly sent to chicken heaven to be with Elvis Peckley. Thunder, Clover and Peggy Sue where in a state of shock after the incident. We moved them into a safer location to get them settled down. Any typical day they would fuss if they get held, but they were so in shock that I just held all three in my lap for ten minutes. I wanted them to know they were safe and I was safe. They hung out in their cage with the big girls for the day. They seemed relaxed after I came home from work. The big girls went out to play and the Sumatra chicks got to run around the 200 sqft run. The took a well deserved spa break in the dirt and ran about in a happy demeanor. Phew, chicken keeping can sure be an emotional rollercoaster. I'm relieved they seemed to bounce back after such trauma. Resilient chicks!!

Oh I am so sorry for your loss.

 

[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.

 

[TwoCrows]

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.

Beautiful birds, aren't they?! I think you are doing good by holding and hand feeding them. They can be a bit wild. Thanks for sharing photos, I just love this breed!

 

[fluffycrow]

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

 

[JellybeanJean]

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

Thank you. They are my first Sumatra. And they are so fascinating I just couldn't keep them all to myself

 

[JellybeanJean]

11 weeks old:

Boy do they grow fast! They are taking shape now and their feather definition is really coming in. Thunder is such a handsome and mellow cockerel. He lets me pet him and all three come running to see me when I visit them with a handful of food. Thunder even came and sat on my hand without me picking him up.