The anticipation may kill me

[CJreef]

Here they are 2 weeks old when I took the pictures yesterday.

A little girl

All 8 of them. First day on the roost

A girl, left, and a boy, right, pigging out

Trying my wings

 

[CJreef]

I thought for sure I had posted these pictures. Well, here they are at 3 weeks

 

[Missbc]

Out of the 10 chicks I picked up at the post office four weeks ago, one has been named Roo.

Angel (White australorp)
Roo (australorp)
Stella (australorp, my fav)
Unnamed golden laced Wyandotte

They are all enjoying their time in the run. I let the big hens out in the afternoon and the littles get to go into the big part of the run to explore.

 

[CJreef]

Now we are 4 weeks old, almost all feathered out and head feathers beginning to show up.

 

[CJreef]

Out of the 10 chicks I picked up at the post office four weeks ago, one has been named Roo.

Angel (White australorp)
Roo (australorp)
Stella (australorp, my fav)
Unnamed golden laced Wyandotte

They are all enjoying their time in the run. I let the big hens out in the afternoon and the littles get to go into the big part of the run to explore.

You are one lucky gal. One Roo out of 10 is fantastic.

 

[CJreef]

Missbc: Our chicks are both 4 weeks old. Do you still use a light on them at night? This is my first time as a mother hen and I'm not sure what they would need at night if I move them to the barn. They are in a spare bedroom for now so they no longer need the radiant heater but the nights are cool here in PA and I'm not sure they would be okay in the barn. Thanks.

 

[Missbc]

Missbc: Our chicks are both 4 weeks old. Do you still use a light on them at night? This is my first time as a mother hen and I'm not sure what they would need at night if I move them to the barn. They are in a spare bedroom for now so they no longer need the radiant heater but the nights are cool here in PA and I'm not sure they would be okay in the barn. Thanks.

I had a light on constantly when they were in the basement. Just an overhead light- heating was and still is with the premier one plate.

I was worried the first night, but they settled down before dark. I have a small kennel (30”x19”) with a cover on it and the premier plate inside. They figured it out very quickly- I didn’t have to show them where it was or what to do. They walked right in and snuggled under or on the plate. They aren’t using the plate during the day for warmth but my overnight temps have been in the 50s.

 

[Missbc]

Oh but they did chirp a lot right before dark that first night. I suppressed an urge to go to them, because I wanted them to go on their kennel on their own.

 

[CJreef]

Oh but they did chirp a lot right before dark that first night. I suppressed an urge to go to them, because I wanted them to go on their kennel on their own.

Thank you. That's very helpful. Our nights are still in the 30s and 40s so I will have to wait a couple weeks and then I'll use the Premier plate in the barn. I'll have to use a sturdy extension cord to reach the back of the barn. They are growing so fast I can't believe it.