The Fraggles

[sean_wonder]

If you have a rooster it should be all flock

I reallllllyyyyy hope not.

Good morning I always love following flock pages.

Me too! Any you'd recommend?

Morning folks

Morning John!

Yesterday, we took the chicks outside for the first time under heavy four person supervision since they've been picking at each other's toes (and their own.) I know they're bored but I don't have time to go shopping for something entertaining for them. I feel rather bad for them... I think I will be buying them chick grit soon so I can sprinkle treats for them to scratch up in the brooder. As I've been spending time with them, not only have I finally completely figured out which chick is which, but I also have made an accidental favorite... Princess Lay-a. She's not crazy, I've realized, but a quiet protector of her flock. As they get older and in less need of each other for warmth I'm sure she'll assert personal space boundaries, but in the meantime she has no qualms with a surprise peck on the back to get a chick or two out of the prime spot. The chicks all sleep together, but not piled up as though they're cold. Just kind of like a snuggly familial unit. They generally sleep almost under the heat lamp with their legs stretched out as though sun bathing. Beaker is still as dependent as ever, although Lay-a has joined Beaker in picking at her feather pants. They're epic, and she seems epically confused about them. Occasionally she'll check out her feet and stare at her pants before giving them a few swipes with her beak. Perhaps she uses them as little beak napkins? I tried to build them a roost out of sticks but every time they try to jump on the stick rolls off. Guess I'll have to buy one in addition to the entertainment... I'm also trying to find a product which will provide a comfortably dark place for the chicks to escape from the brooder light. Call me out on the use of a 24 hour red heat lamp all you want but it's currently the best method for me and I'm sticking with it. We try to take them all out once a day and play with them downstairs. Oh! Princess Lay-a's favorite thing to do in the whole wide world is to roost on shoulders. I walk around my house all the time with her happily perched up there. It’s the best feeling in the world.

 

[jsr5]

could try some glue to hold the rolly stick in place. You need some lincoln logs I have them but my Grand son would be very unhappy if I used em for roosts. If you are crafty and have popsickle sticks in your supplies you could make a roost quick out of that. but maybe best to just find a branch that has limbs to hold it from rolling and some that go up for them to climb on and roost on if they choose. I actually found my hobitses don't really prefer to roost but even as adults like to spend nights in a "puppy pile" I"ll get a pic of that tonight if I remember and post it.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

What sweet chicks!

Ok, I'll share some pics!

They are about 3 weeks old here

Altogether a little over 3 weeks.

 

[rjohns39]

Sean, I saw you had screen and binder clamps on your list. You're gonna need it soon. For my first chicks I had a setup just like yours and at about a week and a half to two weeks in I went to check on them and they were all out running around the floor. I don't know how quickly silkies get their wing feathers, but once they do they get adventurous.

 

[Nardo]

Also, has anyone had a chicken that was obsessed with another chicken? Beaker is never calm unless she can see Laya.

Yes, and the needy one was a hen and the one she obsessed with was a rooster

 

[WhoDatChick]

could try some glue to hold the rolly stick in place. You need some lincoln logs I have them but my Grand son would be very unhappy if I used em for roosts. If you are crafty and have popsickle sticks in your supplies you could make a roost quick out of that. but maybe best to just find a branch that has limbs to hold it from rolling and some that go up for them to climb on and roost on if they choose. I actually found my hobitses don't really prefer to roost but even as adults like to spend nights in a "puppy pile" I"ll get a pic of that tonight if I remember and post it.

My Silkie roosts on the highest roost.. and is probably second in command in my flock of all big gals and one Silkie! She’s a tough nugget!

 

[sean_wonder]

I think Chickie Minaj is a boy... just saw him/her challenged Cheryl and then Princess Lay-a. Cheryl tried to fight back but Lay-a ignored Chickie and s/he gave up shortly. Also is the only chick with a visible comb. Thoughts?

 

[sean_wonder]

Yes, and the needy one was a hen and the one she obsessed with was a rooster

oh lord no!!!

 

[sean_wonder]

could try some glue to hold the rolly stick in place. You need some lincoln logs I have them but my Grand son would be very unhappy if I used em for roosts. If you are crafty and have popsickle sticks in your supplies you could make a roost quick out of that. but maybe best to just find a branch that has limbs to hold it from rolling and some that go up for them to climb on and roost on if they choose. I actually found my hobitses don't really prefer to roost but even as adults like to spend nights in a "puppy pile" I"ll get a pic of that tonight if I remember and post it.

My Hobbitses omg that cracks me up I’ll check to see if we have lincoln logs but we definitely have big old branches laying around. My gals, even though they’re perfectly spread when awake, always sleep that way too. To combat the warmth of each other they all spread their legs and wings as if they’re tanning on a hot sunny day in the beach.

 

[jsr5]

I think Chickie Minaj is a boy... just saw him/her challenged Cheryl and then Princess Lay-a. Cheryl tried to fight back but Lay-a ignored Chickie and s/he gave up shortly. Also is the only chick with a visible comb. Thoughts?

Are they all supposed to be silkies? I notice Minaj has no extra toes and no fuzzy feets. I don't think s/he is a silkie and therefore having a visible non silkieish comb doesn't make him her a roo yet. Hens also challenge and such some if it seems to be play but they also practice setting up the pecking order. My silkies combs (both of my sikies turned out to be roos) were very slow to develope a comb and when they did it was a dark purplish wad that looks for all the world like somebody put their purple bubble gum on thier head. They are also charaterized by a dark blue purplish hue to their skin. So just saying ya may not have all silkies