Thirteen day old chicks, flying already???

[SarahIrl]

My three chicks are trying - and very vearly succeeding - in flying. They are crazy as can be, they hate to be handled, but I make sure to pick them up every day. One in particular will runa nd fly up about a foot already, they only just started getting feathers on their backs and breast. Do I have to put a lid on my 2 foot high brooder??

 

[gryeyes]

Quote:
My brooder is in my bathroom. I keep the door closed (and it opens out, so it's safe from being pushed in by nosy and demanding dogs) and because I do NOT have a lid on the brooder, I occasionally find a chick standing in the middle of the bathmat, looking at me with this "What?!?" expression. Or, as they get older, and even more feathered, peering at its reflection in the sink faucet.

Some folks make lids out of screens or hardware cloth. I don't, and didn't, bother. The bathroom is easy to clean. I cheer my chicks ON when they make it to the top edge of the side of the brooder and balance there. Or when I open the door and find all of them roosting on the edge!

But that's just me.

Little fuzzbutts are so cute and clever!

 

[chickfamilyonsleepyhollow]

We had our chicks in a 4 four foot high box and they were able to fly out with ease at 2 weeks ... my daughter called them the "Escape Artists" ... we topped the box with a old screen that we clipped with clothespins ... I'd suggest you put something on top unless you're ok with them flying around. Good luck

 

[wsdareme]

Oh, yes, they learn to fly at a VERY early age! I had a lid on my brooder from the start, and it's a good thing! Every time I would go out to check on them they'd be so happy and excited to see me (I hope) and they would start "flight practice". It gets pretty funny! We have modified our brooder at 3 weeks to a "duplex" (two totes side by side with the walls cut out in between. It gives them more room. We're just lacking in headroom -- I wish the totes were taller. They don't seem to make the clear ones in the taller styles. Just pull up a chair and sit back and watch -- it's pure entertainment.

 

[catterbug]

I was also surprised at what an early age my chicks started flying. I have always had a lid on my brooder. I just use metal shelving that has the holes in it. Everytime I take one off to chage water, play with them etc, if I don't put it back on I have 2 or 3 chicks standing on the top checking everything out!

 

[elmo]

Did you notice where the first feathers came in? Yes, wing feathers. My bantams were able to fly straight up almost two feet by the end of their first week. When you think about it, it makes perfect sense. Something as small and vulnerable on the ground as a chick needs to start flying as quickly as possible.