Wheeee.... They are sooo squishy

[vickichicki]

First time Mom... I am dead excited!

My recent all grown up chickens are on their way to a friends house. She has 18 acres and can handle them all.

So already suffering empty nest syndrome... This is what greeted me upon my arrival home.




I have fallen in love!!!

Thanks to all the awesome and informative people on here, I have the confidence to be a first time mom.

They all seem to be chirpy and active. My husband and I have spent the last 20 mintues chuckling at the silly positions they are falling to sleep in.



Yes, they are both alseep!!!

Can not wait to post some more pictures in a couple of days of their progress.

Last but not least... Could not resist this pic too...

 

[CochinBrahmaLover]

Sooooo adorable!! Love them!!

What breeds?

 

[vickichicki]

They are Rhode Island.... Should all be girlies.

Checked on them all this morning... They are doing superb. All running around like little terrors. Even just overnight they look like they have grown in size.

Quick question...

Most chicks that are sold are 1 day chicks. However my husband did not confirm this. How can I tell if they are day old, vs say.. three days old. Will that matter at this stage? My heat lamp is at 95 now... Do I assume 1 day and go from there with the temp changes a week from now?

 

[sumi]

After 3-4 days their little wing feathers will start appearing. These little things grow unbelievably quickly! I think you must lower the temperature by 5* every weeks until the are fully feathered. So, after 6-7 weeks they should be o.k. without the heat lamp, unless it gets really cold. BTW they are adorable! Enjoy!

 

[debid]

Were they shipped from a hatchery? They ship chicks on hatch day so knowing what day they shipped will tell you exactly when they hatched. But no, it's not such a big difference that you need to worry about 1 day vs. 3. Just pay attention to whether they seem warm and content and whether they have enough room to get away from the heat sometimes so they don't overheat and they'll be fine.

 

[vickichicki]

He purchased them from a hatchery just outside of the city.

They were showing wing tip feathers as of yesterday. Today the feathers are slightly fuller (looking more like feathers as opposed to feather stubs).
I am not seeing any other signs of feathers anywhere else yet.

They are all still doing great. We currently have them indoors. Located in my guest bathroom.

 

[CochinBrahmaLover]

Well I can tell you you wont have all girlies. 1 or 2 roos is my guess

Glad to know their doing well! When their about 2 weeks old they can start exploring

 

[Malibu99]

It's so... fluffy! AAH that's so cute!

And quoting my favorite movie, which this somehow reminded me of...

*trips* "I'm okay..... I'M FLUFFY!!!!!"

 

[vickichicki]

We are now on day 4. Wing feathers are coming in nicely and the chicks are preening them. It is kind of sad to see them working out the cute fluff.

They are also now getting distinct lumps on their rumps. Feeling a little pokey. Sure there will be feathers popping out there any time now.

Seems like they have doubled in size... I can not believe it. There is one that is sligh smaller than the rest, not by much. Have to keep and eye on that one make sure it is growing up with the rest... Do not want one singled out for being pint sized.

How long can I keep them in the plastic tote? At this current rate it seems like another week or two before they have outgrown it. Any suggestions on a temp home until they are ready to go to the coop?

 

[RonC]

Best I can recomend on the temperature is heat one end of the brooder and the other can be room temperature. They will regulate the temperature they want to be at by moving away from the light. Raise the light when they no longer stay direcly under it to lower the temp there. Think about a mother hen taking her chicks out in the winter. They wander about until they get chilled then back under mom. Mine PR's no longer wanted under their light at all at 3 weeks old. They were inside at about 68 degrees.They do sleep in some odd positions which can give you a hint on how the temperature is. Curled up in a "chick raft" under the light they are cold. Sleeping close together but stretched out they are comfortable. If far away from the light sleeping it is too warm.

You have some cuties there. Seeing yours reminds me of mine when they were little. I know what causes chicken math.