The Chicks Are Growing and Thriving
The youngest residents at my Bedford, New York farm are growing and thriving.
Last month, I shared images of 54 cute, fluffy, and very healthy chicks that arrived from Murray McMurray Hatchery, a 104 year old company in Webster City, Iowa. Among them - Whiting True Blue, Whiting True Green, French Black Copper Marans, and Silver Laced Wyandottes. Upon arrival, they were housed in my stable feed room, where we set up three brooders – heated enclosures that provide warmth and protection. Yesterday, they were all big enough and strong enough to move down to my chicken coop "nursery," where they will stay for several more weeks, until they can mingle with the rest of the flock.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
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- If you follow this blog regularly, you may recall the arrival of these adorable chicks. They arrived in a well-ventilated cardboard box – all wide awake and peeping.
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- Right away, they were moved into the feed room at the stable. Each brooder designated for a specific breed. The room is kept warm very warm and these babies are checked several times a day.
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- The babies were just a couple days old, but already very alert and curious.
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- Yesterday was moving day to the chicken coops. I have four coops where I house my chickens, Guinea hens and turkeys. The first coop is always used for the young chicks, so they can be closely monitored during these initial weeks.
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- And look how big they are now. What a difference two-and-a-half weeks make! These youngsters are so happy to be in their new brooder, where they have much more room to roam and stretch their wings.
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- The chicks are taller, more slender and very eager to explore their new surroundings – a sign of good health. At this stage, they are still confined to an indoor space, with sliding doors for fresh air, but in a few weeks, they will have access to a small outdoor area that is still separated from the bigger birds.
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- Every time the chicks are moved, they are reintroduced to their food and water dishes, so there is never any confusion. Chickens are also omnivores. Once mature, chickens will eat small insects in addition to their seeds, grass and grains.
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- These chicks are still on starter. A good chick starter feed will contain protein for weight gain and muscle development, plus vitamins and minerals to keep them healthy and to build their immune systems. The chicks are fed organic chick starter feed for the first six to eight weeks.
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- These chicks have several feeders and several waterers in the brooder. A chick should never have to “wait in line”. On average, about 10-chicks can consume approximately one-pound of chick starter feed per day. For 54-chicks, that adds up to more than five-pounds of chick starter feed per day.
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- This is the first time the different breeds are able to mingle. The chicks are getting to know each other. Different chicken breeds can live successfully together in what’s called a mixed flock. Some breeds are known to be very docile and calm, while others have a more dominant personality. I am very glad all my chickens get along very well together.
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- Chicks drink a lot of water. Baby chicks should drink about one-and-a-half to two times the amount of food they eat. Without it, they will dehydrate very quickly. The water is kept plentiful, clean, and fresh at all times. To drink, they dip their beaks into water and tip their heads back, which allows the liquid to drip down their throats.
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- Chickens love to roost – and they start practicing within days of hatching. Here’s a chick perched atop the feeder. It’s not far from the ground, but one must start somewhere.
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- Most birds, including chickens, hear well. Birds have ears on both sides of their heads, and unlike humans, birds do not have external flaps on their ears. Instead, the opening of the ear is covered by a special tuft of feathers. These feathers protect the ear without impairing perception of sound.
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- Chickens have their own personalities – some are more active or more curious than others. They also have very keen memories – they can recognize more than 100 different faces.
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- Chicks can be messy. they kick shavings, they kick food, they kick anything that gets underneath their feet. They’re experimenting with foraging and keep busy moving from one side of the brooder to the other.
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- It’s hard not to notice the large feet, but it won’t take long before these birds grow into them.
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- Chickens are gentle, shy birds, but because these are being raised around a lot of activity, they will be well-socialized and friendly. This duo is checking out the rest of their flock from a distance.
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- At this time, most of the chicks stay in their breed groups – birds of a feather, flock together. However, they are also learning to communicate with everyone in the flock. Chickens are capable of at least 30 different vocalizations, each meaning something specific – everything from “I am hungry” to “there’s a predator nearby.” These chicks are already chirping quite a bit.
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- I am so happy with this group of peeps – they are all strong good eaters, and will be a great addition to my flock.
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- And in a few months, these hens will start laying pretty, nutritious, and delicious eggs. I’ve raised many different chicken breeds and varieties over the years – they are all wonderful.
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