We got these little chicks on March 31st, roughly a month ago. At that time they were pretty small. When I look at them today, it is amazing how much they have grown, especially the meat birds. They have quadrupled in size, easily! Thankfully, their feathers are finally growing in, so the bald patches they have had since the beginning are filling in. They still are kind of shaggy looking, but they are slowly looking more like real chickens!
In only one month, they have gone from:
The chick is orange because it's under a heat lamp, we didn't dye them! :)
to this:
The meat chickens got so big, that we had to move them to the coop in the barn last weekend. I have to admit that since moving them, we have come to the realization that they are dumb as stumps. When we put them in the coop, we had a ramp going down under the coop into a screened area with a dirt floor. We showed them how to go down the ramp and to go back up. We showed them where their food and water were. We thought they were set. Wrong!
The first time we went back out to check on them, all 12 of them were on the dirt floor, huddled together in the corner looking cold and miserable. Apparently they forgot how to go up the ramp to be comfortable under the heat lamp. (it was in the low 50s outside) We tried to lead them up the ramp, but they did not understand and refused to walk up the ramp. We ended up having to put plywood over the hole where the ramp was to keep them in the upper part of the coop.
The side of the coop is on hinges so it can be opened to clean. You have to open it in order to refill the food and water. When the wall is opened, the chickens get excited and run over to you because they know you have food. Unfortunately, they do not stop at the edge of the floor, they run right off the edge and fall to the ground. It's not really that far to the ground, so they don't get hurt, but the look on their faces when they hit the ground is pretty hilarious, they just sit there in a heap, looking surprised. However, when you reach for them to pick them up and put them back in the coop, they run off like you had a butcher knife in your hand or something. The ensuing chase around the barn to catch them is pretty annoying.
Considering how smart are laying hens and roo are, we are rather surprised that these meat chickens are such bird-brains!
Considering how smart are laying hens and roo are, we are rather surprised that these meat chickens are such bird-brains!
Our two laying hen chicks were much smaller when we got them than the meat birds were. They have also grown, but not as much. Unfortunately, they have lost their baby chick cuteness and have progressed into the ragged look of birds that are growing feathers so they look a bit rough right now.
They younger so they are still in the basement under heat lamps, and will stay for another week or two before being moved outside.
We seem to be overrun, these days, with baby animals. Our kitten is growing like a weed and is so feisty he just wears us out. I don't think there is anything as devilish as an growing kitten. Nothing is sacred to that little orange ball of fire. He really drives us crazy! Such is the way of a kitten. That is why they are so adorable, so you don't kill them! (just kidding) Here is a picture of the little scamp.
Have a great rest of the week! I will be using mine to plant my starter seeds, it is finally getting warmer here so hopefully the seedlings will be able to be planted outside in a few weeks when they are big enough.
Jade :)
All photos were taken by Jade
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