Babies settling in

The baby chicks are doing great. If you figure they were born and shipped on Monday, they are not quite a week old. We have seen no problems (occasionally you find one has a leg problem or is particularly weak), and all are eating drinking, chirping - all of the chick skills.

We have had some problems with the outside outlet into which we have 4 extension cords plugged in to reach the yellow heater panel blowing a fuse. But it hasn’t been particularly cold in the nights, so if the babies lose the heater, they just cuddle up more under it until we rescue them with artificial heat. Eventually we hope one of the older hens will (literally) take them under her wing once they outgrow the brooder. But for the next few days we actually have TOO much heat vs not enough, so looking forward to milder temps for the chickies later this week.

For our first few batches of chicks, we raised them in a stock tank in the garage, then moved them out to the coop in a dog kennel. I have a vague memory of having to do that once all by myself when Steve was traveling on business - what a mess that was! The approach we use now is so much better. Yes, it does mean that I have to (get to?) trudge down to the coop every hour or two to check on things, but the chicks get a lot more fresh air and early socialization this way.

You can see from these Sunday photos how they are already replacing their baby downy fuzz with actual feathers. In another week they will all be feathered (which also helps them regulate their temperature.)