Week Two with the Chicks

So week two with the chicks included a couple of little scares for this brand new first time chick mama. We’ve been trying hard to keep handling the chicks as I’ve been told that it makes them friendlier adult chickens (and personally, I would like to have friendly chickens!). Before we get into that, here’s a couple of updated pics!

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I LOVE attempting to take pictures of the chicks. They are getting fast and they are increasingly curious about the camera. It is hilarious to watch! As you can see, Mable is quick to get to the front and inspect what’s going on. She is fierce and fearless. The first scare we had this past week was near the beginning of the week I came in when I got home and Gladys had a bare back. Now, you can’t really see it here, but Gladys has been growing quick and has easily become the largest chick. For this reason, I kind of suspected that maybe Gladys was trying to move up in the “pecking order” on account of her size – and maybe it didn’t go too well. None the less, I did a bit of research because it’s my first time having chicks! I ruled out any mites or lice because none of them seemed to be crazy itchy, but I also didn’t find anything about pecking orders. So I let it alone for a night. The next day Mable had a bare back. Now I was feeling pretty sure, because Mable was definitely top chick, and what are the odds that the only birds showing injuries are the two that seem to be fighting over leadership? Regardless, it worried me a bit!

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Fortunately, they are looking tons better now and the bad spots seem to be healing up! No one else was injured (thank goodness they left the little baby Harriett out of it!!). The second scary occurrence happened when I was handling the chicks. I put my arms in daily and pick them up one at a time and when I’m done loving on them, I let them perch on my hand until they decide to hop off. Well Mable, crazy Mable, she decides that the better option would be to jump up my arm and immediately hop on top of the lid that’s covering the other side of the brooder. And this crazy chick is so quick that I missed when I grabbed for her before she hopped and again after she was up on top of the lid! Then the crazy girl decides to try to jump OFF THE BACK OF THE BROODER!! Luckily there was a chair behind the brooder, and she landed on the back. Unluckily, the brooder blocked all access to the chair so I had to try to move the brooder out the way whilst praying she didn’t fall to the ground. Crazy little Mable jumps off the back of the chair to the seat of the chair and then off the seat of the chair to the ground! Holy cow. By this point my reactions were getting quicker and more frantic, so I was already on the ground and scooped her up and got her back in the brooder lickety-split! My poor little heart. Anyways, I learned a valuable lesson: Don’t trust Mable.

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This warm week has gotten us all excited about moving the chickens outside. My father-in-law even started working on their coop! I’m excited to see them turn into hens!