Chicks
Thursday, March 19th: got 4 Rhode Island Reds, and 4 Barred Plymouth Rock, pullets, from Orscheln. The Reds are named (from darkest to lightest markings)
Friday March 20th: We change the chicks’ water several times a day to keep it fresh and cool. We change their pine shaving litter once a day. They get Rescue Remedy in their water to prevent stress.
Saturday March 21st: We were away all day at a gardening class and Rose was at Gracie’s. We checked on the chicks twice during the day. The chicks are in a Rubbermaid with a lid Peter made out of wood and chicken wire. They have medicated crumbles, and a feeder and a waterer, and a heat lamp. The thermometer in the brooder tells us the temperature is between 85 and 95 degrees. They are neither huddling under the light nor trying to get away from it.
Sunday 3/22: Peter and Rose were home with the chicks. The Hunters came and saw them then they all went to church together.
Monday 3/23: Rose and I were home with the chicks for the morning. Clarra tried to get into the brooder! She is not allowed with the chicks anymore! I discovered the place I was looking for paste butt was not the butt but the egg hole. Their butts were all pasty so I cleaned them.
Tuesday 3/24: we were all out all day. The chicks are growing lots of wing and tail feathers. They pinch when we hand feed them now. They are trying to fly. They look taller and more like chickens.
Wednesday 3/25: They are getting more feisty! Eliza was on top of the waterer and they are doing more brave flapping and jumping when we try to hold them. They like being held two at a time – it makes them less nervous. It is a little too warm (100 under the lamp) so we moved the food and waterer to one end of the brooder to give them a larger space away from the light instead of having it between the food and the water. Rose noticed Celia panting which is why we checked the temp.
Game: pick up a piece of wood shaving and run around with it like crazy while the other chicks chase you.
Friday 3/27: Rose rhythmically kicked the outside of the rubbermaid tub gently by the thermometer and as the thermometer bounced against the side of the brooder, the chicks all turned towards it and gathered around it in silent awe. It looked like they were worshiping it. The effect couldn’t be recreated later. Hermione and Luna have also figured out how to fly onto the feeder and waterer. They need a roost!
Saturday 3/28: I went to change the water and left the top off the cage. When I came back I wondered why there was such loud peeping – it was Eliza! She had flown the coop and was walking around the room, a bit confused!
Thursday 4/2: I didn’t write for days! The chicks are totally different. Yesterday Rose and I took them out and let them walk on grass for the first time ever! They have eaten some worms we have caught for them as well. They like to play “Chase Me With The Worm!”
They used to play it with wood shavings but now they do it with real worms! They also pick up wood chips to try to conceal the worm in their mouth!
Tuesday April 21, 2009: The chicks now live in the dog crate in the garage. They also go out in the tractor for a few hours at a time. Today I let them walk around the garage while I cleaned out the brooder and replaced the wood chips. They walked all around, pecking at random stuff like Styrofoam peanuts. They also pooped all over the garage floor, but I cleaned that up too! I was thinking how great it is to own these little poop factories. I am no longer oppressed by the manure fat cats because I have taken possession of the means of production!
After I put them back in the cage and let Clara out of the house Clara went running into the front yard barking and chased away two coyotes.
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