The chicks' water was completely empty this a.m. and they all seemed thirsty when I set in the new water. Tonight, I brought in a 3 gallon (current was 1 gallon) water dispenser to see if that will hold them through the night.
Rain alert! Word from the chicken experts (Diane's mother) is that chicks this age can become too cold and perish within 24 hours of a good soaking. The advice for now is to keep everyone in on a rainy day.
They are tucked in with a blanket over the play pen...(collective awwwww) with hopes of warmer temps tonight.
Sorry-have not found the official way to post here...
It was a cool week with temps in the 50s and 60s at night, but "the girls" seem hearty and were fresh and active every morning.
A few points- I did not see a difference between the 2 bags of food designated for our older laying chicken and the chicks- so they both had the same, with Nefretitti receiving the calcium scratch and the chicks getting the stone scratch mixed in with the food.
(When I took over at the beginning of the week, there was a separate dispenser for the orange (?) scratch that we no longer have. After a few days, it was too messy to be hygenic, so it was dumped and the canister is in the shed)
Maybe this was already noted- but the 4 chicks and Nef are exploring the 2nd little yard via the small ramp. I could not decipher how we humans could access the chickens if and when they decide to stay outside. One afternoon of threatening rain left me a worried mother hen trying to coax them in.
Finally, the little peeps and the medium peeps are about the same size- wonder if it's time to let them all mix? My mom came out to the coop- she saw the little black chicks on the nesting box and the rest of the red & speckled peepers in the play pen- she said "Looks like segregation to me." Wonder if it's time to spring the babies for some outdoor explore?
Today's update- (Is this the only way to post?)
ReplyDeleteThe chicks' water was completely empty this a.m. and they all seemed thirsty when I set in the new water. Tonight, I brought in a 3 gallon (current was 1 gallon) water dispenser to see if that will hold them through the night.
Rain alert! Word from the chicken experts (Diane's mother) is that chicks this age can become too cold and perish within 24 hours of a good soaking. The advice for now is to keep everyone in on a rainy day.
They are tucked in with a blanket over the play pen...(collective awwwww) with hopes of warmer temps tonight.
Harvest= 1egg.
Sorry-have not found the official way to post here...
ReplyDeleteIt was a cool week with temps in the 50s and 60s at night, but "the girls" seem hearty and were fresh and active every morning.
A few points-
I did not see a difference between the 2 bags of food designated for our older laying chicken and the chicks- so they both had the same, with Nefretitti receiving the calcium scratch and the chicks getting the stone scratch mixed in with the food.
(When I took over at the beginning of the week, there was a separate dispenser for the orange (?) scratch that we no longer have. After a few days, it was too messy to be hygenic, so it was dumped and the canister is in the shed)
Maybe this was already noted- but the 4 chicks and Nef are exploring the 2nd little yard via the small ramp. I could not decipher how we humans could access the chickens if and when they decide to stay outside. One afternoon of threatening rain left me a worried mother hen trying to coax them in.
Finally, the little peeps and the medium peeps are about the same size- wonder if it's time to let them all mix? My mom came out to the coop- she saw the little black chicks on the nesting box and the rest of the red & speckled peepers in the play pen- she said "Looks like segregation to me." Wonder if it's time to spring the babies for some outdoor explore?
Have fun my fellow chicken parents. Happy 4th!