2 Weeks Old and Trying to Fly the Coop

Its been 2 weeks now and I am just amazed at how quickly these little chickies are growing! Their big girl feathers are coming in fast. Today one of the Easter Eggers flew onto the edge of the brooder box - and she made it! The mesh lid we made will be essential at this point.

We let them out to explore a little and stretch their wings. They really are sweet little creatures.

Fun in the Kleenex Box

We created a makeshift "nesting box" out of a Kleenex box, and filled it with bedding. All day today the chickies have been taking turns sitting in it, fluffing the bedding up, and piling into the box.

Its been one full week of life for most of these ladies, and they already have bigger wing feathers coming in. They seem to have all figured out how to perch on the roosting bars as well. One of the buff orpingtons has developed a naughty habit of emptying the feeder onto the floor. She's such a pig.

When they fall asleep, which is frequently, they all pile up on each other or crowd into the box to snuggle. Then one will pop up and step on them all to wake them up. Silly birdies.

The New Little Flock

They have arrived! We had gotten word that the hatchery was short on Marans (the dark brown egg layers) so they swapped out a salmon faverolle for it. Even better - they are beautiful and shy with feathery legs in a salmon/white color. Faverolles are classified as a heavy breed and have a beard, muffs, feathered feet, and five toes per foot, rather than the usual four. Faverolles are considered to be very good layers, a well-cared for Faverolles hen will lay approximately four eggs per week.

So far, the Buff Orps, Easter Eggers, Faverole and one of the Wyandottes are doing very well. The other Wyandotte seemed to be weak and didn't make it through the first 48 hours. This gave us a reason to take a peek at the selection of birds at Farm and Fleet. We added two new ones to the flock: a Barred Rock and another Maran (the Maran however, has been picked on a lot so far and seems to be fading out).

Barred Rock chickens are known as "the kind of chickens Grandma used to raise" in the industry. They lay brown eggs and are friendly as well. Its been fascinating watching their behavior. At first the EE's were the most dominant, and have been the first to learn how to perch for short periods of time. Once the Barred Rock entered the scene tho, the pecking order had to be revised. She is a tough little bird it seems, so much so we've wondered if she might be a roo. There was much eyeball pecking for the first few days - especially with the fluffy yellow chicks - since their eye is so noticeable! They peck at every little thing. Unfortunately for the Maran, she got pecked to the point of injury on her back. So far she is still hanging in there, but she looks like she is headed the way of the other one we lost. We'll keep giving TLC and see if she can spring back.

There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of manners or social graces with these ladies. They walk all over each other if one is sleeping. As they tend to fall asleep frequently wherever they are, the others just plow on thru and wake them up. There are times when they all settle down and cuddle together in various chick piles. Cute.