A Young Chick’s Path to Independence

Posted on July 23, 2012 by jkmcintyre

L, Rooroo, and Rooroo’s sister napping in the sun at 5 weeks old


The first week, the chicks stuck with momma, wandering no more than a foot from her warm side and taking frequent naps beneath her downy feathers. During week two, the chicks began exploring, wandering just outside the chicken yard, and running back to mom for protection, comfort, and warmth. They would often stand between her feet, their heads just reaching her fluffy belly.

That week mom moved the whole family from the broody box back into the coop to sleep at night, all snuggled together in a nest box. During week three and four the chicks began spending more time outside the Big Chicken enclosure, but would return to nest with mom at night. Meanwhile, Calamity Jane stopped clucking. She also started ‘assuming the position’, and her comb and wattles returned to a bright fuschia I hadn’t seen in 6 months. She seems ready to get back to the business of laying eggs.

One night this week, after starting the night off in the nest box with her chicks, she eventually moved next door. This quickly graduated to roost sleeping, all of them fighting to sleep next to mom. Finally, last night, CJ spent the night up on the highest roost with the ‘big birds’ and the chicks slept in various other places in the coop. No one spent the night in a nest box.

I think the wee ones are finally on their own! Sweet and a bit sad…

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Settling their differences

Posted on July 17, 2012 by jkmcintyre

[Continuing the mini-drama ‘Here there be Roosters?‘]

Several hours after the fight, L snuzzles with me for some much needed attention

Rooroo and L kept facing off (albeit safely) while L was inside the broody box. When left utterly alone, L was distressed, so I look her out to visit for a spell. Her wound looked nasty, but the swelling was already down. I kept L in the box until after dark, then stashed her next to her mom on the roost in the big coop. Next morning I ran out at dawn to remove her, but it was still cold, and she protested, and, quite frankly, it was 5 am and I was too tired to insist.

When I checked in on them later that day, L and Rooroo were best friends; wandering about the yard hunting insects like Rooroo hadn’t practically pecked a hole through L’s head. Apparently they have settled their differences and Rooroo trumps L. For now.

L snoozing in a dirt and sun bath in the new mulch. I hate how they look dead and mangled when they do this!

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Here there be roosters?

Posted on July 12, 2012 by jkmcintyre

At 4 weeks old our chicks have started establishing their pecking order. Rooroo’s little Red sister is pretty timid and I haven’t seen her in any dominance disputes, but L, the lovely Lavender Orpington, and Rooroo, the suspected rooster Red have been seen chest butting these past few days.

Baby L sleepy from her bloody battle(s) with Rooroo

Today, however, Scott saw L and Rooroo really going at it. Feathers flying, trance-like moments, and, finally, blood. When I got home L’s ear was a bloody mess; her face swollen and blotchy, her actual ear raw and bloody. She let me hold her and slept in my hand. I put neosporin on her ear and put her by herself in the broody box with food, water, and fresh bedding. But she is not happy. Quite distressed at being alone, I am not sure what to try next. I could isolate the aggressive Rooroo instead, but I am also worried that the other chickens will peck at her bloody ear.

Suggestions?

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Socializing Your Chickens

Posted on July 5, 2012 by jkmcintyre

Scott holding Rooroo


People with bad chicken experiences as youngsters often suffered the attentions of birds in a large, untamed, flock. A pack of feral dogs would similarly intimidate – they have no manners and don’t know who is boss (or rather they don’t know that you think you should be). A small flock of backyard hens, on the other hand, is more akin to the family dog – curious, friendly, and not likely to attack humans if properly socialized.

Getting hens as chicks and handling them often helps train docility and obedience. Chickens are Not That Bright, but they understand social hierarchy – they know that the ‘pecking order’ is real, and can be painful.

Our first two sets of chicks we raised in a box (or the fireplace) in the living room. Tremendous cuteness and handling access many times per day.

Rooroo’s sister


This recent set of chicks is being raised by Calamity Jane. It has been fascinating to watch her Mother the chicks; the instincts they have towards their mom and vice versa. I daresay they will be smarter for being able to interact with ‘the real world’ from Day 1, but it seems likely they will be more wild.

Darryl and his ‘George’


And so we spend time with them, we hold them. We bring them treats and try to get them to eat out of our hand. They are starting to associate us with food (which is the only way to a chicken’s heart). Interestingly, training them on food has been indirect, because they learn about food from Momma. New offerings are ignored until Momma tries it and calls them over, then she gives them the food. I just hope they will start to generalize and accept more directly from us. And, hey, suggestions welcome!

Little ‘L’ perched on my neck

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