Chicken update with pics

[MontyJ]

Day 5 in my care. The chicks are 9 days old today. I have no idea if they are developing normally or not since I have never done this before. I figure they probably are, since all are healthy and full of energy. The Australorps are definitely the most rambunctious of the group. I have to get a cover on the brooder soon or those little dudes will be all over the barn. The meaties are growing very fast and are about 3 times their original size.

I have two heat lamps in the brooder because the barn is unheated and gets very cold. It is completely draft free and the brooder stays very warm. I also placed a blanket over one end to give them a sense of security. They seem to like it. I'll be moving the Cornish X to their own brooder this weekend. DW was kind enough to hold one of each variety for me:

They don't particularly like being held. Maybe they are tired of having their daily butt checks. It's for their own good though.

 

[Smiles Jr.]

Hey! From the pics your brooder box looks exactly like mine. Mine is 4' long, 2' tall, and 2' wide. I have it on wheels and when it's not used for chickens it is a box for my power tools. I had to make a mesh top for mine a long time ago - those little buggers learn to fly very young.

 

[catjac1975]

If they are getting food and water and are still alive they are developing normally!

 

[bj taylor]

those are some good lookin babies. i like the australorps. maybe you'll get a rooster like my charlie. he's a great rooster.

 

[baymule]

Looks like you are doing it right! They look healthy and are so cute! The cute will leave soon, when they start growing feathers and get all scraggly. They don't stay little very long. I have 7 three week old silver laced wyandottes in the brooder!

 

[897tgigvib]

That top one looks real cool!

 

[arienwolf]

They look like happy chickies to me.

 

[Smart Red]

If they are getting food and water and are still alive they are developing normally!

I have to agree with catjac1975. Also, they are not crowded close together, too far from the lights, and look comfortable resting here and there. Other good signs that they are happy, healthy babies.

 

[MontyJ]

This thread is two months old. They sure don't look like that any more!

 

[bj taylor]

that's kinda what mine look like now. for a few days there, they had a serious case of the uglies. all is better now. they grow SO fast