Unfocused Chick Chatter

How quickly the bay-bays grow! All but one have already lost their egg tooths. They seem quite at home in their chickarium (large Rubbermaid tub). The tub does not give them the recommended 2 sq/ft per chick - it's a quarter that size. But, I bought two tubs, so at some point there will be two chickariums. Here they are in their current chick dorm.

Note the play ladder - so far one used it to prop herself as she napped
I've gingerly handled the chicks so far, taking them in hand only when they need a bum wash - again, don't even ask. My photography of them is fairly crappy thus far. I need to take them all out for a group portrait some time today. Here's one pigeon-toed chick looking daggers at me for taking her out of her warm dorm. Hum... need to break out the tripod to steady my shots.

They're HERE!

I decided to stay home this week to be on chick call, and am sooo very glad I did. The post office brought my special delivery right to my front door.



"Is this noisy box yours? You have to sign for it. What is this... chickens?"

Yep! And noisy as hell too. Loads of CHEEEPING! And crossing my fingers, I opened the box... FOUR CHICKS alive, alive-o!

My first thought was they look like those fake plush Easter chicks. They have different colors too, which I hadn't expected, but it makes sense they weren't put together with a cookie cutter.

Two are butter yellow, and two are cinnamon tinted - all are adorable
They have plushy-feathered legs and poofs under their chins where their feathery muffs will be.

First up, they were each treated to a bum inspection (don't ask). Then while they screamed, I raced around getting their brooder (pen) ready for them. Next it was time to learn to eat and drink. Talk about easier said than done!

I dipped their bills in to the water and eventually they got the idea and started slurping down their first ever drinks - v. cute. But they had no clue about food! You can't live with me and NOT know how to belt down yer grub, I mean, come on!

We flew all the way from the East Coast, & geez, are our wings tired!
Then I had a brainstorm and used a plastic chop stick, tapping it in their food dish, in a pecking hen sort of rhythem. The chicks bee lined to the food and soon all were wolfing down the chicken scratch. Damn. I'm feeling like Einsteinetta!

So now with the gusto they're attacking their chow with, I'm hoping none of them explode.

Oooo... camera... SHINY!

TODAY IS HATCH DAY!

On the East Coast, in a warm incubator, there are rows of Faverolle chicken eggs, that have reached their 21st day - Hatching day! My four wee Faverolle girlie chicks are peeping in their shells. Each chick is summoning up the energy to use their 'egg tooth' and slowly rotate around to open their eggshell like the lid opened on a tin can.

Then, once the groggy, still pipping chics are dry, it's time to be sexed (oh how rude!) as rooster or pullet. Then my 4 girly chicks will be popped into a cardboard box and shipped USPO to sunny Fair Oaks to a throughly pet-starved woman. I'm going to be a Mommy.... er, Mother Hen... er, or something like that!

I recommend turning the sound OFF when viewing this busy chicklet.



A Happy Day for Claire, an Exhausting First Day for 'the Girls'