Here’s the Story of a Bunch of Chickens
With the first week behind us and now being down to our “final” flock of nine feathered friends, we started getting ourselves more organized as we get to know our new wards, learn to care for them, and enjoy watching them as they get bolder and try to spread their wings… I’m just glad they can’t get very far… YET!
Missed the first installment of Journey to our First Egg?
Read about how we came to get our chicks in Journey to our First Egg – Hatching a New Adventure.
Getting our Ducks… I mean Chicks… in a Row
If Week 1 was all about settling in, Week 2 is about figuring things out.
While the chicks didn’t complain about the improvised feed and bedding over their first weekend, it was time to get the right stuff for the little fluffs so this week marked our first visit to a real feed store, and the introduction of some fun new items to the brooder for the chicks to explore as they become more curious.
The Feed Run
If you recall, the only reason we have chickens is because Peavey Mart (a big-box hobby farm and homesteading store) was going out of business and I snagged a coop at 60% off.. With Peavey now gone, that meant we needed to find a new source for chicken feed. It’s not something you’d find at your typical pet store.
Trust me, you get funny looks if you ask.
Even though they are still so little, the chicks are already eating machines! Though it’s a toss up if more food winds up through the brooder grates or in their tummies. Either way, we didn’t want to run low, so we loaded in the car to make our first trip to a REAL feed store just north of town. After making only a wrong turn (or three) the trip was a success. We got to check out the cool ranch equipment for larger livestock (not that we’re anxious to expand our operations any time soon!), and returned home stocked up with high-protein crumble to keep our growing birds happy and healthy.
As we loaded up the feeder with their new food, there was much rejoicing.
The Office, Chicken Edition
While nutritious food is one thing, I did not want to pay for bedding. On our trip to the farm store I realized you can go crazy getting posh products like low-dust hemp shreddings, but surely we could get a bit creative and come up with a cost-effective alternative to store-bought shavings.
They just poop on it, after all!
The paper we’d shredded by hand seemed comfy enough, so we put on our thinking caps to come up with a good source for more. That’s when a coworker kindly offered to start saving the shredded office paper for us. They always have piles of paper to get rid of anyways, so we’d be doing them a favor, too!
Gotta love a good win-win.
So we got our first bag of fresh shreddings, secure in knowing there’s a whole lot more where that came from. We’re pretty sure it’s ‘clean’ and that the chicks won’t be learning any industry secrets from the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company Inc, but the way they go through it any evidence contained won’t remain for long.
Jokes aside, it’s actually working great! Soft, absorbent enough, and easy to replace. Though for some reason the chicks seem to love stuffing it in their water dish.
No one said chickens were smart!
Close Encounters of the Chicken Kind
While it’s important that we provide the necessities, there’s more to even chicken life than food and brood.
We’re making time each day for chick cuddles and gentle handling, hoping to raise a friendly, social flock. Some chicks are clearly more curious than others, but even the shyest ones are beginning to recognize our hands as less-than-terrifying. Or at least they usually come with food.
We’ve started using an inflatable kiddie pool as a make-shift coral where chicks and kids can come more beak-to-face. Together they can play and flap around, without it feeling so much like an alien abduction.
To give the chicks even more of a taste of the outside world, we’ve started introducing “natural decor” to the brooder. Sand and gravel give them something new to peck at (did you know chickens, like most birds, eat small stones that are stored in their gizzard to help digest food?), a few sprigs of grass bring new smells and introduce them to their new biome, and a small stump which has already become a favorite perch for tiny feet.
Houston we (almost) have Lift Off
Speaking of acrobatics, some of our more daring chicks (Margaret, I’m looking at you!) have discovered if they believe in themselves hard enough they can flap their way onto the edge of the brooder. We’re keeping a close eye to make sure no one takes a tumble, but it’s clear they’re eager to see the outside world. Their little wings are working overtime!
The call of “watch the chicks!” coming from the garage has become commonplace.
Still Under the Lamp
Even with all this new activity, the heat lamp remains essential. They venture to the edges of the brooder to explore and play, but still huddle under the glow for naps and warmth. It’s a good reminder that while they’re growing fast, they’re still just babies.
It’s been nice to see the kids step up to take responsibility for the chicks well-being. They make sure the lamp is always on and well aimed, that they have food and water (with not too much poop or paper in it), and that no one takes any risky leaps. As summer rounds the corner, it seems it’s not only the flowers that are growing!
Week 2 has been full of tiny milestones. From exploring new textures to testing their wings, our chicks are slowly turning into little birds with big personalities. It will be fun getting to know them more!
And still we wonder: When will we get our first egg?
Each installment of Journey to our First Egg comes with new Activity Sheets! Make sure you get our latest set here.
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