Okay, got my baby chicks today! I have to admit, they are very interesting to watch and Nic has already researched each breed and learned a ton! So, in about 5 months, we'll have fresh eggs and no, they will be pets and egg-layers, not dinner.

Here they are getting ready to sleep. They are named:
Roosevelt, Java, Ira Levin, Abilene, and Buck Eye

(yes, we know they are all female, but the names just happened because we are weird people)

They're so cute Mel, and love the names :D

I'll do pics every week or so and you all can see how fast they grow.
Mine, Abilene, has furry feet! We are learning so much...I went thru college and now I find out there are billions of things I never learned. I am amazed at how many things there are to learn on earth...it's humbling.

Look forward to sharing your pics :hug2

Java died. They are so fragile at this stage...so there is no telling what went wrong. we buried her and I took it harder than Nic did. Going to try to get another one tomorrow if any are left.

:cry sorry to hear that Mel

Half of me says it's silly to be attached so fast to a baby chick...but then that is what makes me so tender-hearted....when the cats bring in a "gift" of a dead bird or lizard, I thank them but I hate that something died.

Then again, when we have had fish and they died, I even buried them. I get attached to all critters.

My Mom calls me Ellie-Mae or Mellie Mae (from The Beverly Hillbillys)

Sorry to hear about Java :(

I hope the rest of them will be okay :yes

We were able to get a few more...I'd rather have too many than to see any more die. I hope they all make it.

Last night, I got them to eat out of my hand and fingertips. I made a little noise when I did it and now, if I make that noise, they cheep and run to my hand to get a treat. I had heard that chickens were stupid, but I have to disagree so far....they learned that at once.

So we added Brutus, Odessa, and Seinfeld

Love the name Brutus for a chick. How are they doing now?

Sorry to hear about Java! But I'm glad you were able to add to the family. Keep us posted!

:bighug

All chicks are fine so far.
Seinfield is now Lucy.

Brutus is the biggest.

Mine are the 3 smallest ones.

At fisrt they were little funny things, but now, they have tails and real wings and are twice as big! They grow so fast...it's weird. They are a bit skittish unless I have food...but they are amazing to watch.

They say farm fresh eggs are really yummy...so about July, we will see!

How r the chicks this week?

Doing great. They are on Aspen shaving (for litter) now and smell good.
They are getting more adult feathers and showing real personalities.
All have normal wings but Abilene...hers curl out (it's the breed) and David calls her Farah Fawcett. LOL

I'll snap more pics. Nic feels comfortable holding them now as they are bigger.
They also try to fly..about 6 inches upwards at a time...very funny.

Sounds cool, can't wait to see the pictures :hug2

Neat! Glad to hear the chicks are alive and kicking! :D

left upper corner is day one and the lines show the way they look now. Everyone is getting big girl feathers.

Well not so cute looking at the moment :P but I bet that will change once they get all their feathers. :D

Thanks for sharing the pictures -- never saw that part of a chick growing up. Only ever saw them as babies or fully grown :D

:boogiecat

Gosh I swear I posted here Mel. (I was obviously hurrying to go play you know what) I think they are cute. Is that Nic holding the one at the top? I bet he loves them. Thanks for sharing.

Yes, Caroline, that is Nic holding them.
When they were tiny, I was scared for him to hold them and he was frightened of them as they were so very small and delicate. Now, he likes holding them. Yesterday, while cleaning the container, they were in a tiny box and I was sitting beside them and two flew up at once to sit on my shoulders. It was a bit weird and I didn't move so as not to scare them but it scared me to have chicks flying at me.

This is an ugly stage for them. They were so cute and now they look half plucked as they get feathers. Then, they'll look nice again.

Oh and this is funny..they peck at my freckles on my arms. It pinches. Very funny.

:D Glad to hear they are friendly. Must think your freckles are food. :D

LOL @ Andrea....I agree...freckles as food...funny....so they think my arms are covered in food.....

Aww- they are sweet !

Yepp- they seem more forward when there is a chance of food coming ...
My guinea pigs knows what a ratteling plastic bag means ....
also the word "Mat" wich is food in Swedish makes them listen and come forward to the
cage corner closest to me...

I think they are kind of cute funny looking with feathers halfway .... :P

Susanne

I was thinking the same thing Mel, but even with only a few feathers I still think that they are cute :hug2

I have to do new pics soon..they are reallt filling out the fethers and the colors are so pretty. They hate being in the small box but they are still too little to go outside.They still need a light and special care.

Looking forward to your pics :boogiecat :boogiecat