Apr

Chick Update

As promised, I’ve got a 2 week progress report on the chicks. Around half of them are developing little, teeny, tiny combs, while the other half are not. I do believe this little guy is a rooster … which means he’ll probably be on my dinner table some day. Never, ever forget these guys are livestock, destined for the dinner table. I’m getting ready to double their space, and I’ve also begun to lower the temperature in the brooder box. By the time they’ve become acclimated to cooler temperatures, and night-time temperatures become a little more reasonable, I’ll be moving them to larger digs out in the chicken barn.

Here’s a side by side comparison to the picture I took two weeks ago. They’ve easily doubled in size, and I’m also having to feed them twice as much. They’re getting a 20% protein organic chick starter, and will eventually be switched over to 18% organic grower feed.

As you can see, chick fuzz is giving way to feathers, and they like to run through the brooder box trying to test out their new wing feathers. They’re also starting to act as if they would like to perch, so when I get their space doubled I’m also going to give them a rod for roosting.