Curious Chicks

At about one week old, legs are getting longer, wing feathers are more prominent & stubby tails are sprouting. Instead of cowering in far corners, they show interest in new things such as reflections in the camera lens.

Chicks Are Cute

Chicks are adorable! In spring 2011, I raised 24 leghorns for 4 weeks until the roosters' combs were apparent. Then I gave those 12 to a farm friend. The hens stayed until they were 8 weeks, then I divided them among 3 friends who either had chickens, or wanted to start keeping poultry. My main motivation for having these chicks was so that my 3 year-old grandson could hold them & watch them grow. My own chickens were 2 years old & still laying prolifically.

Chicken Farming in Winter

There are always challenges to keeping pets & livestock. In winter, egg-laying chickens need extra attention. Water must be kept from freezing. Eggs must be collected before they freeze & shells crack open. Dry litter must be laid down so the floor doesn't become mucky; it also gives hens a diversion, something to scratch through, or "play" in. My coop has a 25 watt bulb on a timer providing 12-14 hours of light. This artificial daylight allows them to continue laying despite short winter days. In addition to their high-protein feed ration, I give them ground oyster shell, scratch grains & table scraps. When back-to-back snowstorms filled their outdoor run with snow, they were unable to go out. Now that the snow has melted, they can walk on dirt/mud & sun themselves. The problem is, during rainy weather their muddy feet smudge eggs, which means I must scour off the stains. Despite the hassles, fresh eggs are worth the effort.