Hatching Chicks

It's three weeks since the chicks emerged from their shells, you can watch one hatching on this video clip.

They come out all sticky with their fluff stuck to their skin but immediately begin to try standing up. A comical couple of hours follow as they dry off, fluff up and topple backwards and forwards on their little stick legs. They also begin to peck at the ground and soon find their sources of chick crumb and water. By the following day they are running about at high speed, preening their imaginary feathers, scratching the ground with their feet and nodding off for thirty second naps slumping to sleep in the most peculiar poses. After just a few days their true feathers begin to emerge at the tips of their stumpy little wings, and a few days later the tail feathers. The rate of growth is amazing, and so is their rate of consumption for that matter. A daily litter change, or sometimes more than that, is required to keep odours at bay! They now sleep for longer spells, all together, in a little heap.

They currently reside in a large box under a heat lamp in the spare bedroom. Their loud chirps and constant scratching and pecking sounds have become part of the household, but in only eight weeks or so they will be having their first ventures outdoors and will have to find their pecking order in with the rest of the flock.

Comments

[Pamela]

Oh so sweet! My son and I enjoyed seeing your little chicks. Thanks for sharing. :)

[teaching handwork]

that was wonderful!
I love coming to your blog and seeing what new is in store...what's happening on the farm

[Sofisan]

Beautiful! I am, as always, envious of you for having the mirakle of life in your everyday routine. I am still struggeling to find a house we can afford somewhere where there's a job for at least one of us.

[HandyCraftyWoman]

Gorgeous! A.May.Zing! I have to go gather the kids in to see that vid.

[debra]

Amazing how they know just what to do. We can all learn from that!

[Flibbertygibbet]

The best thing is the commentary ;-)

[Maddy]

How wonderful, that is such a lovely experience for the children. Beautiful.

[Eloise]

More chicken hatching videos, so cute.

[medieval clothing]

Wow.. Really nice video.. This video made me appreciate life. We are like this chick, sometimes, we cannot stand because of so many obstacles and problems but we also have to try our best and stand up. Stand up and face all these obstacles.. :)