Right, I do believe it's time to give a little update on how our chicks are doing. Currently we have them in the lounge, in something I can only describe as a small dog's play foldable pen (at least that's what it is described as on Amazon). It's also got a baby on the picture but of course that's photoshopped and that play pen is nowhere near to be safe for a child (and the dog only needs to cough and it collapses).
As we have many predators outside and until 2 weeks ago, it got rather cold during the night, we decided to keep them inside a bit longer to develop their undergarments (or rather... feathers). The information I read up on also suggested, to let them out during the day to get them used to the environment. Well... in the past two weeks I did that exactly three times because in our area it changed from freezing cold during the night (and I am not kidding!) to 30° during the day from one week to the other.
So obviously 30 degrees is way too hot for the little chicks as well, as they can't really do anything about the heat and as much as I tried, I just couldn't get acceptable shade that would also prevent them from overheating.
Getting-to-know Phase
Whilst they were outside, I read that they should be kept separated from the other chickens to avoid pecking or fights (establishing hierarchies etc.). So I tried that but quickly realised that those chicks are cheaky little f..... feather-things! They literally found the smallest of openings and squeezed through... pinched the big chickens' feed and then got - of course - pecked on the head. So they panicked and tried to hide back in their own enclosure, but of course they couldn't find the hole anymore they came through. Rather than fighting against their instinct, I decided to help them instead, made the opening a bit bigger and marked them with two big stones, so they easily recognise the opening and can go back in. That failed too, instead they then squashed in one corner of the fence almost squeezing the little one to mousse.
But I do have to say that generally the other chickens were fairly disinterested in the chicks (though I had the feeling already, as they are neither broody nor maternal and drop their eggs where they stand in the middle of nowhere...) but of course, there are two odd chickens that decide to pester the little ones one in a while. The smallest chick (we currently call her 'number 6' as she was the last to hatch) had quite a bad peck on her back, that clearly was bleeding. So decided to wait a bit longer until they are a bit bigger. Left her with her older (also not quite as big as the others) in the playpen in the lounge whilst the other three are now trying to survive the outdoors.
One didn't make it
But unfortunately we lost our biggest (and white) chick and why is not quite clear. Unfortunately, we also believe it was the only coqerel, which is a bit awkward, as it was our daughter's favourite. When googling and AI'ing it, it was basically suggested, that the chick might have had an accident and the body went into shock without recovering.
It happened over night, so basically when I came in to check on the chicks, the chick was lying on its back, which was rather weird, no physical damage anywhere, they had food and drink. But what also was odd, it was half under the brooder hen (so the heating plate for the chicks to keep warm). AI basically suggested, that the chick might have flapped about and got stuck, most probably on the brooder hen, and fell over and then either basically died of shock (as on the back, couldn't turn around, started panicking) or because it suffocated (apparently they have breathing issues on their back?). So reading up on this I found rather distressing. But since it's been so hot outside and the lounge stable on 20-21°C I have decided to remove the brooder hen. I noticed that the remaining chicks are all huddling up together in the cage (since they refused to adopt a cardboard box as home) and they seem fine when I check on them.
It was also suggested, that the chicken might have grown too much and the bones couldn't keep up with the growth. Which I don't think can be right. I am not a breeder, I don't feed anything hormones or other enhancers. Just normal chick food (so smaller grains than usual) and once in a while we boil an egg or give fruit bits to peck on. Also why would it die on the back half under the brooder hen/heating plate. That just didn't add up.
Anyway,... our daughter was very distressed, so I decided to bury the chick on my own, next to the stray kitten that we found sick in the garden and we were unable to save. If this continues like this, I have a feeling that a certain horror movie sequel could be made from here....
Different but the same
So this means we have five remaining chicks that all have a brown/grey feather coat. Except that they are all different sizes. The latecomer that started bleeding out of the shell but recovered is still very much alive and well. Though it does seem to be a bit slow developmentally; also generally, but once it decides to do something, it certainly gets active. It doesn't seem to be affected in any other way but the size at the moment from what we can tell.
They all have a lovely grey, black and brown coat, and the bigger ones started to get their fluffy hair-do. Though one chick has a black stripe on the head like a chipmunk, compared to the others that just consistently have a different pattern, this is also the chick that is scared the most.
What is rather odd though: in the cage/play pen, they are eager to come and sit on my hand. As soon as they are out of the play pen, they run away, hide and can't be bothered being anywhere near me. So I can't quite figure out what this behaviours is about. Friendly in, scared out. But I suppose we'll only find out about their character when they are a bit older and can actually spend time in the chicken coop with the others.
