Babies growing up

[MaureenHall]

Well, even though the chicks are still only a month old (or thereabouts!), the big dog cage that they'd been living in is now definitely far too small for the 12 of them. Yesterday I made the decision to move them into a "proper" coop and run of their own, somewhere to scratch about in, climb, run, jump, and generally be the little hooligans they're growing in to So, when they'd all settled last night, (in a cat carrier inside the dog cage) I just locked the entry door and took them all out to their new home. I really was a bit worried that they'd be cold or frightened, but that's just me being a worrier! I let them out this morning, well I opened the coop door, and it was a good half an hour before the first brave one ventured out. They've had a lovely day exploring and pretending to be grown up At bedtime though, of course they didn't know where to go to bed and I found them all snuggled up together in a disused drain. No problem picking them up and popping them through the door. Anyway, here's some pictures of them settling in (the big one is Coriander, 8-ish weeks and so lovely!)

[di]

Aaaw...they're beautiful Mo...Poor Coriander looks almost awkward amongst them...still very much a baby but obviously a bit bigger
(not awkward in an unhappy way...oddly reminds me of my mates little boy.He's actually almost two years younger than Ash yet towers above not only him but also Daisy and his older brother)

[jessmorris]

Hello,
I have some teeny bantam chicks and wonder if they are warm enough? They have a small house outside with a run and plenty of straw. The problem is their foster mama, a modern game, scratches up all the bedding all over the place and sleeps on the bare floor with her babies...what to do? They have chick crumbs and water and canary grit. I cover the house at night with a blanket and tarp...they seem ok but do cling to her rather. they have grown three little rows of feathers on their wings already. they are just so wee compared to my maran chicks who have doubled in size and are bold and fast! Do lemon millefleur sablepoots mature slowly? Should I worry? They are 8 days old.
Jess

[di]

Hi Jess...if they're with a Mummy I should think They'll be fine.As long as she allows them to get under her wing then she'll radiate plenty of heat for them.
8 day old millefleur sablepoots???...piccies would be nicexx
Welcome to the Vine.x

[MaureenHall]

I worried too last year when a broody hatched some for me, but like Di said, mum will radiate enough body heat to keep them warm and safe.

Welcome to chookaholics anonymous

[Bramble-Poultry]

mum will keep them warm. as long as she is allowing them under her wing do not worry. Sablepoots arent slow to mature, but they arent the fastest either. Remember that a maran was originally designed as a dual purpose egg/table bird so it has been specifically bred to develop into a good sized carcass and layr quickly to get the returns earlier, whereas the sablepoots are true bantams and are bred for looking at!

we have plenty of millies etc up here and they are slower to develop than the sussex or marans we have.

[zanush]

Aww.. they are lovely! I'm hoping to start hatching chicks when I get my duck house (so the ducks can leave the shed and the shed can become the chicks home) and yours make even me broody! (Sorry!)

[Glutton4...]

Lovely piccies Aunty Mo - really lovely!

[jessmorris]

Thank you for the reassurance! I've tried to get pics but they scootle off under Audrey who bows, spreads her wings and hisses at me (I'm sure she would see off an adder she's so protective!). Will try at weekend, the balls of grey and yellow fluff look very odd next to Audreys long and bare legs!!

[jessmorris]

I'm rearing the marans for a friend, another friend gave me the eggs from her flock as I wanted to try some hatching. They grow so fast and are so bold!

[jessmorris]

Lovely piccies Aunty Mo - really lovely!

An ex of mine used to call parsnips 'those bastard nips' he hated them so much.................!

[jessmorris]

Have put pics in my album - not sure how I put them in post or next to my name.......thanks for advice people. They look less cold now and are scooting about in the sunshine. they've had access to the outdoors since they were 7 days old, is this ok? (they are on clean ground).
Jess

[RichmondHens]

Have put pics in my album - not sure how I put them in post or next to my name.......thanks for advice people. They look less cold now and are scooting about in the sunshine. they've had access to the outdoors since they were 7 days old, is this ok? (they are on clean ground).
Jess

As long as they are with a hen they are fine to be outside. Mine come out from day 1 (or as soon as the hen decides) and given the recent warm weather have been sitting sunbathing on the grass with no need to scuttle under mum at all.

[jessmorris]

Brill. It seemed nicer for them to be on the grass with the spring breezes in their fluff!...and they do sunbathe in the straw..

[MaureenHall]

Well the little hooligans have been living outside for a week now and it's fantastic to watch them learning how to dig, dust-bathe, play chasing around the run, who-can-jump-the-highest, and tease the big girls through the fence Last night though was the first time I didn't have to grovel on my hands and knees to get them out from under the coop and put them to bed! 10 of them were all snuggled up inside when I went to do the nightly check up and lock up and the other 2 almost jumped into my arms to be put to bed Oh I do love my chickens