At the beginning of the week the chicks fit well in their little plastic brooder. They spent a lot of time sleeping. We noticed right away that they have the instinct to 'scratch and peck'. This is important for finding food outdoors, but a little silly when they are flinging pine shavings on their friends so that they can peck at the plastic bottom of their enclosure.
If you turn your hoodie backward a chick can rest in your hood while you do school work.
We do not recommend that chicks use the computer. Cheeks was eager to try though. Mostly Cheeks pecked at the Windows key. The little squares must look like a bug.
Another instinct is to find a high place to roost. The chicks found shoulders to be good resting places. Ducky will sit for long periods of time.
The chicks like to stay close together. Sometimes that means 6 chicks in your lap.
The chicks spent time outside every afternoon this week. They immediately set to eating grass seed and hunting for bugs.
Cheep-cheep-a-peep and Pecky check out the yard
Tall perching
When one chick decides to do something the others all join in. This leads to a crowd at the food dish.
The chicks had some special social distancing outdoor visitors. B is holding Stripes and Cheep-Cheep-A-Peep
T and R check out the chicks with mom.
This posture looks like the chick fell down, but it is just sunning itself. They have also been trying to take dust baths, which looks funny with no dust.
Tall and cheeks find a nice high roost on D.
T and Black Beauty hang out by the irises
Ducky places peek-a-boo in L's hair.
By the end of the week the little brooder was a little too cozy for 10. They have moved into a big dog crate with perches. Some spend more time perching than others, but they are all getting good at it. This is an important chick skill since they will eventually sleep on a perch at night.
Tall looks at us with Stripes and Pecky nearby. Cheeks is on the left.
i like duckling most
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