Nicole M. Miller

The chicks, as they near a month old, are sadly chicks no more. At least it means we’re one month closer to fresh eggs. The molting process is hilarious for some, less painful for others. They are quite the crew and their personalities still shine. Though they still like to peck when you stick your hand in the brooder, they will also hop up on your hand or forearm for a better roosting position. They no longer fit nicely in the palm of your hand — and they have certainly been testing those new wing feathers (though there have been no “successful” escape attempts yet.) Bossy is still the smallest,...

As the chicks have nearly tripled in size, we realized the stock tank we purchased would not be big enough for thirteen chicks. So they moved into a 2x2x6 foot stock tank. Now there is plenty of elbow room! (And it’s much easier to get some pictures… which is the important thing, you know.) And then John decided that little Bossy was just the right size for his pocket… And she hung out in his pocket for nearly an hour, snoozing. Silly bird. More chicken mayhem coming soon. The has-been rodeo queen.
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It’s been a while since I’ve done some photos and an update on the flock — and I hardly even recognize them from day to day. They seem to have doubled overnight and tripled in food consumption. I’m pretty sure their 2-foot by 4-foot tank brooder won’t contain them much longer. They already have attempted to escape but are fat enough to where they can’t fit through the wires of the cage lid. Hawkeye (Amauracana) is the most massive of the bunch — with wild feather coloring that goes each and every way. She’ll be a big girl for sure. The molting process has been hilarious. They went from fluffy...

The girls continue to grow, losing their down feathers for their real feathers. They are a bit scruffy looking and I’m hoping the attitudes accompanying this “molting stage” are fleeting too. They are happiest when we’ve tossed in some fresh-picked greens: Little Goldie is one of the sweetest and most docile: We’ve dubbed the little California Grey as “Gandolf.” It fits her, don’t you think? Penguin is now my favorite, since nearly all but her charge me when I reach into the brooder. They’ve grown so much in the past ten days… As a reminder… This was day one: Oh how the days go by… Always, the has-been rodeo queen...

We’ve officially had our brooder and our girls a week now and I have to say — I didn’t realize how much fun these chicks would be. The entertainment is endless. We did “class photos” to show their growth. Their personalities have really come out and it’s fascinating. Blondie is one of the ring leaders and yet one of the sweetest ones to hold. Her wings are coming in well and she’s been test flapping a lot. Foghorn Leghorn lives up to the reputation of her breed – she’s the most dominant and she’s also the best flier so far. MaryKate (and her twin, Ashley) are notorious for chasing the...