2 Week Birthday Portraits

Two Weeks Old

I just finished making pictures of the chicks to document how much they change in just one week. They are not just bigger, they have grown wings (and started using them!), longer tail feathers, and the fuzzy feathers on their necks have gotten thinner. They are also really into self-grooming at the moment, cleaning their feathers constantly, often while stretching their legs as far back as possible.

The Wyandottes and Buckeyes look a bit weird already as they start to turn from baby chicks into grownup chickens but the Americaunas are still beautiful. They were beautiful babies, with their striped markings and fat cheeks and they are staying that way. They have the sweetest faces, chipmunk cheeks and big bright eyes.

This week they perfected the art of roosting (Josh built them a second, higher roost); I have even found them sleeping on of the roosts –  just a few days ago they fell off whenever they managed to hop on to one. He also lined their cage with old jeans; cut up & spread out this works really well.

We are keeping the brooder at 90 degrees this week and will probably keep it there for a few more days. Some books (and sites) suggest lowering the temperature 5 degrees a week, which means that this week they’d be down to 85 degrees, but they get really cold when it goes below 90. I’m thinking the chart on this site is better.

The chicks have also learned to enjoy fresh, raw yogurt. We gave them egg yolk last week but were advised not to do this as it can actually make chickens develop a taste for their own eggs. This is a conflict of interest…so now they get yogurt. This is supposed to be good for them so even though they wouldn’t touch it the first time we didn’t give up and this evening they ate it enthusiastically.

Americauna

Wyandotte