Today was warm enough to let the chicklets try out their playpen in the back yard. At first they were a little apprehensive: ( photo / image / picture from marlingardener's Garden ) They all huddled together in a corner and discussed what Mama Hen (me)was doing to them! Then they got the idea that grass, bugs, and dirt were pretty cool: ( photo / image / picture from marlingardener's Garden ) And after about fifteen minutes of getting used to different noises, sunlight, and two humans laughing their heads off at chicklet antics, they got downright comfortable with their playpen: ( photo / image / picture from marlingardener's Garden ) They are back inside now in their nursery box, and there isn't a peep coming out of the guest bedroom. Chicklets are tired after their first day outside!
Gad, MG--those birds are growing rapidly! I'll bet they like their pen just fine. They sure do look healthy, don't they?
Nice to see them progressing with their new beginnings. I suppose they bond with you as they saw you first after hatching? Do the older chickens follow you or are they too old for that? Jerry
Jerry, they saw the workers at Ideal Poultry just after hatching, so they didn't bond with me when I picked them up as three-day-old chicks. However, I provide food and that is a bond that even a chicken understands! The older hens follow me because of, you guessed it, food! When they are free-ranging and supposedly debugging the gardens, I'll look up from weeding and six pairs of beady little eyes are staring at me, waiting for manna from heaven. Chickens have no work ethic. . . .
