We’ve had the chicks for five weeks now, and that means they are ready to go out into the world. To say they’ve had a charmed life doesn’t do justice to the love and care they’ve been shown by Maria.
Every night, they go into their crate in the barn under heated lamps, every day Maria places them carefully in a spot with the sun, but not too much sun, and shade without too much shade.
They get fresh water and chick mash two or three times a day, and their temporary home is cleaned out at least twice a day. Maria is also introducing them to some of the gourmet leftovers their older cousins love.
She feeds them mealworms by hand, talks to them, sings to them, carves wooden roosting wood for them.
Today, I saw them sitting royally on top of their crate, this weekend, they go out into the cruel, real world. We have loved having them and getting to know them. I hope the real world isn’t too much of a shock for them, but I notice they are already feasting on worms and bugs in the grass.
Weren’t y’all getting a rooster soon, too? I don’t know much about chickens but would imagine you’ll have to gradually introduce him to your farm-family as well, correct?
Not sure about the rooster, but if we got one, yes, of course, he would have to be introduced gradually as well. Same protocol.