Spending time outdoors with the chicks

The chicks are still living in the coop in the dining room. My husband, Herb, has chicken wire on the top, so we can still use the heat lamp. The temperature should be 95degrees Fahrenheit when they’re first born to a week old. Lower the temp each week by 5 degrees to help them acclimate as their feathers come in. To do this, raise the heat lamp a few inches. We still have a thermometer in the coop to monitor.

Each day when we got home, we’d take the chicks outside to play. My husband had constructed a temporary run while he was building the pen. They’re so little and just not big enough to run the entire yard. We sat either inside the enclosed area or right outside to help deter any predators or birds of prey. I loved this time in the evening! It’s been a wonderful opportunity to unwind after work and re-connect with each other. And a bonus, our teenage daughter spent time with us too.

The chicks became use to the routine. When I opened the door on the coop, they would run up to me so I could pick them up.

Originally, we’d put them in the guinea pig cage and transport them outside. Now that they were a little bigger, it was more of a hassle, so we carried them one by one. Trudy, our leghorn, was the least cooperative but tolerated us holding her. They ran around chasing each other, eating grass, and scratching for bugs. They were so curious. Our daughter scratched in the grass and Trixie, our RIR/Buckeye ran over to see what she’s doing and joined in.

Yesterday, Cocoa, our black sexlink, laid down on her side, stretched out her wing, and her legs were splayed out in an odd position. My first thought was she’s having some type of seizure or heat stroke. It was a little warmer, upper 80s. The sun was bright. I panicked and screamed for Herb. Of course, this startled her, and she jumped up. Whew! She’s fine. Within a few minutes, she was doing it again and the other ones joined in. OMG! I think I’ve killed my chickens. Was there something in the grass they ingested? Herb laughed at me. They were sunbathing, getting some Vit D. Normal chicken behavior.

Today, I witnessed another odd behavior. Trixie laid down like she’s going to sunbathe but it’s not that sunny. She started twitching. Definitely a seizure!

Buttercup, our Golden Comet, comes over and partakes in the action. What the heck was going on? And then Cocoa was doing it. Herb and I looked at each other. What were the odds they were all having a seizure? It’s the first time either of us have owned chickens. We learned they are dust bathing. Chickens will find dirt, roll around in it, kicking it up with their feet, flipping it up on their backs, rolling their head in it, and getting it in their wings. This is another normal chicken behavior. It helps keep them healthy by smothering any unwanted pests, like mites and lice and also helps maintain their feathers by removing excess oil.

The chicks are three weeks old now. They are learning to take care of themselves without much help from us. What will they do next?!