Five Weeks Old
Thelma, Louise, and Gracie are all doing well. They run around and play like crazy kids and are eating a lot at this point. I’m so happy to see them thriving. This is the first time I’ve had to fully fill their feeder about every day and a half. They’re also eating their chick grit, they must somehow know they need it to stay healthy.
I’ve started tossing sunflower seeds into their cage. Since they were already scratching at the pine bedding, I figured I should give them something to actually find. It’s working, too! They get really excited when they sift through the bedding and uncover a sunflower seed. One of them will let out a whistle, pick it up, and run around with it like it is treasure.
The temperature in their space is now set to 75°F (23.9°C), so they should be ready to go outside pretty soon. That means I need to nail down a chicken coop, both literally and figuratively.
The other night, I decided to give them some spinach leaves. We had salad for dinner, and there were some leftover leaves, so I dropped them into the cage and went back to my desk. About 20 minutes later, I heard a huge commotion. I walked over to find Thelma with the last piece of spinach in her beak, running around while the other two tried to catch her. I recorded the chaos, it was hilarious! Just like little kids on a playground playing keep-away.
Watching them grow and interact has been so fulfilling, and they’re eventually going to lay eggs, too! Honestly, I don’t know why I didn’t do this sooner.
For all the chicken owners out there: what kind of coop did you go with? I live in an area where summers can get as hot as 108°F (42.2°C) and winters drop to around 21°F (-6.1°C). I need a coop that will keep them cool in the summer and warm in the winter, while also protecting them from predators.
I’m planning to build an enclosed run, but I’m unsure if I need to include a bottom floor. I know they love foraging for bugs, but I’m not sure if that’s practical given the potential predator threats. I feel it’s my responsibility to keep them safe.
If anyone has any suggestions, I’d love to hear them!
