Silkie Chicks – Three Weeks Old
My cute little baby chicks are now three weeks old. I’ve moved them to bigger accommodations, and through some trial and error, I’ve managed to get them pretty happy with their new digs.
I noticed they were getting close to being able to hop out of their old home, and they were constantly chasing each other, so I figured we needed a better solution. I decided to use an old dog crate we had on hand. I got it all set up, but since it’s an open crate, I hadn’t really thought about how different it would be to keep it warm. I was really worried about that, so I ordered a thermostat that I can plug the heat lamp into, and now it stays at just the right temperature.
However, they are very messy with the bedding kicking it out all over the floor. I decided it was time to clean up, and as soon as I got near the dog crate, one of them slipped through the bars. I just sat there and thought, Let’s see how this is going to play out.
As soon as she got out (this was Thelma), she wanted to go right back in. She kept trying to squeeze through the bars, but every time she extended her wings, she couldn’t fit. I opened the door to let her back in, and then Louise slipped out. I took a deep breath and thought, Well, this isn’t going to work.
I set them in their old home and got to work fixing the new one. I covered the sides and bottom of the crate with cardboard, which will also help keep the mess to a minimum and help keep them warm. They all seem to be settling in nicely. I can’t wait for them to keep growing.
