Look at the new additions.... little one died :(

FarmerDenise

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They are so cute! Mine are feathered out and in the yard now.

You can give them soft vegies and fruit now. Try giving them a whole piece of bread and watch the fun.
I usually give mine cooked vegies, left over from our dinner, unseasoned of course. They can pick at larger pieces that way and have fun doing it, once they discover what it is. Same with the bread. I will also go and pick grass and other greens from the garden and chop it up real small for them to experiment with.

You probably don't have grass available yet, but just in case, don't give them long pieces of grass, they can get stuck in their crops and cause problems. At least that has been my experience.

Have fun with cuties!
 

okiegirl1

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TanksHill said:
Not sure if anyone said but I think TSC _ Tractor Supply Co. Congrats on the new babies.

gina
Well DUH! gosh, I hate when I do that... and for all to see too! :rolleyes:
 

okiegirl1

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FarmerDenise said:
They are so cute! Mine are feathered out and in the yard now.

You can give them soft vegies and fruit now. Try giving them a whole piece of bread and watch the fun.
I usually give mine cooked vegies, left over from our dinner, unseasoned of course. They can pick at larger pieces that way and have fun doing it, once they discover what it is. Same with the bread. I will also go and pick grass and other greens from the garden and chop it up real small for them to experiment with.

You probably don't have grass available yet, but just in case, don't give them long pieces of grass, they can get stuck in their crops and cause problems. At least that has been my experience.

Have fun with cuties!
I can give 'em stuff now? I think they are like 4 days old...? maybe. They have the tinest little starts of feathers on the tips of their little wings.

edited 'cause I guess I can't type
 

FarmerDenise

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Yeah, you can give 'em stuff now. If you give them big (for them)pieces, they pick at it and check it out. They won't be able to get too much and if it is soft and they do get a big piece and swallow it, it won't be difficult fo them to digest. You'll be amazed how big a piece they can get down :ep

For instance I give them a piece of boiled potato or 1/2 a baked potato and just put it on a pie plate in the pen. They'll just pick at it. I'll do the same with carrots or broccoli. Give them a big piece and let them "play" with it. I have also put in a whole small head of lettuce (not iceberg) and just let them get what they can.
I give mine pretty much any food we eat, just unseasoned. Once they are about 2 weeks old, I give them left overs from our plates. They'll eat what they like and make a big mess with everything else.

They will get poop on everything and step on everything.
 

FarmerDenise

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Since I have let my hens raise babies, I have been able to observe how mamma hen feeds them. When the weather is nice, I have let nature take it's course completely and momma takes those little 2 day old chicks and shows them what to eat. They eat grasses and greens and seeds and bugs and stuff too small for me to see. By the time they are 4 or 5 days old, usually all the eggs have hatched and momma leaves the nest for good. They will spend all their days foraging for goodies to eat in the yard. Sometimes it takes longer for all the eggs to hatch, some hens will stay close to the nest, but only if I provide food and water close by.

I always provide chick food and water to make sure the babies and the momma have plenty to eat, but I also like to have them forage for what they need and want.

When I don't have a momma hen, I will put the babies outside in a secure pen when the weather is nice enough. I usually start at about a week, but sometimes if the weather is really nice I will take them outside sooner. It is fun to watch them.
 

modern_pioneer

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Looks like your on your way to being more SS now.... Make sure to give them lots of cuddles now, they will be laying before you know it... (wipes away tears thinking when mine were oh so young :lol: )
 

FarmerDenise

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modern_pioneer said:
Looks like your on your way to being more SS now.... Make sure to give them lots of cuddles now, they will be laying before you know it... (wipes away tears thinking when mine were oh so young :lol: )
You mean like 6 months ago :lol:

I was just outside with my little ones. and as usual as soon as I sat down they hopped all over me. One of them pecked me in the nose and I remembered that I was not wearing any eye protection. So I'm in the house to get my glasses. These guys are very curious and will peck you in the eye!!! Shiny stuff, they'll go for teeth too. Just a little warning. I was pecked in the eye by one of our adult chickens. A very scary and painfull incident. :ep
 

okiegirl1

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one of my little guys is pretty listless. He's been sleeping alot. The others are running around making all kinds of noise, and this little one is just laying there. I've picked him up and it wakes him up, but as soon as I hold him just a sec. he goes to sleep again.

Looks like I might lose one, but is there anything I can do to help him?
 
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