10 adorable things your baby chicks do (if you just pay attention)

[@nashvilleoutlaw]

Oh you forgot about if a chick decides to take a nap. One of the others will go COMPLETELY out of it's way to step on it to wake it up😂😂😂

[@feathered_turtle]

The chicks I’m babysitting (around 2-3 weeks) recently learned how to fly out of the brooder (a large cardboard box.) They’ve only done it so far when I’m looking in and they want to be up close in my face. There’s one in particular (not sure their name, but they’re yellow and brown with a toe that curls outwards- doesn’t seem to harm them) that loves to be with me, play with my hair and snuggle in my hand. I’m gonna miss them- I’ll have to visit! ❤ Edit: Thought you might like to know, the chicks like to watch KZbin videos and will attentively watch and peck at the screen (gently) when they see something interesting to them. For the most part, we watch something like Daily Dose Of Internet, because of how many different things they see (that seems to entertain them the most), but recently I’ve been showing them your videos and they’ve been very intrigued! You have the chick’s seal of approval, use it well 😂

[@CANDIKONETT]

Pretty cute! 🥰

[@beeftimer]

Please help! The house I'm living in came with five grown hens (sadly, we're down to two after seven years here), so I'm sorta kinda, i guess, an intermediate -probably not even - chicken person as far as knowledge goes. Well, I guess several weeks have gone by now since we brought home 4 adorable babies about the size you have in this video, here. I've had dogs and cats all my life, but I think these little guys (eh-hem... uh, girls) are just the best - something I DEFINITELY did not expect; I mean, my daughter and my wife and I were surely looking forward to some cute chicks, but never in my wildest dreams did I anticipate the amount of personality and the little quirks they turned out to have! I became an instant die -hard chicken guy (my wife just thinks I'm so adorable with my chickens... and possibly a little obsessed). Anyway, I need some help/advice and then I have a quick, unrelated question just to settle my curiosity. So, first off, I'm well aware (especially after watching your videos) that these guys have definitely gotten too big for the space in which we currently have them. We've up sized from the little bucket-shaped container that we got from tractor supply, for sure, and they have plenty of room to eat, drink, sleep, etc. (they all bunch together anyway when they do each of those things), but they don't have much room at all to run, play and explore (we're working on that - this weekend we'll have it completed, actually). They DEFINITELY don't have any room to "fly." Now, we did recently put together a VERY-large-tent-sized structure that we then used to enclose the small coop that we'd recently bought for our existing two adult chickens. The enclosed perimeter around the small coop provides much more room for them to do all those things during the day, but we still bring them in at night because we haven't finished putting the chicken wire around the top of the structure and worry that predators could climb in, so they stay in a spare room inside at night in a very large tote that we have them in, which (finally) brings me to my dilemma. I've spent so much time with these little guys, but they've never seemed to enjoy being pet (on their backs, even) or held, with the exception of one special sweetheart. When I used to take them outside, back before we had their own enclosure (partially) set up, they'd follow me around, to an extent, and they'd even come running to me for protection if they got startled or felt threatened by a nearby, larger bird or a dog barking or something like that (melts my heart every time), but lately they've been acting like they're afraid of me much of the time. I tried your sideways eye contact thing, I've stopped reaching down over them from the top to pick them up, but still they all clammer all over each other to the corner opposite of me causing all kinds of fuss. It breaks my heart and I'm wondering if my ignorance early on could have contributed to this result, or maybe I'm still doing something wrong? I hope you can give me some advice. Idk, maybe the problem will fix itself once they're out in their new space and happy, but it's really breaking my heart right now. So there's that, and my quick question to which I've not been able to find a credible answer ANYWHERE on the Internet is this: they've started doing this thing that looks like a yawn, or like they're trying to crow, but no sound comes out. Are you familiar with this at all? In case it's helpful to know exactly the size of the birds, they're just getting big enough to where I almost can't pick them up with one hand anymore (my wife definitely can't anymore). They've got most of their feathers in, their tails are becoming a more distinct feature, and I've heard an adorable, adolescent-sounding cackle come from some of them a handful of times now (so freaking cute!). Is this gesture/motion normal? Is something wrong? They're eating and drinking just fine, seem very healthy. Just seems odd. My ignorant speculation is that they're trying out their new vocal cords and just failing to make a sound sometimes? Thank you so much for your time if you actually read this far.

[@ecomom5651]

Thank you for all your amazing videos and spreading so much helpful information on raising chicks with to Mich love just like they deserve it!! Your videos are gold!

[@idostuffidkwat]

My baby chick Sam did that he did the back stretch

[@abnewgemchoice1699]

I did subscribe I just need all your chicks videosss thank youu

[@thefeatherbrain]

I do have a video course on raising chicks you might want to check out on my website. You can take it for free. Here's the link if you're interested - www.thefeatherbrain.com/mama-hens-guide

[@Readonbias]

I’ve come to rely on your advice as I’ve had great success with it. Plus you’ve helped me transition from old school ways. I have a question. Could you please do a video on itchy chickens? Possible reasons & safe treatments. The summer heat is on & my chickens have begun scratching themselves. Thank you!!❤️🙏

[@thefeatherbrain]

Hi Regen, Thanks for your kind words! Is it the norm for your chickens to scratch more in the heat? And if so, what climate are you located in? Or is this an unexpected behavior? Thanks, Bri

[@Readonbias]

@@thefeatherbrain Hi Bri, thank you for your response. I’m in northern Washington. Watching them, I would say it’s more than normal scratching. Much like an animal with fleas. They dust themselves and they free range within a large yard that’s fenced.

[@thefeatherbrain]

@@Readonbias Have you checked them for lice or mites? Check very closely around the vent and under the wings, if not. Have you had this scratching problem in your flock before? My favorite article on lice/mites - the-chicken-chick.com/poultry-lice-and-mites-identification

[@Readonbias]

@@thefeatherbrain Okay, I’ll look for mites under the wings & vent. Also I’ll read the article you posted. I appreciate it! In the summer especially, I’ve observed them scratching in the past & dusting themselves, but it seems it’s excessive now. Like they’re daily chicken tasks are constantly being interrupted by it. Like I said I was raised with old school poultry practices and I’ve been slowly re-learning & want the happiest healthiest chickens. Still have much more to learn. In the summer I feed grain only when I call them into their chicken yard to close them in for the night and their grain is organic. I use them only for eggs & their manure. I don’t condemn anyone for meat, but for myself I’m too attached. I allow them to retire once they get old & quit laying, and they die naturally (with each a 💔). My oldest is 8 and still laying. And last,earlier this year I was down to 0 roos & 6 aging hens. Now up to 22 birds. (1 cockerel/6 hens/15 pullets) Because I live in a cold climate, in a rural area with raptors, I chose white Jersey Giants, Buff Brahmas & Light Brahmas. (Cold hardy & large breed for less chance of raptors swooping for them). I keep their coop & nest boxes as clean. I use pine shavings in the nest boxes & coop, and spread a layer of fresh straw in the (fully enclosed) chicken yard. It’s only my 6 aging hens with this problem. My apologies for a lengthy post, but it might not or might give you clues to what the problem could be? Again, I’ll check them for mites. Thank you so much! ❤️🙌Annie

[@Readonbias]

@@thefeatherbrain Okay, I’ll look for mites under the wings & vent. Also I’ll read the article you posted. I appreciate it! In the summer especially, I’ve observed them scratching in the past & dusting themselves, but it seems it’s excessive now. Like they’re daily chicken tasks are constantly being interrupted by it. Like I said I was raised with old school poultry practices and I’ve been slowly re-learning & want the happiest healthiest chickens. Still have much more to learn. In the summer I feed grain only when I call them into their chicken yard to close them in for the night and their grain is organic. I use them only for eggs & their manure. I don’t condemn anyone for meat, but for myself I’m too attached. I allow them to retire once they get old & quit laying, and they die naturally (with each a 💔). My oldest is 8 and still laying. And last,earlier this year I was down to 0 roos & 6 aging hens. Now up to 22 birds. (1 cockerel/6 hens/15 pullets) Because I live in a cold climate, in a rural area with raptors, I chose white Jersey Giants, Buff Brahmas & Light Brahmas. (Cold hardy & large breed for less chance of raptors swooping for them). I keep their coop & nest boxes as clean. I use pine shavings in the nest boxes & coop, and spread a layer of fresh straw in the (fully enclosed) chicken yard. It’s only my 6 aging hens with this problem. My apologies for a lengthy post, but it might not or might give you clues to what the problem could be? Again, I’ll check them for mites. Thank you so much! ❤️🙌Annie

[@H2Shadow]

So I'm supposed to get my first set of chicks which are the black Australorps what feed do u recommend

[@heatherreddick4635]

Richard, I think any feed is fine just as long as it is NON-medicated. You can opt for organic if you don’t mind paying an extra few bucks, and some feeds have prebiotics and probiotics that will help aid digestion but the most important thing is just to be sure it is NONMEDICATED. Personally, if and when I can afford to, I like to feed them Scratch and Peck’s starter/grower mash which is an organic whole-grains feed rather than the standard highly processed crumble that all the other brands make. If you do feed a whole grains mash however, you will also need to supply them with chick grit at the same time so they can grind the bits of grains and seeds in their gizzards. Scratch and Peck feeds are a bit more expensive, but I like the more natural seeds and grains for my chicks and chickens, and it has other benefits like being sproutable and fermentable if one feels so inclined to try to do. Sprouting and fermenting does add extra nutrients and beneficial microbes, and that’s one of the major benefits I love about the Scratch and Peck line. FYI …I’m just a regular backyard chicken keeper, I only keep a few hens and I treat my chickens more as pets than mere farm animals.

[@Louise-xr5ok]

Why non medicated? It helps to ward off coccidiosis? Especially if it has been present on the land

[@H2Shadow]

@@heatherreddick4635 thank you for all that information very helpful

[@thefeatherbrain]

Richard, there are a few options, but the simplest approach is a starter/grower chick crumble until your hens start laying - you can find this at your local farm/ranch supply store, like Tractor Supply or D&B. I recommend a simple starter/grower chick crumble over a feed with different types of grains because sometimes your chicks will only eat one type of grain and then they end up malnourished. (I made this mistake my first year of chicken keeping with my adult chickens and lost a hen who was very dear to me.) Non-medicated feed is appropriate for most chick setups, but there are some scenarios where medicated feed may be a healthier option for your chicks. I cover all these topics and more in my video course on raising chicks. You can take it for free here - www.thefeatherbrain.com/mama-hens-guide Go to Module 1 Lesson 6 to learn all you need to know about chick feed and what's best for you. Best of luck, Bri

[@thefeatherbrain]

You're correct, Louise, that in some cases medicated feed is a better option. It depends on your circumstances. I do have a video on this topic in my raising chicks course you can take for free here if you'd like to learn more - www.thefeatherbrain.com/mama-hens-guide

[@H2Shadow]

I got my chicks today just curious so I got them in the tent but they're also inside of a cardboard box when do they graduate from the cardboard box to have full access to the tent

[@thefeatherbrain]

Typically by 10 days you can leave them in their larger area unsupervised (as long as you are certain they know where their heat source, food, and water are - otherwise, supervise closely until they learn their space)

[@knotqueen2419]

Is Pippa an ISA Brown?

[@thefeatherbrain]

She's not from the ISA Brown line, but she is a Red Sex link.

[@knotqueen2419]

Thank you.

[@DimasFajar-ns4vb]

pearl hen or chicken is different chicken and i heard its from africa

Hi

[@lulu-sb8ib]

What is the hen plushie you have for them?