It started out with just one of the chicks. It flew on top of the water feeder and then over the edge of the bin it was in. I was in my computer room but I heard his very loud and urgent sounding *cheeps*..almost like fearful screams. So I jumped up and discovered the chick outside of it's bin, running around the outside bottom edge, chirping like crazy. I reached down to put her back inside the bin when a second one performed the stunt and landed on the floor beside me. Without hesitating, I reached down, scooped it up quickly and put it into the bin. I decided I had to put an end to that or wake up in the morning with a bun of chicks running around the living room, dining room and kitchen areas. I finally took the top to the bin and angled it over the two feeders so that the majority of the bin still got the heat lamp shining into it but prevented them from flying onto the feeders.
Later on, the Beast found the chicks in the other bin duplicating the same thing so, after returning them to the bin, he, too, angled that top over the feeders. All we can do right now is hope for the best. But we did note that they are getting feathers on their backs now so, after Tuesday, we can probably move them into the barn. The Beast is going to work on a door that allows them to get outside but can be locked when they are put back in at night. The locking is more to keep critters out than to keep the chicks inside. Especially raccoons, which are very clever and handy at opening things. The lock will be on the inside of the barn door.
My son, Mustachio, laughed when he found out about the chickens. He said that, when he was stationed on Diego Garcia Island, the whole island had chickens roaming all over. They were very wild and a bit mean to each other. They didn't act like a flock, which they do at farms for the most part. You could find nests full of eggs all over the place, mostly under bushes. Snakes usually raided the nests and carried off the eggs but some of the workers would search for eggs daily. He said the fresh laid eggs were awesome. The Princess said the same thing. They have a totally different taste than commercial eggs.
I guess we will find out...hopefully. I just hope our little kamikaze chickens don't break their necks before they are old enough to start laying. They ARE funny to watch, though. They are standing up so tall now that their legs have grown and even their necks have. It's amazing how much bigger they have gotten in so short a time.
Tonight is supposed to be warmer than usual but Monday and Tuesday nights are both going to be VERY cold. Once we find out about the weather expected after that, we can decide about moving the chicks out into the barn. I will let you all know what happens.
Love you all. I have to get my butt to bed now. I'm very tired for some reason. I didn't do a whole lot except keep a close eye on the chicks today (which meant I was up and down, up and down....). Also Baron was constantly wanting to go outside to bask in the sun while the temp was milder. But that only lasted about 10 minutes at a time.
Love you all. Be good. Be careful. Be kind. ***Hugs***
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