I'm busy today trying to figure out how to get a new camera into the chick enclosure so you can watch them whenever you so desire.
But I wanted to get a quick update on how quickly chicks grow. When I got the chicks I had a few people say they'd come in a week or so to see them and I had to tell them, if you want to see a cute fluffy chick you need to get here within the first 3 days. After that they start to lose their soft feathers, get a big gangly and before you know it they're covered in pimples.
Alas. The teenage chicken.
Just as a bit of a refresher, here's the chick with the fluffiest legs a week ago.
Only 5 days old and it was already starting to get wing and tail feathers.
He/she/it has changed quite a bit in the past 7 days. Here he/she/it is at 12 days old.
Even though this particular chick has the most feather growth, is the biggest, and has the thickest legs, he/she/it has the smallest comb of all of them. It's very dark and almost non existent.
You can see how I sexed another batch of chicks here using 3 different methods by the way.
The feathered legs are a standard characteristic of French Marans. Other breeds that have feathered legs are Brahmas, Cochins, Silkies and Sultans.
I'm going to document this one chick in a photo series every week or two until he/she/it is full grown.
If you can't wait for the pictures you can tune into The Coop Cam (which isn't up and running yet, but hopefully will be soon).
Until then your thirst for sexually ambiguous male/females will have to be quenched with an 80's video.
Feral Turtle
They are cute no matter what stage. Some fantastic photos Karen!
Ev Wilcox
Can't figure out why nature would put feathers on feet. Are they originally from a very cold region? Does France HAVE a very cold region? Anyway, cousin It is coming along nicely!
Karen
They are. They're from Marans which is known to be cool and damp. ~ karen
Diana
sweetsweetsweet. This legs! Wish I would be a chicken, my legs could look like this...
Be honest lady and think of the spring-harvest!!! hahaha
Louise
Still cute, but not as cute as that silver . . . nope, not gonna go there! ;-)
Erika
Heesheeyit has the feet of a ptarmigan!
Tigersmom
Hahahahah! They're like little Clydesdales! How did I not notice the feathered feet in the pic of the adult one? Tell me it never goes away.
Karen
Nope. Unless they're pecked off the feathers are here to stay. ~ karen
judy
the thing that really impresses me about this tiny creature is how overall ferocious it looks, the expression is piercing and fierce- those claws look like they could tear out your heart-wow. I watch a lot of nature programs and I find all of the protective devices Nature provides for survival extremely interesting, also I am old, very old. Chuckles and grins. The whole aging experience is kinda funny if you don't take it too seriously.
Jebber Jay
Oh those feathered feet!! Nom nom. :o)
Louise
You're not going to eat it, are you?!!!
Reminds me of the time I took my Chinese husband (to be) to the park about 25 yrs. ago. A gorgeous, snowy white swan sailed across the lake. In unison, the crowd breathed "Ooooh!" Suddenly I heard an excited voice from beside me shouting, "Oh, I've had those before - very delicious!"
I just put my head down and dragged him to the car. ;-)
Karen
LOLOLOL! ~ karen
Darlene
Karen - Love the chicks feet! I think you should change the antlers in your header to the chicken feet with feathers!
Karol
I know you have probably already addressed this, but please explain to this little city slicker why you can't tell what sex a chick is. Are there parts that are hidden for awhile?
Karen
Hi Karol. The parts are pretty much hidden forever. You don't know you have a rooster until he starts to crow basically. The roosters will also get a longer tail, bigger neck feathers and bigger combs and wattles. But most people really don't call it a rooster until it crows because these chickens can surprise you. You'll be convinced it's a hen and then ... it's not. ~ karen
Leslie
I'm going through the "It's a boy! I think!" stage with some younger birds right now. Sometimes I can make a very good guess right out of the shell, sometimes a cockerel skunks all of us until it starts chasing the pullets and generally being hyper obnoxious. One of the things that stands out for me before feathers & combs are the legs ... if I could post a photo I would show you. It's funny.
Jody
Still a wee bit of fluffy bums left. so cute. Have any of the new chicks bonded with only you?
Karen
Nope. I didn't get them until they were a few days old so no one imprinted on me. And as far as bonding goes, they've only bonded with each other. They're pretty suspicious of the hovering giant thing with that change the feed and water. ~ karen!
Sally A
So cute! I love the feathered feet too. Do baby chicks have to have a different diet than the adults?
Erin
Yes they do- since they are growing really fast. After about 6-8 weeks they switch to another feed until around 18 weeks. Then they get grown up feed. That's the short answer :)
Our birds of all ages love greens, especially Queen Anne's lace and cup plant. And any poor bug who wanders their way - down the hatch. Don't let anyone tell you chickens are vegetarians!
Karen
Yes they do Sally A. Chickens are fed 3 different types of feed throughout their life. Starter, Grower and Layer. Starter is for the first 6 weeks or so (I can't remember I'll have to look it up) then they go onto Grower while they're growing and until they're almost ready to lay, and then they're on Layer which has more protein. ~ karen!
Leslie
Generally speaking, layer has more calcium than feed for younger birds. Too much calcium is unhealthy for a younger bird (it causes gout). Besides lower calcium, starter has more protein & some other important nutrients that are hard to come by in the grains & legumes most poultry feed is made from ... the amino acid lysine, for example, is often "limiting" in the performance of chicks, so there is more lysine in starter. Grower is typically lower in protein than starter, and layer is usually the lowest protein protein food (except the stuff they feed factory layers to get them to go into molt, but that's another story). Protein is expensive, so feed companies use as little as possible to get "acceptable" results.
I get around the need for having different types of feed for different birds by using a custom blend of all-purpose feed that has plenty of high-quality protein & extra "limiting" nutrients (lysine for chicks, niacin for ducks, other things for the breeders, etc.) for my flock, and offering the extra calcium the layers need "on the side." It's a great solution for people keeping fewer than, ohhhhh, 20,000 birds in each coop.
Karen
That's it! Calcium, lol. ~ karen
Dede
He/she/it teenage already has attitude and SASS.
Barbie
WOW! I grew up with chickens and totally do NOT remember them growing and changing that fast. The memory fails me I suppose. You are such a hoot!
Sarah
You missed the perfect opportunity to Rick Roll us with the link to the (currently) non-working coop cam! I didn't click on the link at first, but then I did after I read the bit about the 80s video. I 100% expected to see sweet, sweet Rick Astley at the other end.
Another time.
Karen
omg you're right. It would have been PERFECT. ~ karen!
victoria
Great photos!
Grammy
In the late '60s boots with similar feather-like decorations were popular. Cool to see them again, especially on such a fine figure of a bird.
Mary Werner
Their turned up feet feathers look like little elf feet - or maybe baby gnome feet, OH NO.
TucsonPatty
Oh My Goodness, you've grown so much since I last saw you, little niece/nephew of mine. That is what Aunties say, isn't it?
What cute little fluffy feathers - fine fluffy feathers, even! How big do the fine fluffy feet feathers get?
ruth
those feathery toes are killing me. awesome little beast.