Episode 1

This posting is a few weeks late, and I thought about not posting it. However, I thought it is interesting to be able to see how the chicks are changing. Take a look at the difference between the chicks between the previous post and now. They are no longer in the rabbit hutches as they are shown in this vid. But that is for Episode 2.

Week #3

Well, I moved the chicks out into the garage into an old rabbit hutch. They have more room, and their poop falls into a tray below the caged floor. They have two heat lamps on them, so they are nice and warm, and much happier.

So much room! (For now)

Sitting under the heat lamp.

A few days of poop in the tray under the cage floor. This is greatness! They are not walking and sitting around in their own poop. The Broilers, bred to grow fast for meat production, can end up getting poop stuck to their stomach feathers, and it can cause irritation of their tummy skin and even infection. SO keeping them clean is very important.

One of the Broilers.

They are huge in comparison to the Rhode Island Reds.

Clean water is super important! I try to change their water in the morning and at night. There is usually some poop floating in it, so it has to be cleaned out.

My son, Rush, loves to "help" feed the chicks. Today he ended up throwing dried cat food at them, and laughing, so his "help" was no longer needed today. He was not happy about this, but the dogs loved cleaning up after him.

Mini-me

More Chick Pictures From Week 2

These chicks make a lot of poop! And when I say a lot, I mean A LOT! When they were in this terrarium, I would line its floor with shredded paper, and I would  have to change it every morning and night. It seems, from what I have observed, that chicks will poop right where they stand, then sit in it. All this poop is going to be a great addition to my compost pile, but it had started stinking so much that I had to move them from mu kitchen into an old rabbit hutch in my garage. 

You can see all the poop from just a few hours of pooping.

A RIR up close.

They are very alert to when you walk in the room or put something in their cage.

Sleeping chick. You can't really tell from this pic, but chickens sometimes sleep on their stomachs, with their legs all splayed out. IT almost looks as if they are dead.

When I would change their terrarium, I would take them all out and put them into a cardboard box.

What Kind of Chicks Do I Have?

I have two types of chickens. The majority (7) are Rhode Island Reds. Here are some links that give more detailed info on RIRs.

• http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGP/Reds/BRKRIR.html
• Rhode Island Reds Club of America
• The Perfect Breed

I also have three Broilers. Here's some info:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broiler
• http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGA/Broil/BRKMeat.html
• 
  

New Spring Chicks - The First Few Days

Located at the intersection of 75 and 380.

After bringing the chicks home, I placed them in a terrarium that I used to keep a gecko in. I used shredded paper to spread on the bottom of their new home. Also, you can see that they are eating from their feeder. They are eating a crumb feed that I got at Gebo's.

I bought seven Rhode Island Reds along with three yellow Broilers.

My kids love their new pets!

Dotaloo the kitty kat took a strong interest in the chicks too.

Those poor chicks were not sure what to make of this cat sitting on their cage.

A close up of one of the Reds.

Welcome to Coop's Coop!

I know that the title of this blog, Cocksure, is a bit full throttle, but it was teh only name that came to mind. After buying 10 Spring chicks two weeks ago, I have had so many people asking why would a mild mannered suburbanite need or want chickens, that I thought there would be enough interest in creating a blog as I explore these same questions. Sooooo, here goes..........