chick update

We've moved the baby chicks out of the chicken coop this week and outside into a contained area for their first outside world experience. It's been fun watching the chicks adjust to the grass for the first time.  They have taken up scratching the ground for bugs in no time.  It's really been amazing to watch.  Not to mention therapeutic.

Here is Ellen showing them how to look for bugs in the grass.

Fluffy checking out the new babies from a safe distance.  We've read that keeping them separated like this while they are young helps the other chooks get used to them and helps the other birds acclimate to the new ones.  We'll see if it works.  Both Fluffy and Snowy have been very curious that's for sure! 

The chicks checking out the big new outside world

Number 3 and Number 2

Number 1 - check out those beautiful wing feathers.  You can actually see their combs developing too.  It's fun to see the different changes and grow every day!

Number 2 - or should I say LuLu.  Yes, my  mother-in-law was down on the weekend and decided that this was the chick she was going to name.  After throwing out 5 different names, she settled on LuLu. As you can see LuLu's wings are a lot lighter and different colors than Number 1.  Lulu has personality plus!  She has just found her wings and will start at one end of the enclosure and run while flapping her wings.  Trying to catch air, which she has.  After she's done it she'll look around to see if anyone noticed.  Then will strut to the end of the enclosure and start it all over again.

Number 3 - the chick that was born 2 days after Number 1 & LuLu.  Her wing feathers aren't as long as Number 1 or LuLu, but she is catching up fast. 

I couldn't resist posting this one.  The afternoon was drawing to a close, and it was getting a bit chilly so Ellen gathered up her chicks to keep them warm.  They all disappeared under her, then all the sudden Number 3 (left) and LuLu popped out from under her bum feathers.  I took these photos 2 days ago, and already they have changed.  I noticed tail feathers starting to grow on Number 3 last night. I think she could be our rooster.  But until I know for sure, we are calling them all girls! They have been a fun addition to our daily adventures, that's for sure!