They grow so quickly!

Remember my cute little chicks? A few days ago I let them out of their little wire cage. I had kept their cage in the chicken coop so the big chickens would get used to them. I sort of worked. However, I have one black hen that goes after them unmercifully. I really was concerned that she might try to kill them, and I really think that might be her motive. The chicks learned quickly to get out of her way though and are all still alive. They have figured out that they are free to move about and have settled right in. They sunbathe in the day and roost together in a huddle across from the big girls at night. The chicks really stick together.At first they were inseparable, kind of traveling around in a little chicken heard (I guess flock would be the appropriate term but the way they ran about it reminded me more of a herd). Now they are spreading out a bit... venturing off in pairs... but they are never very far from each other. At the slightest sign of a threat they regroup and huddle together. I imagine a lot of what they do is instinct but one must wonder just how much they try to copy the big girls :)
The chicks didn't seem to have any trouble finding the hanging food dish and quickly abandoned their ground dish for the big girls food, (even though they practically have to stand on their toes to reach it---chuckle).

Neither did they have any trouble finding and learning to use the door out, (funny looking little buggers, aren't they?).

As you can see, I have two red chicks. They are probably Rhode Island Reds (that was Cerra's guess and she is probably right). I am not sure though. They don't look quite as dark red as Rhode Island Red chickens usually look. Maybe they are New Hampshire Red chickens, who knows? Maybe they will get darker as they mature and prove to be Rhode Island Reds, eh? I guess time will tell.

Then there are the four black chicks that have gold speckles. I am pretty sure that they are Golden Laced Wyandottes because they have the rose comb that is characteristic of the breed and the pictures I found of Wyandotte chicks look just like my chicks when they were little. I found a page with every color of Wyandotte you can imagine. I had to scroll way down the page before I found pictures of Golden Laced and Silver Laced Wyandotte chickens so if you are interested in seeing what they will look like when they grow up keep on scrollin' :) I happen to already have a Silver Laced Wyandotte and her daughter who turned out to be Golden Laced but with a single comb instead of a rose comb because the rooster in question was a Buff Orphington. They are both excellent layers so I expect the chicks will grow up to be good layers as well, (its in the breed).

I could go on and on because I LOVE CHICKENS! But, this is probably enough for one post.

TTFN :)