Today went well, as always. [Can it be "always" if it's only been 7 days? I think so!] I changed their bedding this morning, and refilled food & water dishes. I refill/refresh the water every day (sometimes more often), as the chicks tend to knock a lot of bedding into the water. The food hasn't needed to be refilled every day -- yet! With the way we have the hutch arranged, I can (theoretically) change the bedding without removing the chicks. I just have to lower the front of the hutch, slide the cardboard out from under them, and then brush the bedding into the bucket. This, of course, is assuming that the chicks will let me pull the cardboard out. I moved it slowly, gently urging the chicks to step off it... and as I moved another one off, one of the earlier ones stepped right back on. It took about 5 minutes, but I finally won!
I caught one of the cats curled up on the lid of the hutch this morning; I forgave her that one, since it was right above the heat lamp, and I'm sure it was warm and cozy. The lid was closed, so there wasn't much concern about her actually getting to the chicks. I did NOT forgive her a few hours later. I'd opened the hutch and moved the heat lamp. Shortly after, I walked into the room to find her curled up on the top corner of the open hutch. She wasn't even looking at the chicks, and instead was facing in the other direction. However, I was completely stunned to discover that she could balance up there. I know cats have good balance, but she was completely relaxed, almost sleeping, on boards that aren't even an inch thick! And, of course, this means that the cats will bear watching more than ever!
As I stated previously, three of the chicks are Cornish Rocks [a cross between Cornish roosters and White Rock hens]; two are Isa Browns [good egg-producers], and the third was unidentified. I posted photos at www.backyardchickens.com, and received a reply suggesting that she might be a Light Brahma. A Google search later, and I've confirmed it enough for my own satisfaction. I may change that opinion if her characteristics change drastically as she matures, but for now, I'm confident that it's the right breed. According to my sources, they are very "calm and easy to manage", and they tolerate cold weather quite well [both bits of info from articles at www.motherearthnews.com]. And they appear to grow up to be rather beautiful birds, as well.
Not much more to update; it's a quiet Friday night, and I'm going to go relax for awhile. Feel free to leave comments! I will leave you with a quote from my youngest daughter; as we were researching Light Brahmas, she suddenly grinned and said, "It's just so awesome: we have CHICKENS!!"
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