The chicks are already looking much bigger and more grown up. They have less fluff and more feathers. They take little flights around their brooder, launching off their roosting stick. Mindy, especially, likes to sit on top of the water dispenser, holding court as queen of the hill.

I think they’re doing well! I worry a little that Gilda is still so much smaller than the others, even Mindy who is the same breed. I haven’t seen any signs of the larger chicks bullying her or anything else troubling so I guess she’s ok.

One thing that’s kind of weird- I try to hold each of them regularly, at least once per day, to make them friendly and used to the idea that human contact does not mean death, but I swear they seemed more alarmed by me in last two days than they did last week. When I reach into the brooder there is full on panic. Everyone runs and peeps frantically and tries to hide under one another. I feel bad! I don’t want to terrify them! I worry I’m going to give them a heart attack, but my chicken books say handling them is important, so I keep subjecting them to this trauma once or twice a day.

Hopefully I’m not doing more harm than good.

Other than that, taking care of them is still pretty easy. Their water dispenser needs cleaning multiple times a day because as soon as I clean and refill it they get to work filling it with straw and pooping in it. So that’s annoying, but not terrible.

They’re still adorable. I’m excited for when they’re grown up enough to visit outside!