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The Maiden Voyage

May 7th, 2013

Yesterday, the chicks spent the afternoon outside running around in the green grass and soaking up a little sunshine.  They were happy as clams, scratching and digging, dust bathing, finding bugs, chasing each other around, and trying to learn how to fly. They’re all a little over a week old and it’s time for them to start spending as much time outside as possible.
Chicks on pasture 1
I believe animals should be outside honing their natural instincts. These chicks will need to learn to peck and scratch so they can forage for some of their own food, no freeloading animals here (except the indoor cats).  Of course the ducks had to come over and see what all the fuss was about, I wonder if they remember being inside this pen?  The lady duck was very interested in the little chickies.  Hopefully she’ll start laying eggs soon and hatch her own little ones.
Chicks on pasture 2
It’s been fun watching these little lovelies grow up, it’s so amazing how quickly their wing feathers start to come in (they’re already starting to fly a bit).  I feel like I know exactly what these little chickies are feeling, in spring I’m so excited to get outside and to enjoy the weather, no doubt they’ll be looking forward to their trip out each day.

Have you been able to spend time outside soaking up the sun and feeling grass under your feet?

10 Comments to “The Maiden Voyage”
  1. BJ on May 7, 2013 at 7:24 am

    The twins went swimming in the little kiddie pool here at my parents house yesterday. It was 80 degrees in Caribou, so lovely. You wouldn’t believe that my niece, Christina, and I found snow on our way home from St. Agatha last night. Only in The County!

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  2. Lemongrass on May 7, 2013 at 7:54 am

    Ducks are like that. They always want to see what’s going on. The chicks seem to be enjoying the sunshine. Fortunately for me here in Grenada(Caribbean), the sun pops her head over the mountain between 5:30 and 6:00 am and spreads her shine on us all day long. The moon does her thing at nights too. Last night I took a walk outside with my feet to the grass and enjoyed myself. Don’s forget to soak up some of that moon juice, New Moon is on the 9th.

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  3. KimH on May 7, 2013 at 9:49 am

    Yep.. its been beautiful here in Ohio for the last week at least.. Pure heaven!

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  4. Jennifer Fisk on May 7, 2013 at 2:16 pm

    What an incredible run of beautiful days. Makes me fear June. I’ve been out quite a bit just doing spring chores. It hasn’t gotten much above 68 here which is wonderful to work in.
    I’m curious what you used for your chick pen. I use an XPen lined with plastic mesh but it is difficult at times.

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  5. Sierra N Hampl on May 7, 2013 at 2:53 pm

    Those chicks are adorable! Isabella really wants some chicks…maybe next year. We have been outside as much as possible, which means the inside of my house is falling apart–oh well.

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  6. Hazell on May 7, 2013 at 6:55 pm

    Watch your temperatures – ideal for a chick’s first week of life is 90 to 95 degrees, and it only drops 5 degrees per week. Watch out for huddling.

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    • Susy on May 7, 2013 at 8:40 pm

      There’s a box with a heat lamp in case they get cold, but it seems they spend all day running around enjoying the grass and sunshine.

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    • Jennifer Fisk on May 8, 2013 at 6:19 am

      If they were a natural hatch, they would be spending all their waking hours cruising out doors. They only get brooded by the hen when they go in at night.

      Reply to Jennifer Fisk's comment

  7. Deb on May 7, 2013 at 8:47 pm

    I have 4 wk. old chicks and haven’t put them out yet. Will tomorrow if it’s warm enough. Have a portable coop they will use. They can fly some as it is 3 ft. high inside. I pull grass and give them weeds with dirt to work on but not all that warm yet here in Ohio. Warm enough, but at night they still go under the Brinsea Eco-Glow. No heat lamps here as they consume so much electric and so dangerous. Yours are so cute.

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  8. laura on May 8, 2013 at 11:52 am

    those chicks are adorable! i’ve spent lots of time the past month out working in the gardens, trying to get things ready for veggie planting and planting sunflowers and other flowers. the past week has been nothing but cold and rain with an occasional peek of sun. i’m anxiously waiting for the sun and warmth to return the end of the week.
    blessings
    ~*~

    Reply to laura's comment

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This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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