Moving Day

As much as I love adorable little chicks, and watching them grow, the thrill quickly fades once the smell takes over.

One of the reasons I didn't want to get chicks this time of year is due to the cold.  I didn't want them to freeze to death outside.  Yes, we use heat lamps, but I just worried it wouldn't be enough. I'm a worrier.

However, my caring heart reached it's limit when the smell they bring into my home is overwhelming.  In addition to the smell, this particular group of chicks is hands down the flightest bunch we've ever had.  We're guessing it was just one wanna-be flyer that turned the whole group into a riotous mass.

I mentioned to my Husband that I was thinking of moving the chicks to our shed this weekend.  He wasn't really up for that idea.  He had concerns that the coming week was going to be very cold, and also worried about their mortality.  I informed him, this week was going to be very warm.  But I could tell he was still leary.

 On Sunday, as we drove home from church, he mentioned that maybe I should move them to the shed.  I let him know, that was already my plan. He didn't tell me until later that day, as I was trying to figure out what the big mess on our laundry room floor was, that four chicks had flown out when he went in earlier that morning and pooped all over my floor!

Here they are in their new home.

This is our usual procedure when chicks or keets move to the shed.  I lay down a tarp, making sure to raise the edges up (look closely behind the gate) so any shavings they scratch out won't get all over our stuff, and for easier cleanup.  I then unfold our fenced in play area that was used for my boys when they were younger.  This cage is apparently perfect for keeping all babies safe!  I'm sure Greco will love to hear that. 😊 Next comes the pine shavings and heat lamp.  We need to run a long extension cord from our house to our shed.  I throw the cord over a top beam.  Only this time, I put two lids in the coop, by the lamp.  I felt like it might help to contain the heat a bit, by getting warm and be something the chicks could cuddle up to and aid in thier warmth.  Hot plastic might not have been the wisest choice, but it was there, so I used it.  I figured it was better than nothing...maybe.

I then added the water and food.  I placed the water upon two pieces of wood I found in my yard to elevate their water.  Chicks love to scratch at the ground, and this can really cram up thier waterer.  It seems to be working well.  Soon they will start flying even more, and I'll place another tarp over their home to keep them contained.  I don't like walking into the shed and finding dead chicks, or a bunch of guineas loose pooping all over my husband's tools!  I speak from experience in both those examples.