Baby Chicks

We are down to only 2 chickens, so Delwyn decided it was time to get some chicks. He spent a a couple of evenings building this box to keep them in and painted it purple with some really old paint leftover from Denya's Barbie doll house. I was surprised the paint was still good!

I don't know if we got the chicks earlier in the year than we have before, but this is the first time we have kept them in the house. It's a sign of true love that I agreed they could come in.  The good news is they won't have to stay inside for very long, maybe a month. We got two yellow ones and two black ones. I don't know what brands they are--to me a chick is just a chick.

Farmer Delwyn with one of the new babies.

Calista was the first of the grandkids to see the chicks. She was here when Delwyn came home with them on Saturday afternoon.

When Dagny and Lincoln got here on Sunday, they ran right down the basement to see them. They both wanted to hold one right away. Both kids were a little nervous they might get pecked, and sometimes the chicks flap their wings and try to fly a little. They had a short turn since Delwyn was busy cooking dinner and you can be sure I'm not about to touch one or help the kids hold them.

Dagny named a yellow one Sunny, Lincoln named a yellow one Bennett, together they named a black one Blackie, and Claire named the other black one Moonlight. They seem to like their home, eating a lot and soaking up the heat from the heat lamp.

After dinner all the kids had a turn to hold them. Claire and Millie aren't the least bit nervous since they have chickens at home. They aren't scared to pick up big chickens and they treat theirs like pets. Claire got one to perch on her hand and then everyone wanted to try that.

Dagny was successful!

She was quite proud to show off her chick. She claims Sunny as her

With some help, Lincoln was able to get one to perch on his hand too.

 

Maddie's turn. We had to keep reminding her not to squish the chick.

 Even Emma had a turn petting a chick. She was quite interested and kept putting her hand back out to touch it again. 

More turns. Six kids and only four chicks. They poop quite often, so Delwyn gave the kids some shop towels to put on their laps. And yes, we had to get some fresh paper towels 4 times in the 10 or 15 minutes they held them.

Dagny was finally brave enough to pick one up after watching Claire and Millie. The yellow ones are easier to hold since they are younger than the black ones and don't try to fly as much. The kids did hold the black ones too, but for some reason the yellow ones are in all the pictures. I wondered if they liked being held or if they were glad to go back in the box.

Chickens make Delwyn so happy, so I guess I can put up with them.