A Little Chicken Update

I posted a poem last month where I made reference to the chicks I had recently adopted. Four white leghorns that have grown exponentially over the past few weeks. I think they’ve given up plotting against me since they’ve realized I’m the one who feeds them.

We decided to adopt chicks partly because of the scarcity and cost of eggs at the grocery store (not that raising our own is cost-effective), but also because we’re transitioning our yard into a small backyard farm. I’ve been putting in raised beds, potted herbs, vegetables, fruit, and now the chicks. It’ll be less grass to mow in the warmer months and can hopefully provide us with fresh food and eggs. 

The chicks are around six to seven weeks old and most of their feathers have grown in. They’re still a bit awkward and fuzzy (mostly around their heads), but they are mature enough to move from the brooder to the coop. 

Due to our location in North Florida, I opted to go with a plastic coop. Wood just doesn’t do well here. Not only are there termites, but wood coops also attract other pests, like mites. Plastic is easier to clean, deters pests, and will theoretically last much longer than wood.

Moving the chicks out to the coop was much easier than I expected it to be. They’d been in a brooder box (a large cardboard Amazon box I had saved) in our dining room for just over a month, enjoying the air conditioner and getting constant attention. Spoiled? You bet.

But they took to the coop and run immediately. Although, when they first jumped down onto the grass they were surprised, squawking and flapping about for a few minutes. After that, they were pecking, scratching, and exploring their new home.

They’ve been out there for almost a week now and seem perfectly content. I added a canvas tarp to provide more shade to the run since temperatures have been getting into the 90s, but during the heat of the day they tend to gather beneath the coop and lie out in the dirt. My understanding is the dirt acts as a heat sink and keeps them cool. Maybe they’re smarter than we give them credit for!

It’ll be another six to eight weeks before they mature enough to start laying – give or take a few weeks. Leghorns are early layers, meaning they tend to begin laying at around 16 – 20 weeks, while other hens begin laying closer to the six-month mark. They are also prolific layers. One leghorn can lay upwards of 320 eggs a year. And we have four of them. I may go into the egg business and retire early.

The bonus is that one of our dogs, Chili, is obsessed with the chicks. She loves to sit or lie next to the run and simply watch them with her tail wagging. The chicks are just as curious about her and run over to greet her every time she stops by. Our other dog, Peppa, isn’t quite as keen about them. She’s not a fan of the fluttering feathers and keeps a safe distance. But at least they aren’t aggressive towards the little dinosaurs. 

Do you have any experience raising chicks? Any tips are appreciated! 

RB