Chick Check, Week Three

Chicks at two days old:

                                    

Chicks at three weeks old (use the mason jar waterer as a size reference):

On her way to our place this past Monday, my Mom stopped at the feed store to pick up another bag of chick starter for me. $14.50 for a 50# bag.....ouch!  I originally started with a half-bag of starter (left over from Chistine's Silkies), went through one bag and I'm half through Monday's bag.  So that means the chicks have gone through approximately one hundred pounds of feed in twenty-two days.   And I'm not even keeping the feed bowls filled 24/7.  Fatties.

Even just glancing at them, I'd say the Cornish are definately eating (and pooping) more than their share.  Their abdomens are much larger than our barnyard mutt chicks and I'm assuming it's because of the mass quantities of food being processed by their not-so-little chick innards.  The Cornish have also started mobbing me when I put out their food for the morning.  Just last week, all the chicks would  scatter when I came into the barn and put their food down, waiting until I closed the door before chowing down.  But now the little buggers attack me when I open the door. 

Since they are pooping so much, I've had to clean out their stall twice now since they've been in the larger pen.  And it's starting to stink in just a few days.  I can't imagine how smelly it would be in the 100 degree weather (well, I can imagine actually).  I've been using the wasted hay (from the picky goats) as bedding in the chick stall, but it gets too matted too quickly.  I think I may have to go back to wood shavings.  The chicks will be able to scratch in the shavings easier and will hopefully increase the time between stall cleanings.