Week 4: Out on pasture

We turned off the chicks' light when they reached a month old.  With our insulated brooder box, we probably could have taken away their heat earlier, but the weather turned chilly and we had to go out of town for a few days, so we waited.

By then, most of the chicks were fully feathered except for parts of their heads.  Dark Cornish chickens are known for their appressed body feathers that give the birds a less fluffy look than ordinary chickens, and I think they look a bit like little vultures.

I'm used to keeping chickens in tractors, so I was shocked by how quickly the cockerels scratched the floor of their coop down to nothing.  Then the area started to stink.  Good thing Mark was ready with the first pasture area!

When we opened the door of the coop to let our cockerels out for the first time, the chicks weren't quite sure what to think.  What was this big world?  Was it safe?

There was a lot of scurrying in and out for a few minutes, and I remembered why "chicken" is a synonym for "coward."

But before we knew it, they were dustbathing, sunning, pecking, and scratching.  Chicken bliss!