Actually, there’s not a lot to say – which is good. The nine chicks in the barn are getting on well. It will be another few weeks before we let them out, but they seem to be growing well. I am looking forward to see how the black ones progress. Blackie is a very handsome cockeral, with long tail feathers that shine green and blue (that doesn’t show up in photos) so it would be nice to think that some of his genes had passed through.
Little splayed leg chick seems to be getting on too. I had hoped that she could be out with the others soon, but maybe not for another few days. Splayed leg is where their muscles aren’t strong enough to pull their leg under their body so it sticks out. It is rare when chicks are with their mothers as they build up their muscles right from the start as they climb through her feathers. It is quite common in incubator chicks, though. The splint is holding her leg under her body, but allows her to walk. Therefore the muscle should get stronger quickly. Her splint is currently a pipecleaner, however we may try a sticking plaster later.