Last day for #Chickam for 2026! When the chicks go out in a bit, the cam will be turned off. Thanks again to everyone for bearing with us, and for your support during a very tough time. ❤️
Chickam!
@chickam2008.bsky.social
Annual 24/7 live web broadcast w/sound, of baby chicks hatching Mid-May + the next 8 weeks! Watch the flock Saturdays. Eastern Sierras, NV, USA http://jackshenhouse.blogspot.com https://www.youtube.com/@jackshenhouse
THEY ATE A STRAWBERRY That makes ~3~ human foods they eat now, yay! Lilac and Jim, I'm embarrassed for you. #Chickam
The chicks turn 8 weeks old on August 1st, & will go out into the flock for good at that point...but because our weather has been so ridiculously hot lately (108 today!) we haven't had a chance to put them out in the small run to acclimate them yet. So the August 1st date is a bit flexible. #Chickam
From here on out the chicks will be spending their nights in the dark (tho the cam is still on) to get them used to the day/night cycle. #Chickam
YAY, MEALWORMS EATEN! NOW what I'll do, is sprinkle a few on top of *other* new foods, so they accidentally get a peck of it...and discover HEY NEW FUD! #Chickam
Big surprise for Lilac as she was bounding/flapping around the brooder box and suddenly found herself up on the edge! Had to grab her and put her back in, Jim has having a VERY vocal cow, LOL 😁 #Chickam Both of these poor chicks are SKINNY, & had spent their life so far in a big metal feedstore tub.
Lilac and Jim have finally calmed down, and appear to be trusting us more. But they are SO skinny, poor things. And have NO idea what chicken goodies are, or what 'Chick chick chick' means. Gonna order some mealworms to get them pecking at things. #Chickam
Okay, we have names for the new #Chickam kids! The Russian Orloff is 'Jim'. The Lavendar Easter Egger is 'Lilac'.
They are both also quite skittish of humans, so will take some snoodling to tame them down.
IN MY DEFENSE, THEY WERE ON SALE. I thought I was safe, going to get chicken feed. We have here a Lavender Easter Egger and another Russian Orloff, both pullets. We'll pick names in a bit. And yes, they are both VERY yelly. So #Chickam will continue for another 3 weeks. #NoWillpower #MorehensDisease
#Chickam is done for this year! We took pictures of the chicks, gave 'em a wing trim and tossed them into the small run. Tonight they'll go in the coop with the flock, and tomorrow run with the adult birds. I realize that I haven't posted baby chick pics either as yet...
We're adding one day to #Chickam --tomorrow, Wednesday the 1st will be the last day.
For the last day of #Chickam 2026, we'll have the chicks in the brooder box, hopefully providing entertainment exploring various goodies. Today is also picture day, then the dreaded wing trim so the little darlings don't fly over the fence and get themselves in trouble.🙄
Head's up! #Chickam will end tomorrow, June 30th. We'll get some pics before the babies get a wing trim and are tossed out into the flock for good! Thanks everyone for watching, your support has made all the difference during a very tough time for the kid and I. You're the best! ❤️🐓
Welp, Artemis wins the 'Accidental Escape' prize. This is what happens when 'all wing and no brain' flying leap roughhousing with your hatchmates finds you suddenly perched on the top edge of the brooder, terrified and wondering how the heck THAT happened?! ...and now, how to get down? #Chickam
When that chunk of firewood intended as a roost, is instead the *perfect* pillow for your scrawny lil' chicken neck. #Chickam
Hey, I'm back! My old computer died a spectacular, LOUD death, and it took time for my amazing computer tech ❤️ to get the new one up & running. Hopefully all is back to normal now... Two more weeks of #Chickam to go!
Apologies to everyopne that #Chickam isn't as interactive this year. My husband passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, the kid and I are having a very tough time. Having the chicks to snoodle, and the kind words and support offered by our extended Chickam family makes all the diference. Thank you
My computer kacked out on me and I had to restart things, sorry. #Chickam
Today the chicks successfully learned to Chicken, and went crazy for live mealworms! Frantic Chicken Football all over the place, with lots of peeping. They also got vaccinated today, so I had some MAJOR sucking up to do. #Chickam
Welp, spoke too soon, Basil flaked on us once it got light. We won't try Dart, as I think Dart is too hyper for being in the house--she'd constantly want to be leading the chicks outside, and would likely get too upset to mother them after that. #Chickam
Basil has successfully been installed as Chickam Mom! This is something you have to do in the dark. Turn off all lights & make it quiet. Put the hen in the corner of the box (nesting hens instinctively choose the furthest corner & face outwards to protect the chicks). Stuff the chicks under the hen.
NAMES!!! In order of hatch: #12 (light blue egg) Sassafras #7 (Bantam egg) Boom #9 (dark green egg) Loofah #16 (medium brown egg) Artemis #6 (bantam egg) Thing #Chickam
All 5 chicks are now in the brooder box. I checked the remaining 4 eggs. Only #13 pipped, and that was yesterday. I picked a bit of shell off its pip. Unfortunately that egg is quiet, so the chick may have been a very late quitter. I'll leave the cam on the incubator for now.
All five #Chickam chicks are looking great! We'll be naming them this morning, and moving the two still in the incubator to the brooder box soon. When we move them I'll be able to evaluate the last 4 eggs for pips. I know #13 is pipped. 🥚🐣🐤😃
@chickam2008.bsky.social We got little 7 in front and 9 having the biggest nap ever in the back, little claws up
We moved the first three chicks to the brooder box. As the others get dried out we'll move them, too--#6 and #16 hatched at the same time! After it gets dark, we're gonna try to introduce a broody mama--Either Dart, or Basil.