The chicks know their own minds, thank you very much. They understand treats and the treat bowl, and we now have 9 of the 10 who come to be picked up. They no longer queue patiently they barge into each other and jostle.
Number 6, the youngest and coincidentally the smallest, chick has cast off his shyness and manages to be number 3 or 4 in the picky up and treat games. We've started lap training which has nothing to do with circuits, it's getting them to sit (stand) on our laps while we stroke them.
Of course they don't stay on our laps, but those that leap off usually just go round and round the outside of the chicken run. A couple of them, however, have realised that there is a world beyond the run. One of the little black chicks is particularly adept at running off.
A couple of days ago, it ran off, got caught, flew out of my hands, climbed up the outside of the run (The Wrong Trousers style) and stood on the top. S/he then flew off the top of the run, landing in front of a surprised cat.
Luckily for all concerned, Wash showed great restraint. He rolled over so his back was to the tempting morsel.
That night, none of the chicks woudl stay in the bucket. As dast as I put them in there (with food), another would hop out. I had a sea of chicks running around., flapping. Wash, who was lying nearby and who was concentrating hard on not looking at the chicks, started to twitch. Then he jumped up and walked away, round th eother side of the Pampas. Out of the way of temptation, I think.
I threw some Alfamix Chicks in the run and most of them ran in. We had to carry the chicks back to the shed two by two.
More work on getting them to use the ladder today, I think. Once a few of them have mastered it, we'll be able to consider putting the chicks outside overnight (with an electric hen if necessary).
