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It’s been about four weeks since we brought home our little peeping puffballs and kicked off our backyard chickens journey—and wow, are these girls growing fast! I’m pretty sure they were already a week old when we picked them up, because now they’re practically feathered-out supermodels… except for their fuzzy little heads, which are still rocking the baby look.

And yes—those fancy new feathers? They’re using them to *fly.* Right out of the brooder. That’s right—every time we turn our backs, it’s like a feathery jailbreak. Things are definitely getting interesting around here!

We’ve got about 3 to 5 weeks to go before they can move out to their permanent home in the coop and run (aka the chicken version of graduating from toddlerhood). In the meantime, keeping them entertained is practically a full-time job.

Backyard Chicken-tainment

We’ve tried everything short of giving them their own Netflix account. (Though, fun fact: they’re oddly captivated by The Disney Channel. Who knew?) The kids have been spending time bonding with the chicks—gentle handling now makes them easier to manage later when it’s time to collect eggs. It’s also hilarious to watch. Our Easter Eggers especially love hopping on shoulders and pecking at hair like it’s the latest fashion trend.

Needless to say, we’ve been on the lookout for free (or super cheap) ways to keep these feathered comedians busy. Here’s what’s worked so far:

– **Grass time:** A little time on the lawn gives them something green to munch, plus the dirt helps with digestion. Bonus: being outside introduces them to local microbes in small doses, which helps them build up immunity before moving into their outdoor digs.

– **Mirror, Mirror on the Wall:** Hang a small mirror at chick-eye-level and you’ve got hours of chick-tainment. Our Easter Eggers think they’ve discovered new friends—and they’re not shy about pushing each other aside for mirror time.

– **Chicken Football (a.k.a. Spaghetti Night):** A friend tipped us off to this one, and it’s as wild as it sounds. Toss in a few strands of plain cooked spaghetti, and suddenly it’s game on. One chick grabs a noodle and runs, while the others chase her like she’s holding the winning lottery ticket. It’s free, it’s fun, and it’s now a family favorite to watch.

After doing quite a lot of research online and talking to experienced chicken owners, I’ve been adding a few things after moving them to an enlarged brooder.  One of the first things was a dust bath.  Basically a small plate with dirt and a bit of Diatomaceous Earth – food grade mixed in. (Use a 2:1 mixture). They took to it like babies to the bathtub, with lots of shaking and dancing around. I put in a short stick to mimic a roost. Chickens love to roost and having a simple one helps the chicks to learn all about them. I’ve also been taking clumps of sod with a bit of dirt from the yard and putting them in with the chicks.

They love to eat the grass and the dirt helps with digestion. It also introduces the chicks to our local germs in small doses. I also read in several different places to hang a small mirror for chicks to interact with… the Easter Eggers love it so much, the chicks actually push each other out of the way to stand in front of it. A friend also recommended giving them a few strands of spaghetti to play with; the chicks like to grab the strands and run around with them like they are worms. Her kids dubbed the scene as “chicken football.” I can’t wait to see that!

Want to start at the beginning of our adventure with Backyard Chickens? Click here for the beginning.

Continue on the adventure! Click here for Week 5!

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