"We Are The Young We're All Right!"

Raising Chicks

Just some things I've noticed in the first few days of Peanut and Penguin's lives.

1) Chicks grow at an amazing rate! At a few hours old they were already the size of an apple. 2 days old they were the size of a pear and now at about 4 days old they're the size of a mango!

2) They call out for their Mummy. It's a different noise to the happy little chirping they emmit normally. It's more of a call - and it really is heartbreaking for the sensitive soul! This noise is made when they're alone in a room... as soon as I or my Mum enters they hush up.

3) They're not as daft as their adult counter parts. Penguin has learnt that if he/she stands on the food container and jumps, he/she can almost escape!

4) They prefer food where they can bend to get it. They prefer the chick crumbs to be on the ground rather than in the trough... somehow it's easier to get.

5) Sleep is for the boring and bored. On their first day they kept having little 'micro sleeps' - i.e falling over where they stand to catch a few zz's, and then waking up and being bright eyed and bushy feathered once more. Now they hardly sleep at all - just doze for a second.

6) Whatever you can do, I can do better. Chicks are competitive. Peanut drank two mouthfuls of water in succession - Penguin watched this and then drank three. Peanut had a power nap in the corner - Penguin had a power nap on the food trough perch! Penguin is definately the typical younger sibling.

7) I can see youuuu.... Penguin has learnt that he/she can look through the handles of the box to make sure there are people still in the room with him/her.

8) Combing keeps the feathers looking young! Already they know how to groom their feathers and brush them up to look more impressive and eye catching.

9) Penguin's can't fly - and neither can Peanuts. No matter how many runs up the seal puppet you do, you still cannot fly off the end to freedom - I tell you this now.

10) Straw is not practical, nor yummable. Straw is hard to balance on even for the most elite acrobats, and it most certainly does not taste nice.

11) I can wrap Mummy Millie around my little feather. Just the slightest adorable look or teeniest chirp and Millie is there giving us cuddles and kisses.

(Blog Title: We Are The Young by McFly)