It's actually a belated birthday wish because the chicks and keets were two weeks old yesterday.  I went away for the weekend and returned to find my little fluffy chicks had turned into scraggly-looking teenage birds.  I guess everyone has to go through an awkward phase right?  Here's a little comparison to show you how they've been changing:

Three days old. So cute!	Two weeks old.  Can you say gawky?
All fuzz . . .	Half feathers!

If I had thought ahead, I would have put a ruler up in the box to show you how much they've grown, but alas I did not!  I would hazard to guess that they've doubled in height since we first got them.  Their activity has increased as well. To keep up with their need to run, scratch at the ground, and stretch out, we've now moved them from their cardboard box to a "fenced-off" area on the floor of the chicken house.  


This keet used to fit in one hand.

Another reason for rearranging their living quarters is because they are learning how to fly!   Okay, chickens can't fly very well, but they can fly well enough to escape a 1-ft tall box.  We had been in the habit of throwing towels over the top of the box at night to keep them warm, but a few nights ago Roy found chicken-poop on top of the towel!  That was the catalyst for creating a new arrangement with more space and taller walls.  But if you think about it, it is comforting to know that even though some chicks were able to fly out of their confines, they obviously are happy enough to fly right back in.  As Roy said when he discovered the delinquent poop. he gave a look to the birds and they all put on their most innocent faces as if to say, "not me!" 

Don't forget to watch our little birds on the poultry cam and maybe you'll catch a glimpse of them flying!

Do you see who's knocking at the door of the chicken house?