Chicks!

I offered the chicks some Romaine lettuce the other day. I was then privy to one of the cutest things I’ve seen in a long while. One chick grabbed a piece of the lettuce and began a game of “keep away” while the other chicks started to chase her around, seemingly to grab the leaf. There were a half dozen or more pieces of lettuce available, but apparently, that chick claimed the most coveted morsel. Their behavior truly reminded me of how dogs often play catch-me-if-you-can games with each other.

Here are comparison photos of the chicks from Day 3 to day 10 (today.) If you look carefully, you will see that most of them are now sporting new feathers on their wings. These little babes develop very quickly!

First individual photos taken April 12, 2025 – with a second photo taken today, April 19.

I have figured out how to tell the two White Crowned Black Polish chicks apart. Number 2 has a small black dot near the bottom of her left eye. If you look up this breed, you’ll see that they are quite unique looking birds. I can’t wait to watch them develop their full compliment of head feathers.

There is more than one buff colored breed that has feathered legs. I’m not sure these two are the same breed, or not. But, I can tell them apart by the depth of their color as well as their size. Number 1 is smaller and lighter in hue. It is possible that these chicks are one (or two) of the following: Buff Cochins, Brahma, Orpingtons, Favorolles

As with the feather-legged, buff chicks, there is more than one breed of smooth legged, yellow-buff chickens. I’m not sure if these two are the same or different breeds. I think they appear to have different body shapes, with number 1 having a heavier keel. These chicks could be one of the following (or something I haven’t yet discovered): Buff Orpingtons, Buff Rock, Heritage Buff Minorca

I have learned that there are a number of breeds of chickens that produce chicks with a “chipmunk” marking. I am fairly certain that my two are different breeds based on their markings but even more so their behavior / personalities. Gray Speckles is a very flighty little chick, while the one with the solid, wide brown strip on its back is very laid back.

Based on the possible breeds that the hatchery offers and the fact that she has the telltale “fluffy ball” atop her head, I am quite certain the the top chick is a Buff Laced Polish, and she’ll sport a “mop” of feathers on her head that will droop over her eyes.

The second chick on the image above is huge, compared to all the other chicks. I suspect she is one of the bigger breeds, like the White Leghorn or White Rock. This chick always meets me at the door of their enclosure, where she hops onto the top of the small barrier I have in place to keep them from getting out when I open the door. She will step up onto my finger or into my palm when I offer her the opportunity, as well.