As we all start thinking about baby chicks (and I know some people have already gotten theirs and oh, do I have chick envy) I want to remind you of this very important bit of information.
Chickens like the color red. It’s in their DNA to investigate and peck at anything that is red. For this reason, most feeders and waterers have red bases.
The chicks see red, they investigate and soon they learn that’s where the food and water is.
Sometimes though, you can get smaller chicks who may not be able to reach the top of the standard red bases. When this is the case in our house, I use red marbles in a jar lid or shallow dish filled with feed or water.
The chicks see red, they investigate and soon they learn that’s where the food and water is. All is good.
Within a few days, the chicks are usually large enough to reach the standard feeders and I then remove the lids and marbles. Such an easy solution, everyone who gets chicks should have a few red marbles in their chicken care box.
When chicks get older though, their love for red doesn’t diminish. It’s why when we unearthed a nest of tiny pink mice, the chickens immediately pounced on them. It’s in their DNA.
It’s also the reason I no longer wear these earrings near my chickens.
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
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Wendy Thomas writes about the lessons learned while raising children and chickens in New Hampshire. Contact her at [email protected]
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