There is one chick getting some extra attention these days, and it (she?) is actually very cute. But like her namesake, the Ugly Duckling, she is the odd one out. Of the 18 chicks, she was the only one not accepted by the surrogate mother hens. She continues to get immediately pecked in their presence. We have been fostering her inside the house and find opportunities for her to get out and run around outside, such as when we are watering or harvesting in the garden. Fortunately, the other 5 hens tolerate her so she can hang out with them when they are out in the chicken yard. When she is in the garden with us, sometimes she runs after us following really well. Other times we walk away from her and she doesn't know where we have gone and she starts chirping really loudly and we squat down and say "chick chick" and she'll come running! It's fun to get to interact with her more than the other chicks. She'll probably be the best one in the end!
Last night, after an afternoon out with the hens, Chick Chick the foster chick was feeling very snuggly. She sat on my shoulder for at least an hour, sweetly peeping.
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