The chicks got an exam from Dr. Garrett.

Cheep all about it! We have welcomed several new feathery future members of The Barnyard! Almost a month old, these female chicks will remain behind-the-scenes for now as they grow before heading out to their new home.

Recently the flock underwent a veterinary exam to ensure they’re all growing well – and to better identify each chick with some flashy nail polish on their claw and even on top of their heads.

For now, the flock stays in a brooder behind-the-scenes. This warm, safe place for baby birds is typically home for the first six to eight weeks of their lives while they grow, said Animal Ambassador Area Supervisor Savannah Luhn. A feather duster acts as a cozy spot to curl up under, while a small box gives them a place to shift into during their animal care team’s regular cleans and top offs of water and food.

Eventually, the flock will move to The Barnyard to begin their introduction process. First, they’ll enjoy the space on their own before being introduced to our sizable goat herd with a barrier in between the two. The flock will then be introduced to a few goats at a time.

“While all of our goats have lived with chickens before, you never know how animals will react to new animals,” Savannah said. “The progression of intros will be based on both chicken and goat behavior.”

We hope to help the chickens be a part of their own care – and show those skills during educational programs at the Zoo. One major behavior – targeting, or touching a special target with their beaks – allows our animal care team to direct them to different areas or even to their carriers to be taken to a veterinary appointment.

Our Animal Ambassador team is dreaming up names for each member of the flock, so we look forward to introducing them each to you soon! Keep an eye on our social media channels for updates on these little ones in the coming months!