You can't get more cute than this!

Here's our little chick today, barely 24 hours after hatching, looking very cute. I lifted him out of the brooder for just a few seconds so that I could take the photo. Isn't he gorgeous!

We've decided to refer to the chick as "he" until we know for sure if "he" is male or female. It will be some time before we know for sure - possibly not until he starts to crow or lays an egg! He does not have any siblings we can compare him to, so it won't be easy, but whether male or female he is likely to become a real pet.

We're not really sure about his parentage or what he is likely to look like when he grows up. His mother is most likely to be a rescued ex-battery hen - your classic brown hybrid laying hen. We never actually saw his father - just heard him crowing, so we're not sure what he looks like.

He was still not showing much interest in the chick crumbs today so I sprinkled a few crumbs on his blanket near the heater to encourage him to eat. I put a small amount of chick crumbs in a separate tiny bowl and added a few drops of tepid water to soften them. This seemed to do the trick and he ate a few of them and then started pecking around in the larger bowl of dry crumbs.

I've spent quite a while watching him today and he has been exploring the limits of the brooder, at one point it looked as if he was going to jump up on top of the heater. He has been quite active, coming out for a wander around and then going back in under the heater for a sit down and a quick nap. I've also seen him preening and flapping his tiny wings. He seems to like the company so we've left a radio on in the room with him quietly tuned to Radio 4 so he can listen to the Archers...