The eldest chick should be about 5 weeks old this weekend. (Estimated hatch Sat June 1^st) At this point it shows characteristics that give strong hints of its reptilian ancestry. Where in a lizard there would be stiff scales, in an adult bird these have been modified into flexible plumage.

At this interim stage though, the developing feathers sprout through the skin in regular goose pimple lines encased in white ‘plastic’ looking keratin sheaths. Instinctively scratching at the itchy spots our chicks will be preening themselves, stripping off these sheaths in a dandruff mix of old down and flake. ‘Head and Shoulders’ is of no assistance for avian teenagers.

Skeletally they have grown at such a rate that they are nearly fully formed but in this race to develop a bony framework they have literally outgrown their strength. Muscles are limper than a nerdy chicken’s and the long wings drag down like a couple of heavy dufflebags. Unable to flap and unable to raise themselves upright on their legs they resort to elbowing themselves around the nest using all 4 limbs - a very primitive looking action. Even their beautiful badger striped heads only need a drop of rain to hair-gel the feathers into the ancestral features of the ancient tuatara, which is related most closely to both lizards and snakes. Spots, dandruff, and identity crises - just as well the joys of adolescence are of limited duration.