| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - May 19 2009 : 8:28:09 PM
to pick up some chicken feed. I was out of laying feed and chick starter. Since the chicks are almost 4 weeks old now I thought I would just get a 25 lb. bag because I am about ready to put them outside. So I ask if they have 25 lb. bags and of course they don't. They also had a new shipment of baby chicks. Hummm. So I ended up getting a 50 lb. bag and 8 new baby chicks. They had that all planned, didn't they? I got 4 more Barred Rock and 4 Americana. They are so darn cute.
So tomorrow the Buffs will be moving outside to the rabbit cage for a few weeks then out with the rest of the flock. The new ones will be in the laundry room till they get their feathers then out they go, too.
My 8 chicks that hatched here almost 4 weeks ago are all still alive! They have a good momma. I lock them up at night and let them out in the morning. I count them all day just to make sure they are all here. They are getting so big. The black ones are looking more Barred Rock every day now.
And I saw Russell Crowe's October offspring today. I hatched 9 eggs then and gave them to a friend. All but 2 were hens. She kept one roo and butchered the rest. The roo she kept is the most beautiful roo I have ever seen. Way more than his dad. So I am keeping my fingers crossed for one of these babies to be a roo, too.
So my flock is rapidly growing and I'm loving it. I count chickens all day. And the guineas, too. It's an awful habit I have. I count baby goats, too.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| southerncrossgirl |
Posted - May 29 2009 : 07:26:07 AM
I have to draw the line at ME actually doing the butchering. So far, I can raise the cows and pigs to butcher and eat. I take them the guy down the road to butcher and package. I think it would be too much trouble to kill the chicken and eat. I think it goes WAAAYYY back to my childhood. I remember my dad chopping off my chickens heads. I was horrified!!!
"A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes"==Cinderella |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - May 29 2009 : 06:17:06 AM
So all you who butcher, do you have a certain way you do it? There is a good article in the new Mother Earth about raising meat birds. This ladies husband built a tablt that is really neat. I need to show it to my hubby. I just have a piece of plywood over saw horses out by the well house so there is water. And it's in the shade, a must have. And do you put Vicks under your nose? I will have to do that next time, too, for sure.
All my little Buffs that I put out in the stall the other day are doing great. They love all the room out there. I just wish they were on some grass. I pull up a bunch and give it to them. That's the first thing the momma and her babes do when I let them out is go get grass.
And I think I will put the new babies out there today. They need to be outside. They are only a few weeks old but I think it's warm enuf now.
And when I have a lot of eggs I do sell them But right now I only have 7 hens and one is not laying because of the chicks and a few more aren't, too. I get between 3 and 5 a day. I have had to go on egg hunts lately. 2 of the hens are going out back in the goat barn to lay. I found 1 nest with 8 eggs in it last week. Took all but 1 and she laid there a few more days then went elsewhere. I have not found it yet, but I will. Her and another hen are back there most of the day now scratching around in the barn. That is where I want to put all the Buff chicks to keep them separated from the rest so I'll have oure Buff eggs if I want to hatch some out.
Someone somewhere was asking about the green eggs and the taste. They don't taste any different to me. But I have read that they are higher in cholesterol. So people with high cholesterol should maybe not eat so many of those. But I do. My hen lays double yolk eggs alot. I got 4 more Americana chicks. They are so cute and fun to have around. Thay are kind of like the Lamancha of the chicken world. Very different and if people have never seen them they think something is wrong with them.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| JojoNH |
Posted - May 29 2009 : 05:14:21 AM
Gena, I sell my extra eggs as I have them. My neighbor, a few friends downtown and give to another neighbor who is ill. The eggs I sell pay for the upkeep of our girls. . . although we benefit from farm fresh eggs with no "bad stuff" in them, having them earn their keep is a must.
Tammy, glad you are enjoying reading about our girls!! I love reading about everyone's too. I did raise my own meat birds last year. . . 13 out of 15 made it and into the freezer. Great eating, however, I would never do it again!! YUCK!! they were the smelliest birds ever!!! Even though we only had them 8 weeks and one day, never again!!
Joanna #566
JojoNH
http://www.CountryCents.com
http://CountryCents.Blogspot.com
http://Twitter.com/Eastwooddesigns |
| Tammyb |
Posted - May 29 2009 : 05:04:35 AM
Ladies, I love hearing you all talk about your girls. I also have a small flock of 25 plus 2 roosters, Harry and Black boy. I am also raising 25 meat birds that should be in my freezer by mid July. Your posts have been great to read.
Tammyb#541 |
| southerncrossgirl |
Posted - May 29 2009 : 02:59:30 AM
Ladies, I will check that forum out today. Is everyone selling their eggs? I would love to get more chicks, but unless I could sell them, I would be buried in eggs!!!
"A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes"==Cinderella |
| Peacebird |
Posted - May 28 2009 : 4:59:49 PM
BackyardChickens.com is FABULOUS! They really helped me out when I was starting with beaks!
my two new "babies" are a buff and an auracana! They are almost 15 weeks old. My other beaks are Mario my gorgeous rooster (3 years old), the Trips (my first hens - three red-sexlink ladies who are three years old now) and Peep ( a chick hatched from one of the Trips - 2 years old) and Blackie (my black feather-footed bantam). Oh, I also have the four blacktailed Japanese white banties - two hens, two roos.
Thay all live together and seem to get on fine, tho the japanese don't seem to like to leave the run to free range... The others love to wander about the place, they wander deep into the forest (hello fox!) and across the meadow (hi Mister Hawk). Clearly they are either fearless or really clueless.... LOL!
chickens clucking, bees buzzing, flowers blooming, all is good! |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - May 28 2009 : 2:58:38 PM
Hey Gena. It's www.BackYardChickens.com then go to the forum. You have to join it to actually talk there. But it's very informative and all about chickens. You'll like it.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| southerncrossgirl |
Posted - May 28 2009 : 2:28:59 PM
I know this will sound crazy, but how do I get to the "Backyard Chickens" forum??
"A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes"==Cinderella |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - May 27 2009 : 6:45:41 PM
Gena, I never really thought about what they are called but I think you're right. I ordered a Buff roo when I got the rest and the only way I know him right now is he has no tail yet and his comb is bigger. All the girls have tails. He did have a big blue dot on his head but that's gone now.
Have you ever found out anything more about your little one? There is a good forum called Backyard Chickens. There are alot of very smart chicken people there.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| southerncrossgirl |
Posted - May 27 2009 : 3:10:08 PM
Kris, the little chick is still going. He seems to have adjusted to walking that way. He is 1 of the 2 rooster chicks I ordered. I am glad I did order 2. What do you call male chicks? Is it cockrels??
They are in our barn part that stores the feed. Boy, does it smell!!
I think I should wait a few more weeks before I put them out though.
"A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes"==Cinderella |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - May 27 2009 : 2:48:43 PM
Well, how funny is that? I can't even imagine what a 9 year old hen looks like! And to think they even get that old. That's funny.
That's my problem. I have field fence on one side of the chicken yard and they all go out into the field but not too far. And right now the hay is so tall I wouldn't be able to see little ones. I was going to put up chicken wire along that part so thay won't get through but I hate that stuff. I end up looking like I've been in a fight with a cat. Blood dripping down my arms. I always get cut up, even with gloves. And I hate wearing gloves, too. So I will keep mine in the stall til they get a little bigger. Then out they go.
That is so sad to lose so many at once. Darn those wild critters. But that's life. Stuff happens and we just have to keep going and start over sometimes. We have hawks around here but I have not lost any to them yet. At least I don't think I have.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| JojoNH |
Posted - May 27 2009 : 2:38:54 PM
Opps, well that is a play on words!!  What I meant to say is, I have 9 Rhode Island Reds that are a year old. . .  Can you tell it has been crazy around here??
I need to be sure when I let the babies out that they cannot get outside the fenced in yard. We have several wild animals around that would eat them in a heart beat. . . starting with the eagles and hawks not to mention the four legged variety of varmints too. Everyone keeps telling me, "I cannot believe you still have all your chickens!"
[One of the local farms had over 100 chickens and had a great egg business. They woke up one morning to find all 100 gone, the weasels got them over night. Just awful.]
HappyDaze- Glad your getting your sewing room back! Cannot imagine not having your sewing room to use, your a great Mama!!
Joanna #566
JojoNH
http://www.CountryCents.com
http://CountryCents.Blogspot.com
http://Twitter.com/Eastwooddesigns |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - May 27 2009 : 1:55:05 PM
Joanna, are your hens still laying at that age? I've never had any that long. I either sell them after a few years or they go in the freezer.
I think if the little ones have enough room to run they should be ok to get away from the older ones. They'll know when to run, too.
Lorraine, I just put my almost 5 week old Buff and Barred Rock chicks out in a stall today. They are loving all the hay and dirt to dig around in. They are already doing the dirt baths. That just amazes me how they know what to do already. As soon as I put them on the ground they went to scratching and playing in the hay. I left for awhile earlier and when I came back there were about 6 of them that had gotten out and they were right next to one of the older hens. I never saw her do a thing to them. I'll wait a few more days then open the door and see what happens. They should be fine.
Now in a few days I'll put the other 12 babies out in the rabbit cage. They should be fine all together outside. And I'll have my laundry room back and be able to walk through it without having to move cages out of the way. How nice that will be!
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| happydaze |
Posted - May 27 2009 : 1:04:18 PM
My chicks are finally ALL outside now! Yeah Some will be going to dotters for the gkids 4H projects, as soon as she finishes the hen house for them . The Buff Orpingtons have started laying, the Phoenix are just way too prolific, hoping they will go broody soon. really dont want to put up the incubator again, too nice having my sewing room back to fill it up again with chicks. Didnt get alot of bunnies this year but the one I did get are very nice, hope the buyers are willing to pay what they are worth. |
| JojoNH |
Posted - May 27 2009 : 07:13:50 AM
I have 9 year old hens. The chicks are in a cage inside the coop where they can see each other. I have one of the older girls that is picking on several of the other older ones. . . she is cranky for some reason, anyway, I was afraid to introduce them all too soon for that reason.
Hate to do it too soon and loose one of the new chicks....
Joanna #566
JojoNH
http://www.CountryCents.com
http://CountryCents.Blogspot.com
http://Twitter.com/Eastwooddesigns |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - May 27 2009 : 05:46:59 AM
I only have 7 older hens and a rooster now. One of the hens has 8 chicks that are the same age as the first batch of chicks I bought. They are in a rabbit cage right now in the chicken yard. So they can see everyone and they are seen, too. But I really want to put the Buffs out in the back where the goats are but need to wait til the kids are all gone. So I wanted to make a little temporary pen til I can move them. I could probably just open the cage door and let them out now and they'd be ok. There will be some squabbles for awhile til they all get to know each other.
But when you have new babies and want to add them in with the rest of the flock it's best to put the new ones in a cage in the hen house so they can meet each other and still be safe. Keep them in the cage at least a week then one night open the cage door. They should be fine after that.
How many older hens do you have?
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| JojoNH |
Posted - May 27 2009 : 05:30:55 AM
It has finally begun to rain here. .. we have needed it desperately.
My girls love to run out into the rain, funny to see them doing so.
Hope you have a better day weather wise tomorrow. I know your girls will appreciate being in the grass too!
I have a question for you, when will you "mix" all your chickens? Do you wait until your chicks are 26 weeks old? I am not sure when to anticipate doing this with mine. Obviously the chicks need to be good size before doing so. . . just not sure when. Any advise??
Joanna #566
JojoNH
http://www.CountryCents.com
http://CountryCents.Blogspot.com
http://Twitter.com/Eastwooddesigns |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - May 27 2009 : 05:18:11 AM
That sounds like a good idea. But my coop is so far from the house and we have to run extension cords out there. I am waiting on warmer nights then out they go. I was going to do a little run for the older chicks today so they can get out on the ground and eat grass and bugs but it's raining again. I hope it stops soon so I can get out there. It's just another yucky day here.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| JojoNH |
Posted - May 27 2009 : 04:30:33 AM
Kris, sorry about your baby chick, we lost one similar to your situation. Turns out that ours actually choked on a piece of food.
On a brighter note, I giggled when you mentioned moving the cage so you could do laundry . . . and those flies. . . ugh! I made a cage in our coop complete with a feeding station and a heat lamp. This way all the smell is in the coop and the Big Girls eat the flies!!
Our little babies are 2 weeks old and are running back and forth, doing a little "flying" inside the cage. . . very entertaining. Kind of funny, you poke your head in to check on them and they immediately get up and show off. They sure can brighten even the darkest days.
Joanna #566
JojoNH
http://www.CountryCents.com
http://CountryCents.Blogspot.com
http://Twitter.com/Eastwooddesigns |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - May 26 2009 : 3:32:21 PM
Gena, some of the chickens I got at the auction had crooked feet. The rooster and a hen. He has a little trouble walking but she doesn't. I of course did not see the feet that night at the auction since they were crammed into a very small cage. But they are ok now. He's a little pigeon toed.
I once had a little chicken that had a crooked beak. She lived til she was about 5 or 6 months old. Poor thing. And one of the cages of chicks at the feed store had a chick with a crooked beak. I told Stephanie and she took it out to her husband. She came back without the poor thing.
I don't know what could be the matter with yours. I hope it will make it. When did you start to notice it's feet?
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| southerncrossgirl |
Posted - May 26 2009 : 2:44:56 PM
Do any of you gals ever have a chick that its feet seem to not work right? I have 15 3 week old buff's, and 1 of them seem to not be able to walk. It's little feet slide all around when it tries to walk. It's very strange. I hope it will be okay, but I kinda of think it may not. It is eating though.
"A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes"==Cinderella |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - May 26 2009 : 2:04:48 PM
I went out this morning to feed and one of my 5 week old barred rock chicks was dead. I have no idea what happened to her. The others are fine. I think maybe she got stuck when I put the feed tray in last night because she was right beside it this morning.
The others that I got a few weeks ago are all so cute and growing like weeds. O wish it'd get warmer at night so I can put them outside out of my laundry room. This is getting old having to move the cage every time I go to wash clothes. And the flies are awful. I hate flies.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| SuzieQ |
Posted - May 23 2009 : 3:18:28 PM
Kristin when can we start calling you "Queen of the royal chickens?" I wish I had the room for them. My good luck is that my sister does so I buy the chicks and give them to her. |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - May 23 2009 : 12:13:22 PM
That's funny, Belle. Not that one can get away. I am doing the same thing now with all my plants. Just did it with the peppers. I started with 8 now down to 7. And just bought 8 more tomato plants from a guy at the farmer's market for .25 a piece. They just finished out my row. So no more tomatoes.
I just love the little Anconda chicks. They are sp pretty. And I don't know why but the silly Americana chicks like to stick their little fluffy heads out the cage wire. And they just stand there like that. Not moving. Just with their heads sticking out of the cage. I wonder why? It's too funny. They are the only ones that do that.
All together now I have 42 baby chicks. I really want more but not going to get more yet.
3 weeks is a long time to have to wait. But it will be here before ya know it.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| Bellepepper |
Posted - May 23 2009 : 05:11:29 AM
My baby chicks won't be here for another 3 weeks. Can't wait. I am getting Barred Rocks, Rhode Island Reds and Buff Orfington. I don't have a problem counting my hens, only have 9. But I have 30 babies comming. Will be hard to count them.
I do most of my counting in the garden. I count when I pick greenbeans, lettuce leaves, strawberries, asparagus. And I count my tomato plants. Not that one can get away but to make sure they are all alive. |
