Officialish Chicken Photo Thread!

[Delfina]

I attempted to introduce our Cuckoo Maran chicks to one of our older chickens today (hand-picked one of the calmest, nicest ones) and that didn't go well. The chicks, who've never been outside, were terrified of dirt. They were trying to huddle in my lap and avoid the big scary world. They were evicted, so they wandered around a tiny bit, sticking real close to me and then my older kiddo brought over the older chicken.

She pecked at them and that was the end of that. Back in my lap and huddled up in fear of the big ol' world and big scary chickens.

Oh well, they're too young to be outside yet but that day is coming. Wonder if any of my other chickens will be any nicer to these poor guys.

[Lockwood]

I have always read to introduce new chickens at night, after everyone has gone to roost.
According to the literature, when the flock wakes up (so to speak) the established chickens will see the new birds (intruders) as more a part of the flock instead of outright intruders.
Chickens it seems have quite a strong pecking order and don't like change.

Whenever I have introduced new birds during daytime, the same things happens. When I have introduced at night, it isn't perfect, but does seem to go better.
What I have found to work here is I will pen the new chicks/birds next to the established flock for a few weeks. Gives the new chicks a chance to acclimate without getting picked on as well as overcome the "scary outdoors" fear too. And it lets the established flock to get used to the youngsters/new bird without feeling too threatened.
Even so, when it is time to put them all together, I still do it at night.

[lilkitty90]

Here is updated pictures of the little chickies. Any ideas on colors yet? She lighter one is definitely not looking Buff. And the darker one is looking more wheaten.

[Celeste]

Cute!!!

[Lockwood]

Thats the fun thing about Americuanas... never know exactly what you will get.
The darker chick looks like it will have a red/golden brown cap on dark body feathers with a dark grey or brown tips (barring) and the lighter chick will be a "blue" which is really more shades of grey. Doesn't look like you are going to get a buff, but perhaps a grey with some buff.

I have some rose greys and blue greys, which both are grey bases with either rosey buff barring, or blueish grey barring. They usually lay the bluest eggs without any tinge of green, whereas other shades get into the more olive tones of eggs. At least that's what I have read and what has been true of my birds.
I'll try to pull a couple of pics of what they might look like as adults.

[lilkitty90]

Thanks lockwood I will keep updating as the grow. And I have no idea why the pictures are so huge. Lol

[autumnheart]

Eee! So cute!

[Susan Crumrine]

[autumnheart]

OMG. Adorable!

[FlyGap]

Sweet Chickies!!! I wanna hold em, and squeeze em, and name them George!!

Look at these monsters! Happy hens are giving us double yokers! Regular one for perspective. So proud of my girls, LOL!