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Officialish Chicken Photo Thread!

186K views 2K replies 114 participants last post by  ChieTheRider 
#1 · (Edited)
Show your girls and guys!

Here are my RIR's (19)! Hatched September 25th, 2011. Today I got my first two eggs! I've had chickens since I was 20, even had two laying hens in my historic downtown apartment when I was in college! Spring 2010 I was out of town for two days and there was a horrible uncommon gnat outbreak. I lost my three laying hens. So now with an improved coop, and yard we are BACK in business! Please post your eggers! We just love ours!!





I have a running contest with my Co-op friend Mary to see who can keep their hens laying the longest. So far I'm the winner, hint it's all about fresh clover! Keep it a secret! LOL!
 
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#1,206 ·
I use the bigger cement mixing tubs from Lowes Home Improvement.

http://cdn.****-blick.com/items/469/04/46904-OA2ww-m.jpg

I fill almost half full with clean dry playsand. I add a couple of double handfuls of DE and mix. You can't put too much DE, really.

The pan is in 24/7/ I have to refill it all the time because the girls flip the contents all over.
 
#1,207 ·
I have had an emotional roller coaster morning with my fuzzy butts today!

Backing up...last night, we had pretty severe thunderstorms roll through and lightning strikes all around. Since my chicks are brooding in a couple of wire crates, I was having nightmares of them being electrocuted by the brooder heat source. So around 10pm, I went out and unplugged it. It had been 90*F all day, and was over 80*f in the garage, so I figured they would be fine. I gave a cursory look at them snuggled in but didn't count...They all seemed fine.

WELL, this morning, I went out to change their food and water, and one of the Speckled Sussex was just completely gone. Like vanished into thin air gone. There was no blood, no feathers, no sign of struggle. The others didn't look agitated or scared. Now, she was very tiny, and I had seen her slip through the openings in between the crates (they're back to back with a pop door open between), so I had gone around the day before to reinforce the outside so no one slipped out. But I found that I had missed a corner in the back, and with sadness, I could only conclude that she had gotten out at some point during the night. The brooder is set up in the loft, and close to the edge, so I searched for a good half hour all around the loft and all around the first floor underneath, but no trace. I was really bummed and feeling like a terrible chicken mom.

I ran into town for coffee, and told a friend about what happened. She cheerfully said, "you never know, she still might turn up," which was sweet, but seemed a little unrealistic. Since I really wanted Speckled Sussex this year, on my way home, I decided to run back to the feed store to see if they had any left. They did, but wouldn't sell me just 1, I had to take 2. I didn't really need two more chicks, but I took them anyway :)

So I got home and was putting the 2 new babies in with the others, which went perfectly fine. But then....drumroll please...I glanced over my shoulder, and what did I see staring back at me from across the garage on the first floor but...MY LITTLE ESCAPEE- AND SHE WAS ALIVE!!!!She looked so impossibly tiny and vulnerable standing there all alone, but I ran down to scoop her up, and she seemed just fine. I have no idea how she survived the fall and 10-12 hours overnight alone with no food, water, or heat. But she did!


She happily rejoined the others like nothing had happened, so we'll see if she ends up being ok. I didn't see any signs of trauma or distress, but I guess I'll just give it some time.

So now, I fear I am a victim of chicken math! To recap, I was aiming for 6 chicks this year to add to my 3 big girls.

-My first order last week was 4: 2 Silver Laced Wyandottes and 2 Dominiques. One Dominique succumbed to pasty butt/something intestinal, so I was down to 3.
-My second order this week was technically just 2 Speckled Sussex. But they also gave me an Americauna to replace the Dominique. So at the end of yesterday, I had 6 babies.
-This morning I woke up to 5.
-So went to the store and got two more, up to 7.
-Then found the escapee, so currently at 8 babies, 4 of whom are Speckled Sussex.

When I recounted all this to my husband, his question: "Can you return chickens?" I told him that we had just experienced a chicken miracle, and everyone was staying put. :wink:

Here's a picture of part of the crew:

L to R: Americauna, Dominique, Silver Laced Wyandotte, Speckled Sussex, Silver Laced Wyandotte (that's a clump of dirt on the ground in front of them, not a crushed chick!)
 
#1,208 ·
Here's a picture of part of the crew:

L to R: Americauna, Dominique, Silver Laced Wyandotte, Speckled Sussex, Silver Laced Wyandotte (that's a clump of dirt on the ground in front of them, not a crushed chick!)
That really does look like a pancaked chick, with the added effect of a few shavings randomly kicked on top... o_O

If your Americauna feathers out like my Araucana/Americauna chick of the same fuzzy coloring, she will be beautiful. One of the chicks I raised for my cousin started out with that same exact chick color/pattern and grew into a gold and grey beauty, my 14 year old son really wanted to keep her because he loved her coloring but she was one of four that were destined to go to my cousin at 6 weeks old.
 
#1,212 ·
@egrogan, o my! what a roller coaster indeed. I'm so glad you found your little one. I'm absolutely amazed that the little dear managed to survive. That ones a spunky one, right?

Well it's already been determined that we'll be fencing in the stall that the prefabbed coop is in to make a larger enclosure. Only a little annoyed because I had enjoyed having that spare stall as my "out of the weather work area". It was great for shoeing horses in the shade and cleaning saddles. ((sigh)) o well.

Now, tell me. When can/should I begin letting these chickens out to free range? I will have to lock the dogs in the house because I absolutely won't trust them. And we have to puppy sit my daughters dogs for several weeks while she is moving. That's going to be a PITA, but gotta do it. I don't want to let them out until I'm sure they will go back when I chase them in. Thoughts?
 
#1,214 ·
I've actually considered this. Here's our situation.

Pro's: Our entire perimeter 2.5 acres is fully fenced. Not to say that a predator couldn't get in if they wanted, but aside from a dome, we've done pretty well. I'll be enclosing the stall that they're in now. Concrete footers all around, close to a cool barn, the horses don't seem to mind, lots of bugs to find, lots of weeds and grasses to rummage through.

Con's: My time to chase them back in is limited. If they don't go back, I'm in a pickle. I would never just leave them out, I would be getting very frustrated if I couldn't get them back.

Not sure how far they would wander. I'm assuming they find their way back?
 
#1,218 ·
@egrogan What a wonderful tale! Loved the chicken math and the survival chick who caused the panic attack leading to the acquisition of the extra chicks! :rofl::rofl::rofl: Gonna have to watch out for that one; never know what other kind of trouble she will lead you into...

Have y'all noticed how eager the store employees are to sell chicks? Have never noticed them trying so hard to sell anything else so earnestly
@Blue not sure how to train them to come in, but you might want to consider clipping their wings first. I don't let mine out because the county doesn't allow free range chickens. Not sure why, but guess it would be neighbor complaints.

Let us know how it goes
 
#1,220 ·
Have y'all noticed how eager the store employees are to sell chicks? Have never noticed them trying so hard to sell anything else so earnestly
When I walked in to ask if there were more Speckled Sussex that were not already accounted for by special order, she said, "Yes, why don't you take 11 of them." :D I would have been in REAL trouble with my husband if I did that!

Love that video @AnitaAnne!

As far as free ranging, with the first 4 chickens I had (they were given to me as year olds by a neighbor), I was determined to do things "naturally." I was just going to throw the door open and let them do what they wanted. That ended within the first weekend when a hawk tore apart one of them. And then a few weeks later, one flew over our inadequate fencing and got hit by a car.

Learning our lesson, we have built a secure, covered run and settled on "supervised" free ranging. They usually get 30 minutes or so in the morning while I'm puttering around with chores and checking my work email before the day starts. Since I work from home, I have the luxury of taking conference calls or writing while sitting outside, so I will let them out for a couple of hours at a time when I can sit out there and keep half an eye on them and shoo them out of the road. We have a fenced side yard with lots of shrubs, so sometimes I'll put them in there as they are smart enough about taking cover when hawks are out (*knocks on wood*).

As far as training them to come back, mine are nearly 100% responsive to the sound of scratch shaking in a plastic cup while I yell "heeeeerrrre girls"- scratch trumps free ranging. We have a big sloping back yard, and one of the funniest things I've seen is 8 hungry hens flapping and squawking and running and flying up a hill to get their scratch.
 
#1,219 ·
Baby Bantam chicks were 4 weeks old Wednesday. Was time to move them out of my laundry room, lol!

Just couldn't find a coop in my price point that I liked, so put together a little pen made from a couple of dog pens. One 48" tall and one 24" tall for the top. Have enough for a bottom too, but decided to leave that off for now and just staked it to the ground. I can fit in there without too much difficulty.

Anyway, it is much cheaper and much more sturdy! Less than $100 for the whole thing, including the zip ties to hold it together!

Added in an old dog house that Lily hated and a tarp to keep out rain. Quite pleased with it, except the little ones can go right out through the bars! Put more blocks around the sides and hopefully they will grow bigger and not get out.

Eventually hope to put them in with the existing flock.

Here's the babies! Anyone ready to guess sex or breed? I sure don't know, but think the little bitty ones are getting prettier by the day. Praying they are all hens so I can keep them all!

Short film



Longer one when they first went outside! The big girls are fascinated and a bit scared, lol

 
#1,226 ·
New Chick Pics!

And one of my girl who got away from the hawk or owl wearing her 'chicken sweater' to cover her poor bare back. We had to clip the feathers to treat all the punctures.
 

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#1,232 ·
@Blue disappointing the chicks aren't trying out the dust bath. Maybe just need a little more time to figure it out.

@Dreamcatcher Arabians good to hear the hen survived the attack, the little sweater is adorable! Did you make it?
Anita, I know how to crochet, so could make one but I needed it quick so I got one off Ebay. Cost me around $11 with the shipping, and it came in just a couple of days so it was well worth the money.
 
#1,230 ·
Been raining off an on since Saturday evening here. Had a big storm last night and this morning found my two little Bantam Sebright chicks missing :(

While walking Lily a little later she located one of the missing chicks. I carried around one of the other ones trying to get it to follow me, but didn't happen. The little chick did finally make its way back to the pen. Sadly (for me) it is the little Roo not the pullet.

I plan to carry the two little Roos, one Sebright and one Bantam Buff Cochin up to trade day this weekend (or next) and see if I can give them away. That will leave me with the three Bantam Red Cochins, hope they are all girls.

On a good note, my big girls have shown no aggression at all towards the babies! Very hopeful they can move in together in another month or two. Going to wait until the Bantams are done with the grower feed.
 
#1,238 ·
I spent a lot of time in between rain studying the little Sebright that returned to the coop yesterday. After many pictures and observation, I am 99.99% sure it is the little pullet that returned, not the little roo.

I am totally thrilled with this news!! :loveshower:

Just keeping fingers crossed that if the little Sebright Roo does return, he does it soon! Don't want an adult Roo that grew up wild showing up and laying claim to my girls!!

Planning on hanging on to the little yellow roo for now, just to make sure he is a Roo and not a fast-maturing pullet. Hopefully can find him a nice home without a pot, lol. Seems like someone was looking for a replacement Roo...

hint hiint @Celeste :biglaugh:
 
#1,239 ·
I have to have a proud mama moment. Mr. and Mrs. Robin successfully hatched and raised four fledglings who left the nest today. It was a bittersweet moment when the last two tested their wings and made the big jump out into the wide world, but what an amazing thing to be a part of.

When we realized there were four successful hatchlings:


Parents were so dedicated, and we all eventually formed a mutual understanding so that they were comfortable coming around even if they knew we were watching:


As of yesterday, it was obvious babies were way too big to stay in the nest much longer!


They started walking the ledge above the door last night, and the first one took the jump this morning, followed by the 2nd around lunch, and the last two went as a pair a few minutes ago. We saw one of the parents leading the last two off across the street to a wooded area across from our house.

It's bittersweet that they're gone for good, but I'm so happy that all four made it this far and have a chance at growing up.
 
#1,242 ·
For the last several years a phoebe has reused a nest on top of a storm window on the back of my Dad's house. Each year, by the time we think to take down the storm (an old-fashioned wood sash screwed to the outside of the window frame each fall, unscrewed in the spring), she's back, so the storm stays on another summer.

This year, we took it down before she returned. And my father saw her looking for it. So now we feel mean. :evil:

But we're moving there for good in a week and that room will be my husband's office, so now he can have an open window! :grin:

But I still feel mean. :evil:
 
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