Recent content by dpetrzelka

I'd put money on her being a pullet - looks very similar to my two little female light Brahmas at that age. -

Am I correct in understanding that "hatchery stock" means we're not likely to get very high quality lacing on these sweet little hens? Do most hatchery gold and silver laced wyandottes have mediocre patterning?

I have two young GLW chicks, 5 weeks or so old and they have quite different patterns already- Tina has a golden head an shoulders and more gold banding on each feather on her back and wings. Penny has a much darker over all appearance, darker head, and the gold more centered on each of her...

Currently we do have 5 chicks - but know full well that we will need to find a new how for 2 of them - the plan all along has been to have 3 chickens in the yard.

Just wanted to share some photos of our baby chicks - we have 5, but will very likely need to find a home for two of them in the coming months. 2 Light Brahmas, 2 Golden Laced Wyandottes and a little easter egger that the feed store was selling as an Araucana. Acorn, our little easter egger...

At first I planned to build something very simple and utilitarian - but then I got to thinking - why not make it a little more interesting. The footprint is 3' deep by 5' wide. The bottom run is 2' tall - the back of the coop is 2' sloping to 3' at the front. Nest boxes will be added to the...

I just picked up 8 bags of coffee chaff yesterday and replaced the pine shaving in my 3-4 week old brooder with the chaff - the chicks seem to love it. First time I've seen them doing the dust bath thing. They where scratching, digging, and laying in it - really having a great time. The smell...

I purchased an "Araucana" from a local feed store (who also said they would be getting Ameraucanas the next week) and at about 3 weeks old this little one has tail feathers - clearly not a true Araucana. But we're happy to have her either way.

Great deal on that coop - I missed out by mere minutes. Edited to add that I've read that both Brahmas (if raised from chicks) and Wyandottes are wonderfully docile - I chose those breeds both for good egg production and good attitude toward my 3 and 1 year old boys.

Can hardly wait to see my pair of light Brahma at 12 weeks!

These 5 seem to be pretty picky - as I also tried to entice them with some freshly cooked pasta that they basically ignored. The worms are the only thing so far that really gets them going - of course they are very happy with their regular chick food.

So far they have turned their beaks up at both the egg yolks and whites - one little peck, and they walk away - I'll try again in a few days But live worms send them into a frenzy - chasing each other around, stealing it from one another, hilarious to watch. Now when I stick my hand into the...

I'll try giving them some yolks- always sounded a little cannibalistic - but seems like a popular food for chicks. Should I be giving them fine grit (like parakeet grit) now that I've started giving them food other than chick starter? In the calcium in parakeet grit a big concern? We'll keep...

I'm using pine shavings with my 3 day - 2 week old chicks - haven't noticed any problems.

So is the consensus DO NOT give baby chicks PARAKEET GRIT any amount of oyster shell / CALCIUM carbonate? We were going to introduce this to the chicks tonight - but wondering if we should not?