Diary of the Binghams First Flock

An update on the chickens growth and also the coop progress.

First here's what the coop looks like currently. We still want to take the windows out and make them vents during the day that can be closed up at night so that it doesn't get too cold. Also we will eventually install a second higher roost bar. We also want to make a run for them and create a run door from one of the windows. They will have to walk up a ramp and back down a ramp to get to the run but that's okay. We also have to put the nest boxes in but we didn't want to do that too early because we don't want them getting used to sleeping in the nest boxes. So the nest boxes will go in sometime at the end of July when they are closer to start laying.






The brooder is still in the coop as a huddle house of sorts so that they can feel safe together if need be. It is in the opposite corner of the roost. It is close to where eventually the nest boxes will be.

And here are the pictures of all of their growth.



Lola. She still could become a Roo but at this point we think she is probably a pullet.



Black Betty. She will come to me the most. She doesn't mind me holding her either. She's pretty independent though.



Ariel - the roo suspect. We are pretty sure he is a roo, but we want to make absolutely sure before we have to give him up. He is such a sweet heart and he looks after the others really well. But we simply can't keep a rooster because we don't want to be a nuisance to the other neighbors with early morning crowing.



Belle. She's timid, and quiet. She doesn't even really peep a lot.



Iris. She absolutely hates being held or being anywhere near us. I'm hoping I can still win her heart. She's so beautiful.



SuzyQ is a little clown. She's fun to watch.



Jolene. An absolute beauty. I love seeing her grow.



Layla. Sweet girl.



Delilah. She's a little instigator.



Lucy. Quiet.



Prudence.



Ophelia. I love Ophelia. I think she's so beautiful. She will stay on my arm after I take the time to chase and catch her.

I simply can't wait for the day they come to me instead of me catching them.

There so cute!i don't think you have Roos,ather whys,there faces would be more red,I think,if you can get some pics of the combs,I might be able to tell

Here's another picture of Ariel, the suspected Roo.





And I can take some more today. Every day it seems it grows a little more around the face. He is 5 weeks old now, so next week I imagine he will look more and more roo.

athomas718 said:

Here's another picture of Ariel, the suspected Roo. And I can take some more today. Every day it seems it grows a little more around the face. He is 5 weeks old now, so next week I imagine he will look more and more roo.

Click to expand...

I can't tell,I will have to ask my friend,you could send her a pic,her username is:chickenlover200,she knows a lot about telling a roo from a hen

athomas718 said:

Here's another picture of Ariel, the suspected Roo. And I can take some more today. Every day it seems it grows a little more around the face. He is 5 weeks old now, so next week I imagine he will look more and more roo.

Click to expand...

He is a roo

ChickenLover200 said:

He is a roo

Click to expand...

Yeah for only 5 weeks it definitely looks like you've got a little roo on your hands.

But your Barred Rocks are definitely females, Barred Rocks can be color and pattern sexed, the roosters have lighter more definitive stripes, the females look like yours, darker in color with smaller barring. If I were you I would keep Ariel around until he crows, because even though it really looks like a rooster maybe there is small chance it isn't. I had an EE mix whose comb starting pinking at 4-5 weeks by it didn't grow any bigger and she turned out to be a female. As Ariel grows watch feet and spur size, his hackle ( neck ) feathers to turn pointed as they grow and his tail feathers to turn irredescent green or for large pointed sickle feathers to start growing out of the tail. But most of those things will happen around and after 8 weeks, when more of their adult feathers really start coming in. For now some indicators would mainly be comb and wattles and big and thick feet and legs. Your chicks are such cuties and I love all the names you chose! They each fit the chicks so well! I will definitely continue to follow along on your chicken raising adventures!