- Apr 22, 2013
- 71
- 2
- 33
I noticed a definite change in my leghorn girls combs today. All 6 have some height and color too them that wasn't there just a few days ago. When I got them in March, August seemed so far off! I can not believe how close I am to having a stead flow of free range/pastured eggs coming in! We are getting a steady 6-8 eggs per week from the two RIR now that Lucky is laying again. Darn fox has shown up at least 2 more times, but thankfully I have been able to run it off both times.
The olders have allowed the younger girls to integrate nicely. I have had uncanny success with integrating new birds into my flock. The babies are about 5 weeks old now and are having a grand time foraging in the run. They have been outside full time for about 2 weeks now (first in a smaller private enclosure and now with the bigger birds). Nugget (rooster) is actually protective of them. I did lose two so decided to treat for cocci just in case. So far everyone else seems ok. I am wondering if they were piling on top of each other. Now that they have been moved to the main coop they have plenty of space and I set them up a crate that they can either sleep in or roost on under the lamp when it is cool enough to warrant it.
My husband has banned me from purchasing any more birds, but I really want another Americauna so I might get a few started pullets closer to my birthday. He can't say no when it is my birthday, right?
Last but not least, I have had to ban my daughter from feeding them treats without my specific permission. She is in love with them and spends hours outside talking to them and handing them treats. To the point where they would wait for her instead of going out to forage. My food cost skyrocketed for a few weeks there. It only took a day of not having any food in the coop before they decided it was best to go back to chasing bugs, but they still run to her and follow her in a 30 chicken long line when she is in the yard. Stinkers.
The olders have allowed the younger girls to integrate nicely. I have had uncanny success with integrating new birds into my flock. The babies are about 5 weeks old now and are having a grand time foraging in the run. They have been outside full time for about 2 weeks now (first in a smaller private enclosure and now with the bigger birds). Nugget (rooster) is actually protective of them. I did lose two so decided to treat for cocci just in case. So far everyone else seems ok. I am wondering if they were piling on top of each other. Now that they have been moved to the main coop they have plenty of space and I set them up a crate that they can either sleep in or roost on under the lamp when it is cool enough to warrant it.
My husband has banned me from purchasing any more birds, but I really want another Americauna so I might get a few started pullets closer to my birthday. He can't say no when it is my birthday, right?
Last but not least, I have had to ban my daughter from feeding them treats without my specific permission. She is in love with them and spends hours outside talking to them and handing them treats. To the point where they would wait for her instead of going out to forage. My food cost skyrocketed for a few weeks there. It only took a day of not having any food in the coop before they decided it was best to go back to chasing bugs, but they still run to her and follow her in a 30 chicken long line when she is in the yard. Stinkers.
