Weekly Growth

[Azulette]

Alright! Here's the 8 weekers (more photos in the gallery? Forgive me if I'm formatting this wrong - I'm a newbie and I'm learning the posting ropes. If anyone has suggestions, feel free to let me know!).

Summary:
- OE1 Surprise surprise to no one but myself but OE1 is officially a rooster - he crowed his first time a couple of days ago. He's getting that wing rust spot in and feathers along his spine are turning orange-ish. He's going to be a stunner! Wish I could keep him but I cannot (residential ordinances) so I'll be looking to rehome him ASAP - any takers in Santa Barbara County? I'm going to try my best to get him rehomed to a flock/farm (and not a soup pot).
- OE2 is still my favorite - always hops on my shoulder if I ever squat down in the run and follows me around the yard.
- OE3 may be a dominant hen? Always chest bumping with OE1
- BCM1 may be a female? The feathers on her back are more squat/rectangular than BCM2. The pointed feathers on BCM2 are starting to worry me....

OE1: "Whatcha doing?"


OE2: "Really Mom?"


OE3: Such a sweet heart!


BCM1: Still has that killer look going. Is typically standoffish and can be a loner.


BCM2: Getting more rust on her neck than BCM1; still pretty docile comparatively

 

[Azulette]

And the 7 weekers! All the PBEs are flighty IMO. I have loose plans to keep two (PBE2 & PBE4) and trade the others for similar aged birds of a differnt breed. We'll see how that goes

Summary:
- PBE1: kinda the runt of the pack. Has the "squat" look of illness but eats, drinks, and runs with the rest of the flock so who knows. Suggestions?
- PBE2: follows OE2's lead and usually hops on my shoulder. Still a bit flighty though. The only one that has developed cheeks like an aracauna and a darker neck than the others, though also the only one with some rust color feathers poking out around the base of the neck?
- PBE3: very flighty. Looks and demeanor similar to PBE1
- PBE4: similar to PBE1 & PBE3. Has some "mossy" slate colored feathers popping up on body/wings
- SLRW1: such an inquisitive little floof. Has more white than SLRW2, more lacing definition, and whiter feathers coming in on her head so ultimately it'll be interesting to see how SLRW1 & SLRW2 feather out
- SLRW2: waddles are starting to get a bit red

PBE1:


PBE2:


PBE3:


PBE4:


SLRW1:


SLRW2:


The birdies getting their first taste of sprouted lentils (maybe it'll grow on them or I need to sprout them longer? They weren't too enthused; don't mind the red mash there - that is leftover strawberries from yesterday) and a snap of them struting around the run <3. They are bringing such joy to my life!

 

[Azulette]

Update time - here we go! After 2 weeks of transitioning to the outdoor coop/run, they are finally roosting on the bars every night without me moving them from the huddle on the droppings board – win!

- OE1 (9W) still looking for a home for this gentleman. His tail feathers have started to show a green iridescent sheen – he’s going to be fabulous and I wish I could keep him… alas town ordinances.


- OE2 (& OE3’s) (9W) feathers are black but with a blue, green, and purple iridescence in the sun – so beautiful in person.


- OE3 (9W)


- BCM1 (9W) still on the fence about this one and I feel like I switch sides (roo vs hen) every week. I know I ordered these as “pet quality” from MyPetChicken so they wont follow SOP, but these birds are so different! Everything from eye color, to personality (BCM2 is way more docile than the standoffish BCM1) to feathering (BCM1’s feathers are more rounded than BCM2’s slightly pointed ones; BCM has less rust on the neck than BCM2, but maybe thats just a matter of time), and to waddle + comb development (BCM1’s came in first but now BCM2’s is catching up in size and color). Havent heard a crow yet from either - time will really tell with these 2.




- BCM2 (9W)



- PBE1 (8W)


- PBE2 (8W)


- PBE3 (8W) have noticed some black feathering popping out amongst the gray ones. Curious to see how this one will fully feather out (and hopefully it’s not a sign of she becoming a he!). IMO, looking at Hoover Hatchery’s photos, these PBEs look like they’ll be “fiercer” (more predator) in appearance than the others


- PBE4 (8W) also exhibiting some breakthrough black/brown feathers amongst the white. Hopefully it’s just some color leakage too


- SLRW1 (8W) both of these SLRWs are so sweet! Definitely the kiddo favorite (maybe the slowest and easiest for the kiddo to catch?)



- SLRW2 (8W)



If you can't tell, I'm really enjoying this process of their developement, both physical and their personalities. So small yet so much personality already. Stay tunned for next weeks update!

 

[Azulette]

We’re currently brainstorming aerial protection to give the gals some protected free range space in the garden – that’ll be a separate thread coming soon. Overall, I have noticed that all the girls are starting to pinken/redden in the faces. Maybe that's a sign that they'll be early layers? or just part of the natural progression?

OK, here’s the little, not so little ones:

- OE1 (10W) After many messages (and a few local postings) I found him a home! He’s leaving us tomorrow to lead up his own, personal flock of barred rocks in another town where he’s allowed. He’ll be missed! He’s little crows are mostly in the morning with some in the evenings


- OE2 (10W)


- OE3 (10W) I think she’s going to be top hen. She’s usually bumping chests with OE1.


- BCM1 (10W) I think I read this week that by 10W…. you would know if your BCM is a rooster or not. So either this guy is a “late bloomer” or she just looks that different from her “sister”. I did get them online so they may have been sourced from different flocks/farms?


- BCM2 (10W)


-->it’s a bit curious. I have 2 roosting bars set at an angle in the coop. The top one is only about 2.5’ while the bottom one is about 6’. Most nights the PBEs along with a BCM are on the top bar and the others huddled in a corner on the bottom bar. I thought the top bar was for head hen and none of the PBEs are from what I observe to be top hens

- PBE1 (9W)


- PBE2 (9W)


- PBE3 (9W)


- PBE4 (9W)


- SLRW1 (9W) these gals are the fluffiest and they waddle when they run. It’s so cute!


- SLRW2 (9W) their waddles are definetily coming in at the same rate so they're both females


Until next week!

 

[Azulette]

Aaand we’re back with week 12! We have the garden sectioned off to prevent them from getting into the seedlings in the raised planters when they have their daily free range time (and keeping the poo off the patio) --> chickens for scale. I’d say the fencing is 90% effective (will usually find 1 in there over 1-2 hours each time). Maybe a taller fence for the raised planter? A work in progress!


- OE1 (@11W) went to his new family last week! He’s now in charge of a small gaggle of barred rock gals. I wish him the best (and might grab some fertilized eggs from him and his gals next spring #goals) and miss his daily little crows


- OE2 (12W) a friendly gal. Still hopping on my shoulder if I ever squat down in the run! Loving the muffs and beard that's coming through with her Ameraucana heritage!



- OE3 (12W) she got underfoot as I was corralling chickens back into the coop around 11W and she let out an indignant squak! Turns out I stepped on her foot and the tread on my boot scuffed her skin/tore a little away. No blood thankfully. She was limping for a day or so and doing the flamingo stand which was breaking my heart. I am happy to say that it seems she’s made a full recovery.



- BCM1 (12W) still the most standoffish of the bunch but I’ve settled on hen (otherwise I would have seen the shoulder patches and other color breakthroughs come in by now?) @Overo Mare ? I hear (and see) that you are a resident expert with this It's also a bit crazy to see "her" eye color transformation. At 8 weeks "her" eyes were still a mossy green and now there a full blaze orange!



such an awkward little chook (or maybe that's me!)

- BCM2 (12W) She’s my snack loving gal that pushes other chicken out of the way to get to treats or scratch.


- PBE1 (11W) Looking fierce with this one – love it!



- PBE2 (11W) usually the one I find in the raised planter



- PBE3 (11W) more of the “paint” coming through now!


- PBE4 (11W) still one of the more skittish ones


- SLRW1 (11W) I swear she purred when I was petting her the other day


- SLRW2 (11W) has more gray edged/lacing of the neck feathers than SLRW1

 

[Chickenwithnobrim]

I absolutely adore slrw1, look at that amazing hen shape already! I love the lrw chickens I want to name one carrot

 

[Azulette]

Weeks 13 & 14 in one post! Things are chugging along at the ‘ol farmstead and the girls are doing well J Had to modify the interior fencing to make it taller and AROUND the planter because they were hoping onto the planter lip to get inside the fencing. Next up is making some PVC feeders (still brainstorming how to implement the automatic waterer and what style/layout I want to go with), roosts in the run, and the hen gear nest pad should be arriving for me to butcher (fit into my nest boxes) any day now.

[photos: week 13 is first then week 14]

The olive eggers:

- OE2 (13+14W)




- OE3 (13+14W)


(the single worst photo I've taken of any chicken)


The black copper marans:

- BCM1 (13+14W) I’ve decided to go with “HEN” figuring I’d see more orange/rust bleed through by now. We’ll see!



- BCM2 (13+14W) So docile and loves her snacks



The prairie bluebell eggers: all of them, eccept PBE2, have sucha a smaller frame than the others. just a lighter weight hybrid.
- PBE1 (12+13W)



- PBE2 (12+13W)



- PBE3 (12+13W)



- PBE4 (12+13W) is one of the hardest to catch but will then chill and sit in your hand. She’s a good gal



The blue (splash) laced red wyandottes: they are coming along so beautifuly - really love seeing the white/splash lacing contrast with the bronze/red.
- SLRW1 (12+13W)



- SLRW2 (12+13W)

 

[Azulette]

I absolutely adore slrw1, look at that amazing hen shape already! I love the lrw chickens I want to name one carrot

Carrot would have been a good one! The SLRWs were such round golf balls as chicks that one is named after a golf brand, thanks to DH, and the other was named by one of my kiddos, "Popcorn". They are such sweet gals - would recommend!

 

[-Chanticleer-]

Olive Egger 1 - suspected cockerel, though as a hybrid with unknown parentage, I hear big combed hens are possible! Suspected F2 olive egger that was backcrossed with a cuckoo maran (feathering on legs, color, and the yellowish uneven dot on head as a day old chick)? I had believed that HER prominent comb was due to cream legbar heritage but a crest never developed [and I don't feel that she has any Ameraucana attributes] so who knows)

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(below BCM, the one with the yellowish irregular dot on top the head)
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Isn’t that a barred maran cockrel?

 

[-Chanticleer-]

Weeks 13 & 14 in one post! Things are chugging along at the ‘ol farmstead and the girls are doing well J Had to modify the interior fencing to make it taller and AROUND the planter because they were hoping onto the planter lip to get inside the fencing. Next up is making some PVC feeders (still brainstorming how to implement the automatic waterer and what style/layout I want to go with), roosts in the run, and the hen gear nest pad should be arriving for me to butcher (fit into my nest boxes) any day now.

[photos: week 13 is first then week 14]

The olive eggers:

- OE2 (13+14W)
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- OE3 (13+14W)
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(the single worst photo I've taken of any chicken)
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The black copper marans:

- BCM1 (13+14W) I’ve decided to go with “HEN” figuring I’d see more orange/rust bleed through by now. We’ll see!
View attachment 3523398
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- BCM2 (13+14W) So docile and loves her snacks
View attachment 3523395
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The prairie bluebell eggers: all of them, eccept PBE2, have sucha a smaller frame than the others. just a lighter weight hybrid.
- PBE1 (12+13W)
View attachment 3523407
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- PBE2 (12+13W)
View attachment 3523401
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- PBE3 (12+13W)
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- PBE4 (12+13W) is one of the hardest to catch but will then chill and sit in your hand. She’s a good gal
View attachment 3523403
View attachment 3523425

The blue (splash) laced red wyandottes: they are coming along so beautifuly - really love seeing the white/splash lacing contrast with the bronze/red.
- SLRW1 (12+13W)
View attachment 3523394
View attachment 3523421

- SLRW2 (12+13W)
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Your red lace is gorgeous