2018 Newbie Chat!

They’re beautiful!
Are you worried they’re big because they’re cockerels?
Of course! I had a local lady jinx me on the day they hatched, she was like “you know half that hatch are roos, so outta the three you hatched you only got one pullet”. I have a sinking suspicion I have two cockerels. I’d put money on one of them being a cockerel already at a week old. The olive Eggers stance is very upright. Two of them are very social already when I put my hand in. Little Lazarus is the only one I’m positive is a girl. She hides, and the other two love her more than each other. I hope I’m wrong, but have a plan if I’m not. DH mother loves unwanted animals and wants to keep a lone Rooster if we end up with one. The fact that they are a more expensive breed should help me rehome them if they do in fact turn out to be boys.
 
Hey I noticed a few of your chicks have
leg bands. Get some fingernail clippers and cut that sucker off. If you don’t do it soon it’ll cut into the little ones leg and you may have to cull them! I’d do it today. They look tight already!
 
I’ve seperated my lavender Orpington Jacaranda from the group, after reintroducing Wally she started cannabalisticly plucking his head feathers out. By the time I noticed he was almost bald again.
:he:barnie:rant
I’m going to do one of three things. Rehome her, cull her, or build a chicken tractor and move a few bully hens with her from my big coop. DH is going the love the third option (heavy sarcasm, DH is sick of building chicken related things)! Also, I have another broody, who I’m breaking in my rabbit hutch. This time it’s an Australorp thank gosh. I think I’d start pulling my hair out if Rosewood went broody again.
 
Wattle development at 5-6 weeks is concerning.
I’ve never had Orpingtons so I don’t know for sure but females don’t usually get that until after 8 weeks and usually much later.
One of my Silver Penciled Rocks has started developing some but she’s 10 weeks old.
Here’s Oliver, my black Australorp, at almost 5 weeks:
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At exactly 5 weeks:
View attachment 1540091
Here’s Oliver with one of the Silver Penciled Rocks, I think it’s Silver the older one. She’s the same age as Oliver.
Notice how there’s no comb or wattle development or color in her.
View attachment 1540101

And here he is at 7 weeks:
View attachment 1540092

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Don’t panic. There’s nothing you can do about it.
I believe you said the seller would take him back if he turned out to be a cockerel?
You could keep him for a while yet.
Typically they don’t start crowing until about 3-4 months old.
Firstly, Oliver and Silver are so beautiful and Oliver is so handsome :love
Secondly, I see what you mean about the wattles and colour, with Roo its a bit confusing because the wattle development is a lot smaller than Oliver's and Roo's comb is still yellow - I found some pictures of a Buff Op online from a person who has documented their Buff's growth, at 6wks it had pinkish wattle development very much like Roo's but that persons Buff turn out to be a hen! I know I'm probably grabbing at straws but as wonderful it would be if I get to keep my birds, it would be even more so if I got to keep Roo too.
These are the two photos we sent to my friend, I'd like to know what you think although I'm not sure if they are clear enough to see the wattle development. I'm going to see if I can get a picture underside of Roo's beak/neck tomorrow (its night here and they're put away and asleep now) if I manage to I'll post the pic to you tomorrow to see what you think.
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Anna that coop is so cute!
Obviously it could be used for ducks too since the ramp is low and not steep.
Are the roosts removable?
They seem to be very close together.
I wouldn’t put more than four birds in there and it looks like it’ll be just perfect for your needs!
And it has a removable tray. Very convenient but don’t do what I did and fill it too full lol.
Then you can’t pull it out because it gets stuck from the shavings getting bunched up.
I’d love to get one like that to use for a broody and chicks. It’s low to the ground and would work well for that.
I'm so glad you approve, makes me feel much better about my choice :)
I'm amazed at how cheap it is, just because it isn't painted but there are loads of reviews majority of which are good and the few that weren't so good were mainly because they had to paint it and also that the nest boxes are quite small but if I find that to be the case I'll take out the middle and make it into one big one if needs be. It costs only £99.00 and no delivery fee - I think thats about $130.
Thanks for giving me the heads up about filling the tray too much - I didn't think of that and would probably of done so lol.
I don't know if the roost bars come out but I'm thinking I could saw some off if needs be - how will I know if they are too close together?
 
WoW! What awesome pictures! I love having a background like that. And such cute chicks too!

Well, I am cautiously optimistic about Amber's head getting pecked at. I used the Rooster Booster anti feather picking product on her and the pecking has decreased remarkably. They will occasionally take a feeble peck, like a taste, and shake their heads like yuk yuk! Then rub their beaks on the ground. More often then that one of them will eye her head like she's about to peck but then think better of it and turn away. One even looked at Amber's head, shook her own head and wiped her beak as if remembering, lol.
AND she has tiny white feathers showing in the purple area! The Rooster Booster product is purple. I immediately turned those little pinpoints of white to purple, don't want to tempt anyone, haha. I watched them on the roost when they went in to take a nap, not a single peck but Opal and Pearl eyed her once or twice and then turned away. No problem when they are grouped together pecking at the ground or when eating. All bad times for pecking her yesterday.
I also left the two kale plants I bought for them inside the run. They may be getting a bit more kale than before, but it gives them all something to peck and pull at. They still eat plenty of chick food too.
 
Firstly, Oliver and Silver are so beautiful and Oliver is so handsome :love
Secondly, I see what you mean about the wattles and colour, with Roo its a bit confusing because the wattle development is a lot smaller than Oliver's and Roo's comb is still yellow - I found some pictures of a Buff Op online from a person who has documented their Buff's growth, at 6wks it had pinkish wattle development very much like Roo's but that persons Buff turn out to be a hen! I know I'm probably grabbing at straws but as wonderful it would be if I get to keep my birds, it would be even more so if I got to keep Roo too.
These are the two photos we sent to my friend, I'd like to know what you think although I'm not sure if they are clear enough to see the wattle development. I'm going to see if I can get a picture underside of Roo's beak/neck tomorrow (its night here and they're put away and asleep now) if I manage to I'll post the pic to you tomorrow to see what you think.
View attachment 1540265
View attachment 1540266
I have a Buff pullet, here’s a photo of her at five weeks.
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