2018 Newbie Chat!

[llombardo]

I have to bring something for a work potluck. Money is tight, I'm racking my brain and then I see 2 dozen eggs I've collected and put on my bed...deviled eggs it is

 

[llombardo]

I did not get everything done that I wanted to. I had to use 3 different vacuums to get all the bedding up inside. The dust was just awful. I can't believe how much dust they can produce. I didn't use any chemicals to dust so it's not the greatest dust job. Could I use a lemon scented dust spray, without hurting the chickens(especially Sir Duke)? I may have to cover stuff with plastic. My garbage disposal stopped working so I had to fix that. In the process water spilled under the sink. So my kitchen looks like a tornado hit it while that dries. I did not get outside to cut down branches. There is just never enough time in the day.

 

[CannedMonster]

I did not get everything done that I wanted to. I had to use 3 different vacuums to get all the bedding up inside. The dust was just awful. I can't believe how much dust they can produce. I didn't use any chemicals to dust so it's not the greatest dust job. Could I use a lemon scented dust spray, without hurting the chickens(especially Sir Duke)? I may have to cover stuff with plastic. My garbage disposal stopped working so I had to fix that. In the process water spilled under the sink. So my kitchen looks like a tornado hit it while that dries. I did not get outside to cut down branches. There is just never enough time in the day.

No!
No dust spray.
A birds respiratory system is extremely sensitive.
I’d use vinegar and water or just squeeze a bit of lemon juice into water and dip my rag into that.
Or put it in a spray bottle and spray the cloth with it.
Sorry you didn’t get everything done.
I’m going to be having that problem too as I’m starting the new job tomorrow.
I won’t see my birds until Saturday morning

 

[CannedMonster]

Wow, great photos! Both are such beauties and real cute. Winter seems to be growing fast, what colours do you think she'll be? Am I right in thinking that yellow baby feathers mean white and/or light colours and dark baby feathers means reds and dark colours?

I think she’ll look like Angus only female.
Emily was actually all yellow with just a bit of black stripes behind her eyes and a thick gray stripe on her back. She didn’t have thick brown and black stripes like Angus and Winter.
Her juvenile feathers were black and white barred feathers.
Angus also had barred juvenile feathers (it’s very common in chipmunk striped chicks).
Winter is getting the same pattern.
I’ll be better able to see her adult colors after her juvenile molt in a few months.

 

[CannedMonster]

Emily as a chick:

Juvenile feathers (Emily):

Angus as a chick:

Angus juvenile feathers:

Winter:

 

[Anna Ranieri]

I think she’ll look like Angus only female.
Emily was actually all yellow with just a bit of black stripes behind her eyes and a thick gray stripe on her back. She didn’t have thick brown and black stripes like Angus and Winter.
Her juvenile feathers were black and white barred feathers.
Angus also had barred juvenile feathers (it’s very common in chipmunk striped chicks).
Winter is getting the same pattern.
I’ll be better able to see her adult colors after her juvenile molt in a few months.

Awwww wow, a female Angus how wonderful! Do you know for definite she is a she? I only know you are always spot on at sexing but I thought you usually wait until they're a bit older - I remember with Roo you said she is female when she was only a few weeks old. We now jokingly call Roo our horse, she is massive compared to the others, she is bigger than all bar two of my birds (my drakes) - purely out of curiosity I've been searching google trying to find out at what age BO's stop growing but nothing really clear. The only BO sites I've been able to find so far are unreliable, i.e. they said BO's don't lay until 35/40 weeks but @Cbarr00 has informed me this is incorrect so I don't see the point of reading them when the information is incorrect. I don't mind at all what size she gets, I'm just curious - I saw the flock she came from and they are pretty big (very docile too) however my friend who we got her from said (at that time) she was quite a bit smaller than they usually are.

 

[Anna Ranieri]

Emily as a chick:
View attachment 1618131
View attachment 1618132

Juvenile feathers (Emily):
View attachment 1618133

Angus as a chick:
View attachment 1618134
View attachment 1618135

Angus juvenile feathers:
View attachment 1618136

Winter:
View attachment 1618137
View attachment 1618138

Ohhh my gosh photos of pure beauty and cuteness I'm not very good at this sort of thing but I can see the resemblance to Angus and Emily, especially Angus although Winter's beak looks the exact of Emily's. You are in for a win either way b'cos all your NN's are stunners all have beautiful faces, gorgeous colours and great temperaments and with Pippin raising her, she is being taught by the best.
May I ask, purely out of curiosity why you didn't have Pippin hatch one of her own eggs?

 

[llombardo]

I took a half day today and I went out to let the chickens and ducks out. I ended up staying out there just observing them for over an hour. First I feel blessed to have these guys. They are so calming and therapeutic. I love their antics. Their personalities are all different. Never thought I would fall for chickens and ducks this hard, but they got me. I could sit and watch them all day long.

I also noticed that they are all hanging out together. I saw two move out if my way pecks and they were normal. Rose went in to lay an egg and Rain went in after her, seconds later Rose came flying out. Prince is just loving his girls. I love seeing them all together. Prince is crowing away right now by the gate, I'm completrly convinced he is calling me. He does this everytime I leave and go inside. Oddly Sir Duke screams for me too.

I feel like a mini farmer carrying my bucket out to do chores with my dog following me.

A few pictures from this morning. Rose was busy in the best box, so no pictures of her(she is in the last one but hard to see)

Rain and Precious

Prince, Rain and Precious

Dorothy and Sofia

Lucy, Ricky, Dolly and Reba

Prince guarding the gate

Robyn(female GSD) and Prince

Dorothy, Sofia, and Blanche

Prince assuming his position.

 

[Cbarr00]

Awwww wow, a female Angus how wonderful! Do you know for definite she is a she? I only know you are always spot on at sexing but I thought you usually wait until they're a bit older - I remember with Roo you said she is female when she was only a few weeks old. We now jokingly call Roo our horse, she is massive compared to the others, she is bigger than all bar two of my birds (my drakes) - purely out of curiosity I've been searching google trying to find out at what age BO's stop growing but nothing really clear. The only BO sites I've been able to find so far are unreliable, i.e. they said BO's don't lay until 35/40 weeks but @Cbarr00 has informed me this is incorrect so I don't see the point of reading them when the information is incorrect. I don't mind at all what size she gets, I'm just curious - I saw the flock she came from and they are pretty big (very docile too) however my friend who we got her from said (at that time) she was quite a bit smaller than they usually are.

I believe buff orpington are a pretty large breed of chicken. Our BO cockerel was massive compared to our RIR and SS cockerels. He was so heavy he couldn't jump. He would just bunt when challenged because his body was so heavy. He was alpha. Here he is at 5 weeks. The speckled behind him with the white chest was our cockerel Casper at the same age. The red with the large comb behind him was our cockerel Big Red.

8 weeks

and 17 weeks. Notice his body compared to our RIR. The RIR stands taller but Dwight had weight on him.

 

[Anna Ranieri]

I took a half day today and I went out to let the chickens and ducks out. I ended up staying out there just observing them for over an hour. First I feel blessed to have these guys. They are so calming and therapeutic. I love their antics. Their personalities are all different. Never thought I would fall for chickens and ducks this hard, but they got me. I could sit and watch them all day long.

I also noticed that they are all hanging out together. I saw two move out if my way pecks and they were normal. Rose went in to lay an egg and Rain went in after her, seconds later Rose came flying out. Prince is just loving his girls. I love seeing them all together. Prince is crowing away right now by the gate, I'm completrly convinced he is calling me. He does this everytime I leave and go inside. Oddly Sir Duke screams for me too.

I feel like a mini farmer carrying my bucket out to do chores with my dog following me.

A few pictures from this morning. Rose was busy in the best box, so no pictures of her(she is in the last one but hard to see)

Rain and Precious
View attachment 1618328


Prince, Rain and Precious
View attachment 1618335

Dorothy and Sofia
View attachment 1618337


Lucy, Ricky, Dolly and Reba

View attachment 1618340

View attachment 1618341
View attachment 1618342

Prince guarding the gate

View attachment 1618343

Robyn(female GSD) and Prince
View attachment 1618344


Dorothy, Sofia, and Blanche
View attachment 1618346


Prince assuming his position.
View attachment 1618347

Wonderful pictures, your whole flock is beautiful but Prince is stunning - so gorgeous