2018 Newbie Chat!

[CannedMonster]

How exciting! A new coop! I'll have to check out their plans. Not that I'm making one, just cause I like looking at them.
Hey, my thread asking about cold weather is a Featured Thread!!! Wow!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/opinions-of-cold-climate-chicken-keepers-needed.1289148/

That is an excellent thread.
You got a lot of experienced members posting on it which is very helpful.

 

[CannedMonster]

Some updated photos of Cleo.
She’s 8 weeks old now and fully integrated into the flock.
She still stays close to Pippin and sleeps in the prefab coop with Pip, Cricket and Mitzi.

I’m not sure how I would put her in with the older LF girls because she’s by herself and it would be hard on her but it might be possible.
I was thinking of ordering juvenile chicks (4-8 weeks old) from Murray McMurray Hatchery so she will have other chicks to be with that are near her age.
Plus I will then have enough girls for both Angus and Oliver.
The bonus of doing that is that the juvenile chicks are feathered out so you can order as few as one and they don’t need supplemental heat.
And you are guaranteed females.
They send them Express mail so the shipping is more and the chicks cost about $20 each but the convenience of having young ones her age is beneficial to me.

 

[No More Empty Nest]

Some updated photos of Cleo.
She’s 8 weeks old now and fully integrated into the flock.
She still stays close to Pippin and sleeps in the prefab coop with Pip, Cricket and Mitzi.
View attachment 1654834

View attachment 1654836

View attachment 1654840
I’m not sure how I would put her in with the older LF girls because she’s by herself and it would be hard on her but it might be possible.
I was thinking of ordering juvenile chicks (4-8 weeks old) from Murray McMurray Hatchery so she will have other chicks to be with that are near her age.
Plus I will then have enough girls for both Angus and Oliver.
The bonus of doing that is that the juvenile chicks are feathered out so you can order as few as one and they don’t need supplemental heat.
And you are guaranteed females.
They send them Express mail so the shipping is more and the chicks cost about $20 each but the convenience of having young ones her age is beneficial to me.

She's quite the beautiful pullet! I wasn't sure how I'd like naked necks, but she's striking.

 

[Anna Ranieri]

Some updated photos of Cleo.
She’s 8 weeks old now and fully integrated into the flock.
She still stays close to Pippin and sleeps in the prefab coop with Pip, Cricket and Mitzi.
View attachment 1654834

View attachment 1654836

View attachment 1654840
I’m not sure how I would put her in with the older LF girls because she’s by herself and it would be hard on her but it might be possible.
I was thinking of ordering juvenile chicks (4-8 weeks old) from Murray McMurray Hatchery so she will have other chicks to be with that are near her age.
Plus I will then have enough girls for both Angus and Oliver.
The bonus of doing that is that the juvenile chicks are feathered out so you can order as few as one and they don’t need supplemental heat.
And you are guaranteed females.
They send them Express mail so the shipping is more and the chicks cost about $20 each but the convenience of having young ones her age is beneficial to me.

Wow, she's growing up so fast and she is so beautiful. I can't make up my mind whether she looks more like Emily or more like Angus, she has a resemblance of both of them. What do you think?

 

[PNW_Peepers]

Manchineel(Manny) attacked me this morning when I went in his run to retrieve his fermented feed dish. He bit my hand pretty hard, I carried him around like a football for a half hour then put him back. He’s gunned after my mastiff (flock protector) a few times in the past. I’m contemplating freezer camp for him. The last thing I need is an aggressive rooster, considering I’ll hatch another in a few weeks. Today kinda felt like strike 3 for me. Problem is, if I cull Manny, Lazarus would need to be integrated into the big flock as she’d be all alone.

 

[Heinzie]

How exciting! A new coop! I'll have to check out their plans. Not that I'm making one, just cause I like looking at them.
Hey, my thread asking about cold weather is a Featured Thread!!! Wow!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/opinions-of-cold-climate-chicken-keepers-needed.1289148/

I just got done reading your thread, very informative. Congratulations on you featured thread

 

[No More Empty Nest]

Manchineel(Manny) attacked me this morning when I went in his run to retrieve his fermented feed dish. He bit my hand pretty hard, I carried him around like a football for a half hour then put him back. He’s gunned after my mastiff (flock protector) a few times in the past. I’m contemplating freezer camp for him. The last thing I need is an aggressive rooster, considering I’ll hatch another in a few weeks. Today kinda felt like strike 3 for me. Problem is, if I cull Manny, Lazarus would need to be integrated into the big flock as she’d be all alone.

I'd guess maybe integrating is harder in winter too? But I guess it depends on your coop set-up. Hard decision though.

I just got done reading your thread, very informative. Congratulations on you featured thread

Thanks!

 

[emrya]

So my girls aren't injured by overmating yet, but they are starting to lose a few feathers. I ordered a set of 5 chicken saddles off etsy last night, should be here the first week of February. I'll let you guys know how they work out if you want!

 

[llombardo]

so how is everyone doing with the weather?

The run is completely buried in snow/ice. I got stuck trying to get out of driveway today--that was a fun couple hours. The snow plow guy from the township came and helped. They plow me in everytime it snows. Then a car came spinning at me , don't know how he missed me. So now I'm at home, signal out on the tv. Yay!!

Prince knows I'm home and keeps crowing. I go and check on them and he shuts up...lol

Have I mentioned how happy I am I decided to bring them in? It's not even about how they would survive in this crap, but how I would be able to even care for them if I can't get in there.

I do have a question...

The faverolle and the EE have paler combs right now, I know that the EE is not laying and I'm pretty sure the facerolle isn't either, should I give them some electrolytes and vitamins in the water? I was going to and the stuff I have seems to be expired--the scary part is that I believe it expired in 2017 and I bought it JUNE 2018. I called the store and they are seeing the same thing. They are calling the supplier and will call me back on that.

 

[Geranium]

Ohhh emm geeeeeee one of my pullets squatted for me for the first time this morning! It's one of my Australorps, Harriet. She's always been my loudest girl, and she's constantly talking and complaining. All 8 of my pullets turned 20 weeks today! Fingers crossed for a first egg very soon!