Arizona Chickens

[Beckyhsinglsc]

Hey guys,

So I'm pretty new to having chickens. I adopted two chicks just over 2 weeks ago from the feed store. I just wanted to ask if the chicks at the feed store can be slightly different ages? Basically, I was desperately trying to find chicks and Superstition Feed was out, Shoppers was out, so I drove all the way to the Pet Club in Queen Creek and they had three chicks left. They all look basically the same, so I grabbed two.

Their names are Rosco and Boss Hogg, and I totally love them. I'm hoping they are both girls, and my understanding is that like 99% of the chicks from the feed store are females. I also think they are red sexlinks, so I'm assuming the fact that they are red is a good sign that they are female? They were a buff color with brown stripes on their back when I first got them. However, one of my coworkers who is also a chicken enthusiast said that roos will grow faster than pullets. So I've always been a little paranoid because Rosco has always been a little ahead of Boss Hogg on growing. When I got them, Rosco already had more wing feathers. The picture I am posting is from about a week ago. And now Rosco has a full body of read feathers. Boss Hogg has the equivalent of what Rosco looks like in this picture, and Boss Hogg seems to be more of a brown and white now as opposed to red. But today, I just noticed that Rosco is definitely noticeably bigger than Boss Hogg. (S)he's filled out a lot more.

Anyway, so I know that of course the chicks can be from entirely different parents. But can the chicks be slightly different ages too? I'm hoping that Rosco is just a few days older than Boss Hogg (and not a roo). What do you guys think?

I am really excited though. We've got the coop and they've been spending their days in the coop that last 2 weeks since it's warm, and then into their brooding box at night with the heat lamp. We're building an enclosure soon. And even though we live in an HOA, chickens are allowed as long as they are pets, and the neighbors have been really supportive about them. So I'm just really excited! It's fun to see them growing so quickly!! Thanks all!


Rosco is on the left, Boss Hogg on the right (pic taken about a week ago)

Actually, in my experience, the pullet percentage is closer to 90%. I've had about 1 rooster to every 10 chicks. I even got a sex link rooster that was light pullet colored as a chick.
The waiting is always hard. They all mature at different rates and actually the roos tend to feather out later than the pullets. When I get chicks, I always watch the tail feathers. My roos have always been the last ones to get tail feathers. Give us some pictures at 6 weeks.

 

[City farm]

Well, I can report that supervised free-ranging is not without risk.  I was working in the yard this morning and decided I'd let the chickens out, right about 9:30 am.  At about 10 am I had my back to the chickens and heard a huge commotion, whirled around and right there, less than 15' away from me was a coyote with my BA in it's mouth, shaking it.  I yelled and ran at the thing and it stood its ground for what seemed like an eternity, but was probably only a second or so and by the time I closed the gap to about 6' it dropped the chicken and hopped the wall.  It stood there on the opposite side of the wall and didn't leave until I sent the dog after it.  Poor Jim is limping something awful, but we couldn't find any visible damage to her beyond the loss of a lot of feathers.  I was so sad to see that she didn't make it onto the roost tonight; I found her in a nest box.  
I don't know if the coyote just didn't see me prior to the attack or just didn't care.  Just thought I'd share.

Wow, that is an epic adventure for sure... Thanks for sharing... Hope your hen is ok.. Keep us posted..

 

[City farm]

Hey guys, So I'm pretty new to having chickens. I adopted two chicks just over 2 weeks ago from the feed store. I just wanted to ask if the chicks at the feed store can be slightly different ages? Basically, I was desperately trying to find chicks and Superstition Feed was out, Shoppers was out, so I drove all the way to the Pet Club in Queen Creek and they had three chicks left. They all look basically the same, so I grabbed two. Their names are Rosco and Boss Hogg, and I totally love them. I'm hoping they are both girls, and my understanding is that like 99% of the chicks from the feed store are females. I also think they are red sexlinks, so I'm assuming the fact that they are red is a good sign that they are female? They were a buff color with brown stripes on their back when I first got them. However, one of my coworkers who is also a chicken enthusiast said that roos will grow faster than pullets. So I've always been a little paranoid because Rosco has always been a little ahead of Boss Hogg on growing. When I got them, Rosco already had more wing feathers. The picture I am posting is from about a week ago. And now Rosco has a full body of read feathers. Boss Hogg has the equivalent of what Rosco looks like in this picture, and Boss Hogg seems to be more of a brown and white now as opposed to red. But today, I just noticed that Rosco is definitely noticeably bigger than Boss Hogg. (S)he's filled out a lot more. Anyway, so I know that of course the chicks can be from entirely different parents. But can the chicks be slightly different ages too? I'm hoping that Rosco is just a few days older than Boss Hogg (and not a roo). What do you guys think? I am really excited though. We've got the coop and they've been spending their days in the coop that last 2 weeks since it's warm, and then into their brooding box at night with the heat lamp. We're building an enclosure soon. And even though we live in an HOA, chickens are allowed as long as they are pets, and the neighbors have been really supportive about them. So I'm just really excited! It's fun to see them growing so quickly!! Thanks all! Rosco is on the left, Boss Hogg on the right (pic taken about a week ago)

Cuties for sure.. We are just newbies so no advice for growth.?? Like the pics..

 

[ChicksOfHazzard]

Actually, in my experience, the pullet percentage is closer to 90%. I've had about 1 rooster to every 10 chicks. I even got a sex link rooster that was light pullet colored as a chick.
The waiting is always hard. They all mature at different rates and actually the roos tend to feather out later than the pullets. When I get chicks, I always watch the tail feathers. My roos have always been the last ones to get tail feathers. Give us some pictures at 6 weeks.

Cuties for sure.. We are just newbies so no advice for growth.?? Like the pics..

Thank you guys!!! Well if it goes by feathering, Rosco should be safe! I'm just so hoping they are both girls because I know my neighbors don't want roosters, that was like the only condition they gave me, so I promised no roosters. I'm sure I could find a home for one if one turned out a boy. But I'd just be so sad because I love them both and I'm attached to them. Plus they are good buddies, they go everywhere together, I'd hate to see them split up.

I got them on 3/9 and they seemed to be about 2 weeks old when I got them. Here's a pic.

Boss Hogg on the left, Rosco on the right
This pic was taken when they were still mainly in their brooding box all day, I liked to take them on "field trips" to the garden.


But so I think they are around 4.5 weeks right now. I'll post pics again weekend after next at 6 weeks. Thanks for your help!!

 

[jbolt]

I had a HUGE white cat that refused to stay inside. We were sitting in the AZ room less than 2 feet from where the cat was sitting on the outside windowsill. A coyote snatchedd him and ran off right in front of us. They're nasty and far from afraid. I now have a very ornery mini burro who chases anything that moves. Well worth the feed

 

[City farm]

I had a HUGE white cat that refused to stay inside. We were sitting in the AZ room less than 2 feet from where the cat was sitting on the outside windowsill. A coyote snatchedd him and ran off right in front of us. They're nasty and far from afraid. I now have a very ornery mini burro who chases anything that moves. Well worth the feed

Someday I can't wait to say " I have a mini burro"
That really sucks that your cat is gone... I have a ton of wild cats here in our neighborhood... I think some have talked about catch & re- release
out in the desert.. Don't now if anyone has... The wild cats here seem sick.. It is always something...

 

[City farm]

Thank you guys!!! Well if it goes by feathering, Rosco should be safe! I'm just so hoping they are both girls because I know my neighbors don't want roosters, that was like the only condition they gave me, so I promised no roosters. I'm sure I could find a home for one if one turned out a boy. But I'd just be so sad because I love them both and I'm attached to them. Plus they are good buddies, they go everywhere together, I'd hate to see them split up. I got them on 3/9 and they seemed to be about 2 weeks old when I got them. Here's a pic. Boss Hogg on the left, Rosco on the right This pic was taken when they were still mainly in their brooding box all day, I liked to take them on "field trips" to the garden. But so I think they are around 4.5 weeks right now. I'll post pics again weekend after next at 6 weeks. Thanks for your help!!

Great photos ! I can't wait to let our new flock go on field trips too...

 

[Beckyhsinglsc]

Quote:
They look like sex link chicks and they look like pullets.

If they are sex links, I should be able to tell at 6 weeks since I've had both pullets and a cockerel and know the difference now.

 

[ChicksOfHazzard]

Great photos !

I can't wait to let our new flock go on field trips too...

I know!!! It's so fun! They get a little braver each trip too. Yesterday they boldly tromped through the carrots to go peck for whatever they could find in the dirt. And yesterday was the first day that when I put them back down next to their coop door, they weren't interested in running back inside, they wanted to stay out and explore some more. When I first bought the coop a couple weeks ago (before bringing home the chicks) my husband was annoyed with me. He said he didn't want chickens. I said I don't tell him what to do with his hobbies, he said, "Yeah, but all your hobbies are alive and require food and habitats!" In the first week or so, he'd look at them and refuse to touch them. But he did insist on building their coop... and when he was done commented that it did look pretty cute. Now when he gets home every morning (he works nights) he takes the chickens out to their coop. And he keeps commenting on how fast they are growing, how funny they are, and now he doesn't even use a box to move them, he just hugs them into his chest. It's funny how these clever little chickens are melting him.

They look like sex link chicks and they look like pullets.

If they are sex links, I should be able to tell at 6 weeks since I've had both pullets and a cockerel and know the difference now.

I'm so relieved to hear you say that! And yes, fingers crossed here too!! I'll post pics again weekend after next. Thanks so much for your help!!

 

[countrygirl74]

I do.t know what happened there. I'm missing a couple pics. But there's a few! The one with the most color, second to last pic, LOVES being called fabio. I called him it again today and he immediately stood up, looked at me in the eyes, and then started preening. It was like he was saying "I'm sexy and I know it". Lmao

LOL - Here's my Fabio... his official baby name was Chubby Cheeks, but we call him Fabio more often - it's the way he throws his "hair" around.