Arizona Chickens

[BlueBaby]

I have a chest freezer. I just started it up (early) so there's room.

Edit: probably more than 4 cockerels out of the 13 straight run hatchery surprise. I'm thinking 4-6 pullets but was just going by feathering speed and growth speed, thickness of legs and pink/larger combs. But with all possibly different breeds not a lot for comparison, just "my what a big pink comb for 4 weeks!"

That's the problem when you have mixed up batches of chick's. You don't know what they are until later. I got tired of that route, so that's why I have these Bielefelder's now. I can tell what sex that they are as soon as they hatch.

 

[springvalley123]

That's the problem when you have mixed up batches of chick's. You don't know what they are until later. I got tired of that route, so that's why I have these Bielefelder's now. I can tell what sex that they are as soon as they hatch.

I'm just doing this once---because figuring out what breeds and sexes is a surprise, like every day is Christmas as they feather in etc. So far there are a few I can't identify, but at 4 weeks, that's OK.

 

[CaroleW]

I'm just doing this once---because figuring out what breeds and sexes is a surprise, like every day is Christmas as they feather in etc. So far there are a few I can't identify, but at 4 weeks, that's OK.

I didn't know some of my Polish (now rehomed) were hens until they all laid eggs the same day. I didn't know my Wyandotte was a hen for the longest time because she is hefty with thick legs. I thought she and the brown leghorn were male/female of same breed as juveniles. Some are harder to know than others especially if you have only one of them & none to compare to or no experience with the breed.

 

[cavemanrich]

I didn't know some of my Polish (now rehomed) were hens until they all laid eggs the same day.

Look at the positive,, someone got a hen

 

[CaroleW]

Look at the positive,, someone got a hen

I wanted to rehome them anyway (male or female) - they didn't fit into my main flocks without getting picked on so I needed them off the farm. They are now on a good friend's farm that needed to replenish their chicken flock so we are all happy! They have other fancy chicks to run with like frizzles and sizzles.

 

[chfriedmam]

Put a lawn sprinkler in the chicken yard on a timer so that it goes off several times a day.

Hi, just popping in, I'm in SoCal and it's in the hi 90s today. I've turned on the sprinkler to hit my chicken run several times over the last few days. It's actually my toddler's crazy sprayer thing so it kind of splashes the area lightly. Thing is, the chickens avoid it like the plague. I'm hoping it cools the area after I turn it off through evaporation? Or maybe they still get splashed anyway? So I guess I'm asking to your chickens actually get out under the water?

 

[CaroleW]

Hi, just popping in, I'm in SoCal and it's in the hi 90s today. I've turned on the sprinkler to hit my chicken run several times over the last few days. It's actually my toddler's crazy sprayer thing so it kind of splashes the area lightly. Thing is, the chickens avoid it like the plague. I'm hoping it cools the area after I turn it off through evaporation? Or maybe they still get splashed anyway? So I guess I'm asking to your chickens actually get out under the water?

MIne don't stay under sprinklers or misters but some will stay out in a light rain or drizzle all day. Yes evap cooling is good - I usually hang up a cotton sheet or tablecloth to soak up the sprinkler/mister water and the breeze continues cooling after water turns off - also shades the area.

 

[springvalley123]

I didn't know some of my Polish (now rehomed) were hens until they all laid eggs the same day. I didn't know my Wyandotte was a hen for the longest time because she is hefty with thick legs. I thought she and the brown leghorn were male/female of same breed as juveniles. Some are harder to know than others especially if you have only one of them & none to compare to or no experience with the breed.

I can relate! Last year I had this barred rock that somehow got in with the midnight majesty marans (barred rock hen X black copper marans rooster). I was so confused! I just didn't feel I should butcher this "cockerel" when I did the other.
Did you have any turn out to be hens, after they grew way faster than the others? Not that I'd know that one wasn't just a bigger breed/smaller breed though.

 

[BlueBaby]

I just boiled up another 2 dozen egg's. I like having those hard boiled egg's on hand. They are already cooked when you need them, and they are also great for a quick healthy snack.

 

[Coffee N Chickens]

And I'm going to get to test out my theory (so far it's been this way) that the mostly black chicks are male and the yellow ones with black spots are female. It's Day 20 and two eggs are pipping.