Australorp Pride! Let's see those pics!

[Mace Gill]

Trying this again. Baby blues. (Apologies for the technological ineptitude)
Haven't been here in a while and everything has changed!!

Okay, I know it hasn't been a week yet ... but anxiously awaiting updated pics! (no rush ... when there's time )

 

[Hamiam]

@Mace Gill , I spent sometime yesterday trying to get some pics of my six 10 week old pullets. Here you go. It's getting harder to identify each one by name as they are losing their baby fluff. Sweet Pea, Lavender, Rose, Periwinkle, Blue Bonnet, Violet. The Golden Sexlink is, Lily.

 

[Mace Gill]

View attachment 1026990 View attachment 1026988 View attachment 1026987 @Mace Gill , I spent sometime yesterday trying to get some pics of my six 10 week old pullets. Here you go. It's getting harder to identify each one by name as they are losing their baby fluff. Sweet Pea, Lavender, Rose, Periwinkle, Blue Bonnet, Violet. The Golden Sexlink is, Lily.

Lovely! I must admit, it is sometimes hard for me to tell the difference with mine! I even have some trouble telling my two Jersey Giants from the rest. Your birds are beautiful rain last night here, mine are looking a little muddy and scrabbly as per usual

 

[Hamiam]

Lovely! I must admit, it is sometimes hard for me to tell the difference with mine! I even have some trouble telling my two Jersey Giants from the rest. Your birds are beautiful rain last night here, mine are looking a little muddy and scrabbly as per usual

Thank you. I think they are beautiful too! The other day I gave them the fowl pox vaccine & several are still holding a grudge! In our part of Texas, it gets very hot & humid. I had flock many years ago that got fowl pox. Since then, I've always vaccinated & have never had a repeat.
I had a 12 year break between flocks (I know, sounds crazy. I just didn't think I could give hens a good quality of life on the small property we had)

 

[Mace Gill]

Thank you. I think they are beautiful too! The other day I gave them the fowl pox vaccine & several are still holding a grudge! In our part of Texas, it gets very hot & humid. I had flock many years ago that got fowl pox. Since then, I've always vaccinated & have never had a repeat.
I had a 12 year break between flocks (I know, sounds crazy. I just didn't think I could give hens a good quality of life on the small property we had)

We're on a third of an acre so they don't get as much forage as I'd like ... but I get them out of the run as often as possible. Trouble is ... I have to stay REALLY on top of my chicken math! We figure 12 birds is our max ... we have ten. I want more land so I could have more birds, but then I'd need MORE land, and ultimately get MORE birds, and on and on!

 

[Hamiam]

@Mace Gill, I understand about chicken math. My husband & I missed the country, so sold our house on the small lot. Bought a 30 acre small ranch. We are 95% done with our chicken tractor & still trying to decide on predator proofing

for our run. (Thinking about electric poultry netting that can be moved around like the tractor/run made from dog kennel. The run is 12' wide & 24' long, 6 ft high. Once we get that finished, we can work on a small barn/stationary chicken coop. So much to do, so little time.

 

[Mace Gill]

@Mace Gill, I understand about chicken math. My husband & I missed the country, so sold our house on the small lot. Bought a 30 acre small ranch. We are 95% done with our chicken tractor & still trying to decide on predator proofing View attachment 1027037 for our run. (Thinking about electric poultry netting that can be moved around like the tractor/run made from dog kennel. The run is 12' wide & 24' long, 6 ft high. Once we get that finished, we can work on a small barn/stationary chicken coop. So much to do, so little time.

Wish I had the circumstances to get land! Times are tight, land is prohibitively expensive in NJ, and herself and I can't up and leave our jobs ... so, we make do with what we have ten chickens is better than zero chickens

 

[Mace Gill]

Here's a tale I just posted today about what it is like with chickens with a small yard in suburbia. Rather type the whole mess again, here's the link

http://mydouchebagrooster.blogspot.com/2017/06/do-you-know-your-chickens-are-out-been.html

 

[Hamiam]

Here's a tale I just posted today about what it is like with chickens with a small yard in suburbia. Rather type the whole mess again, here's the link

http://mydouchebagrooster.blogspot.com/2017/06/do-you-know-your-chickens-are-out-been.html

I loved it!
Will your rooster protect the hens from Dogs? I've never owned a rooster. Well, my parents had roosters, but I don't remember them as protectors. I just know I lost 4 hens to neighbors dogs when we lived in Suburbia. Out here I worry about coyotes during the day. I understand about land prices. We didn't buy our first home until we were in our 30's. The Marine Corp kept us stationed in some high priced areas like, St Mary's County Maryland & Orange County California. Texas is a lot more affordable. Hope you have a great day! Oh yea, why did the chicken cross the road?

 

[Mace Gill]

I loved it!
Will your rooster protect the hens from Dogs? I've never owned a rooster. Well, my parents had roosters, but I don't remember them as protectors. I just know I lost 4 hens to neighbors dogs when we lived in Suburbia. Out here I worry about coyotes during the day. I understand about land prices. We didn't buy our first home until we were in our 30's. The Marine Corp kept us stationed in some high priced areas like, St Mary's County Maryland & Orange County California. Texas is a lot more affordable. Hope you have a great day! Oh yea, why did the chicken cross the road?

Stray dogs are exceptionally rare here in suburban NJ, but I've seen my rooster come to grips with a small hawk who swooped down. He's very protective and I think he'd tussle with a dog. I don't let them out unless I am home, because if they DID wander off, the Buick is a less forgiving predator that a pit bull. As for coyote, they are extremely nocturnal, only a mother (and females are pretty small) would be out during the day.

My wife and I are appreciably PAST our thirties, so, we figure, lottery or inheritance from an unknown kook aside, this is where we are. Dreams are great, but we'll make our home and lives as best as possible HERE and NOW!

Although I DO miss my old woodshop and the forest I grew up in!