Hi everybody! I'm a newbie from NorCal! I live up in the lower Sierra Nevadas about 90mi north of Sac. My husband and I decided we wanted to try some chickies, not just for the eggs, but for the fun of having them. I've always loved chickens and my kitchen theme is roosters and chickens. So, it's kinda cool to actually have some real ones! We started out with 10 and I want to add maybe 2-4 more. Our local feed store was supposed to be getting more chickies for a few more weeks, but they cancelled this week's order and may not get the others in either. The sales have slowed way down and they have lots of RIRs and a few EEs and some Delawares left. They're all 2-3weeks old now. I wanted to get a couple of Light Brahmas, which were due to come in in a couple weeks. But I guess they won't get them in now. Guess we'll have to settle for the 10 we have. I'm hoping they're all girls. So far it seems so, but the two white silkies I guess we won't know for sure for awhile!
These are our "girls":
Frederika - my favorite. She's the only one that likes being held. She comes up to me and wants to be picked up as soon as I get in the run. She and her "sister" Josephine are the Golden-laced Wyandottes. They're going on 5 weeks old.
Here's Josephine: She's the protector of the two little silkies. The older girls chase them and try to peck them. Josephine and Fred take the pecking from them to keep the little banties safe.
These are the silkies, Phoebe and Angelica. Not sure who is who yet. Too much alike!! Altho one is more skiddish than the other. That would be Angelica. Can't tell them by photos tho!
This is my beautiful Morticia, one of the Black Sex-links. I love her iridescent feathers. I see a lot of lavender highlights and of course the green and blues. (Not in this photo tho)
Here's her sister Elvira. They're both about 6 1/2 weeks old
Then there's the two Barred Rocks, Esmeralda....
...and Griselda... going on 8weeks old...
And finally, the two EEs, sold as Ameraucanas, almost 8weeks also. I don't really care which they are, they're both pretty birds, and a couple of brats! Neither of them like to be held. When we catch them, they put up quite a ruckus! They crack me up.
Henrietta:
and Gertrude.. aka Gertie-birdie:
I'm lovin' hangin' out with them throughout the day. I just hope this heat wave isn't going to bother them too much. I'm wondering if I should put a fan in the coop? It was reading almost 90° inside there earlier tonight. Do any of you guys put fans in the coops?
I have been trying to hatch eggs from my own Rosecomb bantam pens since the beginning of the year, but absolutely no luck. I've mentioned it on this thread a little while ago, but I am still not getting any chicks. I've tried every incubation tweak I can think of (other than getting a new bator, I'm currently looking for one), and I'm doing research on genetics so see if there is a lethal gene in this breed, but I can't seem to find anything.
I did an egg-topsy on my most recent attempt, and found that (as always) they all seemed to die between day 17-20. And two out of the four chicks pipped internally, but never externally. There were no visible problems with the chicks themselves.
Prizepete, yes Frederika is actually turning 6weeks today, I think. The feed store was getting the chickies in every Thursday since before Easter, and they were supposedly one day old on arrival. I have been afraid she is a rooster for a couple weeks, but I guess only time will tell. One of my husband's co-workers told us a supposed way to check the sex of the chickies. He said to feel around the pelvic area and if there are two bones they're female and one bone they're male. I dunno if it's accurate or not. We checked all 10 of them last night and all 10 had the two bones. I'm thinking he's pulling our legs! LOL
Thanks Jennifer! Nice to be here! Yeah I'm a little concerned about those 3 actually myself, but I'm hoping that so-called bone-test my husband's co-worker told us about is correct.Just gonna be a waiting game I guess now...
Prizepete, yes Frederika is actually turning 6weeks today, I think. The feed store was getting the chickies in every Thursday since before Easter, and they were supposedly one day old on arrival. I have been afraid she is a rooster for a couple weeks, but I guess only time will tell. One of my husband's co-workers told us a supposed way to check the sex of the chickies. He said to feel around the pelvic area and if there are two bones they're female and one bone they're male. I dunno if it's accurate or not. We checked all 10 of them last night and all 10 had the two bones. I'm thinking he's pulling our legs! LOL
Prizepete, yes Frederika is actually turning 6weeks today, I think. The feed store was getting the chickies in every Thursday since before Easter, and they were supposedly one day old on arrival. I have been afraid she is a rooster for a couple weeks, but I guess only time will tell. One of my husband's co-workers told us a supposed way to check the sex of the chickies. He said to feel around the pelvic area and if there are two bones they're female and one bone they're male. I dunno if it's accurate or not. We checked all 10 of them last night and all 10 had the two bones. I'm thinking he's pulling our legs! LOL
My 7 developing eggs from my 18 count hatch go on lockdown today. Humidity the last few days has been good. Im going to try cut down egg carton hatching today Do you leave the air cells up or slightly tilted in the cartons?
I use medium flat rate boxes from the post office with egg crates inside of those. I can divide varieties that way and know what is hatching. I can put Wheaten Ameraucana eggs and olive eggers together and tell the Ameraucana chicks easily from the olive eggers. I just leave the eggs in the flats standing up. I have about 65 that will hatch Monday. Kern
Yeah, I'm just going to have to wait. I am seriously hoping Fred turns out to be Frederika tho because we aren't supposed to have roosters. Altho the people who lived across the street a couple yrs ago had a rooster. I used to laff cuz he crowed at the oddest times. Didn't bother me tho. Even if she ends up being a Fred, I'll keep her until someone complains, I guess. I just love her to pieces! She flew up on my back the other day when I was out there taking pics of the girls. I was bent over trying to get low shots, and she just flew up on my back and climbed up on my shoulder. I had a hard time getting her to get down when I had to leave. She jumps up on my leg when I sit out there with them now too. Wish all the others were so friendly!
I kinda figured that was gonna be b/s! LOL Figures...
Yeah, I'm just going to have to wait. I am seriously hoping Fred turns out to be Frederika tho because we aren't supposed to have roosters. Altho the people who lived across the street a couple yrs ago had a rooster. I used to laff cuz he crowed at the oddest times. Didn't bother me tho. Even if she ends up being a Fred, I'll keep her until someone complains, I guess. I just love her to pieces! She flew up on my back the other day when I was out there taking pics of the girls. I was bent over trying to get low shots, and she just flew up on my back and climbed up on my shoulder. I had a hard time getting her to get down when I had to leave. She jumps up on my leg when I sit out there with them now too. Wish all the others were so friendly!
