California - Northern

[95030chick]

I finally have some pictures.
This is an Australorp from Mill Valley Chickens.

This is a shy Welsummer from Pollinate Farm and Garden.
This is a black headed Crested Cream Legbar (CCL) from John Brekken in Loomis.

This is a brown headed Crested Cream Legbar from John Brekken. When I got this one, she didn't bond well with the other CCL and was chased around by the Australorp and Welsummer. So, she flew away on the second day after finding a small space at the top of the run. She was gone, apparently off the property, for a few hours. Then she came back. After a couple of days she bonded with the other CCL.

This is the black headed CCL's original buddy. They both had distinct chipmunk stripes, but this one had a faint white spot on the head. John took back the male and exchanged it for a female of about the same age.

 

[ronott1]

I finally have some pictures.
This is an Australorp from Mill Valley Chickens.

This is a shy Welsummer from Pollinate Farm and Garden.
This is a black headed Crested Cream Legbar (CCL) from John Brekken in Loomis.

This is a brown headed Crested Cream Legbar from John Brekken. When I got this one, she didn't bond well with the other CCL and was chased around by the Australorp and Welsummer. So, she flew away on the second day after finding a small space at the top of the run. She was gone, apparently off the property, for a few hours. Then she came back. After a couple of days she bonded with the other CCL.

This is the black headed CCL's original buddy. They both had distinct chipmunk stripes, but this one had a faint white spot on the head. John took back the male and exchanged it for a female of about the same age.

You have a very nice flock.

Tell me more about the Australorp, What line is it?

 

[HighStreetCoop]

Also, the common garden snail is not native to the US, but originated in the Mediterranean .

Yep. When I was a kid, we got a dime per snail and then we'd have an escargot feast!

 

[95030chick]

You have a very nice flock.

Tell me more about the Australorp, What line is it?

I am not sure. From what I have read about Mill Valley Chickens, they order eggs from a hatchery and then hatch the chicks to sell.

I believe they take good care of the chicks. I got the Australorp and the Welsummer at about the same time (a day apart) and from the start, the Australorp seemed more friendly and ate some chicken scratch treat out of the hand. (When I got the Welsummer, when the lady corralled the chick in the brooder box, she said, "No, no one is going to eat you … yet.")

That only lasted for a little while, and eventually both chicks started ignoring the scratch. They liked the sprouted seeds and fodder better. They wouldn't touch dry mealworms, but went crazy over live crickets.

Now they all go crazy over dried mealworms. The Australorp seems to be the leader of the bunch and is always first in line for treats. When I try to give out dried mealworms one at a time, she always figures out that there is a pile of mealworms in the other hand. Luckily, they started eating the scratch, because when I got the chicks, I got a small bag of chick scratch and another of hen scratch. Once those are gone, I doubt they will notice if they never get it again.

Earlier in the summer, I read all the posts about watermelons, and so started giving the chickens some. They took their time finishing the watermelon. Last week, I tossed in some tomatoes from the garden that had been half eaten by rabbits or maybe deer. The Australorp and the Welsummer attacked those right away. They seemed to prefer the little orange ones, if they were available. Peppers made them curious, with a few pecks. They seem to ignore the cucumbers and zucchini most of the time.

My sister's golden retriever puppies have gotten used to the chickens. They would rather chase a ball than go after chickens. The chickens are too fast for the old golden retrievers.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote:
Oh yucky!

 

[SpringPeeper]

what are you trying for?

Jumbo Coturnix and a few chicken chicks. The Cots were gone so my husband doesn't want to make the drive for just a couple chicks. Oh, well.

 

[ChandraM]

Just found this thread I'm in the Santa Cruz Mountains, new to chickens, and having a great time.

My first post in the group is a request....

I'm wondering if anyone knows of a breeder who sells coop ready bantams in the area (well, within about 3 hours drive of Santa Cruz)? I have a Silkie that was scalped when I tried to integrate my younger girls with my older girls. The main culprit has been rehomed, but the Silkie is about 4 weeks from ready to re-integrate. The feathers on her head are starting to grow back, and all of her injuries have healed.
I'm thinking that because she is now soooo much smaller than everyone else, she will need an integration buddy or two so she isn't the only new girl in town for the other 10 girls. She is in a cage in the coop with everyone, and has been for a couple of weeks, but I don't trust that she won't get beat up. And of course this gives me an excuse to get another chicken or 2 The Silkie is the only one my husband has actually held and coo'ed to, so I have leverage!!!
Celeste is about 9-10 weeks old, so I'm thinking a 6-12 week old bantam(s) would be best. I'd love a cochin or Millie Fleur d'uccle or some other rare-ish breed, but beggars can't be choosers. The most important quality is docile/friendliness, then ability to be in confinement (I have plenty of room in the coop/run, but lots of predators, so only supervised free range), then pretty or different than the girls I already have. Egg laying is nice, but the humans and animals in the house can only eat 2-2.5 dozen eggs a week and I have 11 chickens so broody or light layers is perfectly fine, heavy layers is fine too, I have a lot of neighbors & friends who would gladly take eggs. I'm in a developed neighborhood, so boys are highly frowned upon (not illegal, but the closest neighbor asked us not to get a roo, and the coop is closer to their house than ours).

Thanks for any and all help, and thanks for all of the great advise I've read so far!!

 

[ronott1]

Just found this thread I'm in the Santa Cruz Mountains, new to chickens, and having a great time.

My first post in the group is a request....

I'm wondering if anyone knows of a breeder who sells coop ready bantams in the area (well, within about 3 hours drive of Santa Cruz)? I have a Silkie that was scalped when I tried to integrate my younger girls with my older girls. The main culprit has been rehomed, but the Silkie is about 4 weeks from ready to re-integrate. The feathers on her head are starting to grow back, and all of her injuries have healed.
I'm thinking that because she is now soooo much smaller than everyone else, she will need an integration buddy or two so she isn't the only new girl in town for the other 10 girls. She is in a cage in the coop with everyone, and has been for a couple of weeks, but I don't trust that she won't get beat up. And of course this gives me an excuse to get another chicken or 2 The Silkie is the only one my husband has actually held and coo'ed to, so I have leverage!!!
Celeste is about 9-10 weeks old, so I'm thinking a 6-12 week old bantam(s) would be best. I'd love a cochin or Millie Fleur d'uccle or some other rare-ish breed, but beggars can't be choosers. The most important quality is docile/friendliness, then ability to be in confinement (I have plenty of room in the coop/run, but lots of predators, so only supervised free range), then pretty or different than the girls I already have. Egg laying is nice, but the humans and animals in the house can only eat 2-2.5 dozen eggs a week and I have 11 chickens so broody or light layers is perfectly fine, heavy layers is fine too, I have a lot of neighbors & friends who would gladly take eggs. I'm in a developed neighborhood, so boys are highly frowned upon (not illegal, but the closest neighbor asked us not to get a roo, and the coop is closer to their house than ours).

Thanks for any and all help, and thanks for all of the great advise I've read so far!!

@chiqita has silkies, show girls and etc. She live in San Jose.

Welcome to the thread!

 

[ronott1]

I am not sure. From what I have read about Mill Valley Chickens, they order eggs from a hatchery and then hatch the chicks to sell.

I believe they take good care of the chicks. I got the Australorp and the Welsummer at about the same time (a day apart) and from the start, the Australorp seemed more friendly and ate some chicken scratch treat out of the hand. (When I got the Welsummer, when the lady corralled the chick in the brooder box, she said, "No, no one is going to eat you … yet.")

That only lasted for a little while, and eventually both chicks started ignoring the scratch. They liked the sprouted seeds and fodder better. They wouldn't touch dry mealworms, but went crazy over live crickets.

Now they all go crazy over dried mealworms. The Australorp seems to be the leader of the bunch and is always first in line for treats. When I try to give out dried mealworms one at a time, she always figures out that there is a pile of mealworms in the other hand. Luckily, they started eating the scratch, because when I got the chicks, I got a small bag of chick scratch and another of hen scratch. Once those are gone, I doubt they will notice if they never get it again.

Earlier in the summer, I read all the posts about watermelons, and so started giving the chickens some. They took their time finishing the watermelon. Last week, I tossed in some tomatoes from the garden that had been half eaten by rabbits or maybe deer. The Australorp and the Welsummer attacked those right away. They seemed to prefer the little orange ones, if they were available. Peppers made them curious, with a few pecks. They seem to ignore the cucumbers and zucchini most of the time.

My sister's golden retriever puppies have gotten used to the chickens. They would rather chase a ball than go after chickens. The chickens are too fast for the old golden retrievers.

Thanks for the information. Yes, mealworms is a favorite of all ages of chickens.

 

[BCollie]

I had a GREAT time today shooting(with a camera, of course) some of Jeff's birds. Pictures to come soon! He has really nice birds.