California - Northern

[debs_flock]

Welcome Iri!!!

I'm in the Placerville area, but know right where you are!

Deb

 

[ronott1]

Hello everyone

I live in Fairfield (green valley) and I'm loving this thread, so much good info! I am really new to chickens and have a lot to learn. Right now I have 3 chicks in brooder about a week old. I have an EE, Brahma and White Leghorn. The EE is my fav so far as she is the most mellow and seems to enjoy being held and talked to.

I am also raising 4 humans, lol aged 9,9,7 and 5 years of age. The rest of the clan consists of 2 dogs,3 cats, tortoise, bearded dragon, and of course random fish or two. Of course poor, dear hubby shaking his head at the critters and work involved.

Looking forward to reading more and getting to know you all here.

-Iri

and this thread!

The Brahama should become more friendly easily. The Leghorn may take more work.

Bribe them by hand feeding them some treats. Mine like the dried meal worms. I bought some at the Tractor Supply Center today. My Blue Marans missed the worm and caught my hand! I thought I was going to lose some skin.

She was very excited to get some worms

.

Ron

 

[Iridian]

Hi again and thanks for the welcome

Yes the brahma is a close 2nd for mellowness, she is pretty darned sweet and fluffy! The leghorn is not to bad, I've heard they can be a real fright. She is very vocal and does not care to be picked up, but once I have her and talk to her she calms a bit. She will take some work, the little spaz that she is!

I just got the some mealworms this weekend from tractor supply. Lol, you'd think aliens had landed in their brooder, they had no idea what to do with them. I did however check on them about an hour later and they did eat them. Hopefully they will be more excited about them today.

Yesterday I also put up a little roost for them, about 2 inches off the ground. They don't sit there for long, but it is fun for them to hop up and down and over it. Silly girls, I'm sure they will figure out what is important eventually.

 

[ronott1]

Hi again and thanks for the welcome

Yes the brahma is a close 2nd for mellowness, she is pretty darned sweet and fluffy! The leghorn is not to bad, I've heard they can be a real fright. She is very vocal and does not care to be picked up, but once I have her and talk to her she calms a bit. She will take some work, the little spaz that she is!

I just got the some mealworms this weekend from tractor supply. Lol, you'd think aliens had landed in their brooder, they had no idea what to do with them. I did however check on them about an hour later and they did eat them. Hopefully they will be more excited about them today.

Yesterday I also put up a little roost for them, about 2 inches off the ground. They don't sit there for long, but it is fun for them to hop up and down and over it. Silly girls, I'm sure they will figure out what is important eventually.

They are funny that way-they check out new food, I think to make sure it is not bad for them. They will go crazy for it soon.

The friendliest one so far for me is an EO Basque Cockerel.

Ron

 

[Iridian]

Ron, is he the one in your pictures? If so he looks quite at home on your table! what is his name?

 

[ronott1]

Ron, is he the one in your pictures? If so he looks quite at home on your table! what is his name?

Hi Iridian,

The one yesterday was a Silver Grey Dorking. I was trying not to name him because I wont be able to keep him. Well I shouldn't keep him. A name did pop into my head though. Corwin is one of the Nine Princes in Amber from the Roger Zelazny Series. I don't know why, but he looks like he has Royal colors. Of course I don't remember if Black and Silver where Corwin's colors or not.

The Basque Cockerel Is one of the two Roosters that I am keeping. My Daughter Amanda named him last night. He is Seiji and is named after a Character in the TV show Touch, a Japanese boy descended from Samara Warriors. He was trying to beat the Record for bouncing a soccer ball to help his family after the Tsunami.

This guy is so comfortable with us, that he had his picture taken on a comforter

. Which reminds me of an article I read about William H Macy and his families' chickens. He was worried about the day that one of the chickens would die and how he would break the news to his daughters. They have a small coop with 5 hens. Each night he would count them to make sure they were all there. One night one was missing, so he searched the yard and was dreading having to tell his daughters the sad news. When he went up stairs to tell them, he found the missing chicken in his daughters bed.

Seiji 8 weeks old:



Ron

 

[Iridian]

Ron, I love the names you chose for your feathered friends! My EE is named Shae, right now she is referred to as baby ShaeShae (shay shay) When she older she will have the more dignified name of Shae. The brahma is name Sunny, per one of my sons. The ever, spazzy leghorn is named Willow. I will try and load pictures eventually, but Im fairly computer challenged!

I'm sorry you don't get to keep the other roo, he looks very handsome, and indeed royal! In my area I am only allowed 3 hens (no roos), which makes me very sad. I would love to have more like 5-6, which to me is more of perfect flock size for my backyard. I think I will look into changing the zoning law in my area in the near future.

My current coop, which i'm still fortifying against racoons, is pretty small and one of those pre-built deals. It will work for a year or two, but I am planning on building something stronger and larger on my own as soon as possible. I want to take my time with it, as I will need it to be very efficient and really fit a particular space I have for the girls. It will be on a side yard next to the house which is only around 7 ft wide by 24ft. My concern is making sure I have enough ventilation in the summer and more shade there too. Any future coop suggestions would be greatly appreciated for this area

I'm a home body, so I will be able let them out supervised a lot during the day, but worried about hawks too! We also have the occasional great horned owl that visits. So many enemies to the chicks!

p.s. i love that story

 

[Disco Hen]

Quote:
Cool! Our eggs started to hatch today!

 

[CALI CHICK]

Hey My Cali-Friends,
I finally decided to GIVE away 2 of my feed store silkies! The reasons: one was crowing and they were both basically "ugly"

compared to my nice silkies from Sheri Minkner (Lincoln, CA) and Mary Robbins (Georgia). I'm not supposed to have roosters in this part of Sacramento & I don't want to upset any neighbors.

Well, I thought I'd be able to sleep in this morning at least until 6 am...........and wouldn't you know?????????? One of the other chicks crowed!

I couldn't believe it. And the worst thing is, I have NO idea which of my other 19 chicks or chickens did it! It might have even been a "hen" that thought someone ought to be crowing.

 

[ronott1]

Hey My Cali-Friends,
I finally decided to GIVE away 2 of my feed store silkies! The reasons: one was crowing and they were both basically "ugly"

compared to my nice silkies from Sheri Minkner (Lincoln, CA) and Mary Robbins (Georgia). I'm not supposed to have roosters in this part of Sacramento & I don't want to upset any neighbors.

Well, I thought I'd be able to sleep in this morning at least until 6 am...........and wouldn't you know?????????? One of the other chicks crowed!

I couldn't believe it. And the worst thing is, I have NO idea which of my other 19 chicks or chickens did it! It might have even been a "hen" that thought someone ought to be crowing.

Sorry to hear about the ugly chickens and the secret rooster.

Sounds like quite and adventure. Mine woke my up at 6, but just to be let out. the 16 week old Partridge Rocks and the Dorking are not crowing yet.

Ron