Colorado

[Mtn Margie]

Rangers / red broilers should be processed at 10 to 12 weeks. Feeding space per bird is critical because they are sensitive to stress and it seems like they love to eat all together. I feed a meat bird feed because I do not have pasture. They have a hilly area to roam around in ( great thighs) but no greens. I feed them greens from the garden. The boys will be bigger than the girls for sure and once they start getting their hormones kicking in gear, the boys will waste a lot of calories fighting for high king position. They always have feed and water so when they wake up, they can eat and drink and be normal chickens. I have not had any leg issues but I know that some people have had health issues with the FRs/ RBs to a certain degree.
I will keep you up-to-date on how things go. .

 

[COChix]

Greetings BYC from North Boulder, Colorado. First time chicken keeper, but boyfriend has raised them before. We ordered from Meyer 25 brown egg layers rainbow pack and we ordered two buff Roos. We only lost one during the shipping ordeal and we now have 28 total. We did the mystery chick for charity, anyway, not sure of all the breeds yet. Here is what we think we have, 2 buff Roos (lol), 4-5 EE, 4 Columbian Wyandotte's, 4-5 reds (not sure if a RR or another type), 4 Welsummer, 4 barred rocks and a couple others we don't know. Will post some pics of the girls, the coop and run. Just wanted to say hi to everyone and thanks for all the information/knowledge everyone is sharing.

 

[samsr]

Welcome to the Colorado thread.

 

[suncatcher]

Sounds like you have a nice mix of great egg layers!! Welcome to the Colorado thread, and to becoming a chicken owner!

 

[Percheron chick]

That's a great selection. Major score is you end up with columbian wyandottes. You just don't see those too often. I was looking at wyandottes online and am envious of the variety in the European market. I would have 10 breeding pens going if I could figure out how to import them without breaking the bank.
We're fairly close. I'm over by the Rez.

 

[maggiemo]

Welcome COchix,
I'm in South Boulder. Great mix of chicks. Do post some pictures.

 

[gretabee]

Welcome COchix!

 

[COChix]

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome. Here are some pics of the run and coops. We have a large converted old shed for the main coop and then a smaller coop as well. We have a totally enclosed run that was trenched down and secured with concrete to make it predator proof. We have a lot of coons and coyotes up here. The red shed is the converted coop. The wood for the run was repurposed from an old greenhouse. The wood doors that we are using for the roof of the run were all repurposed as well. They were found on the old property where we are and used for the roof. This was during the construction phase.

this is a shot of our pulley door system for letting the girls into the run and closing them in at night. My boyfriend made it.

Here is a shot of some ladders that we have made that go from the run floor to the roosting spots in the coop.

Will capture a few more shots of the girls and boys and post them next. Hope everyone is having a beautiful day!

 

[COChix]

Ok lastly here are some pics of the girls and two boys we have. They are probably out of order so don't mind that!

- Little One - she was sick after arrival, she was put in her own container, hand watered and given a couple of crickets and managed to survive.

arrival day!

- Little One

- first day outside and in the run, this was shot about a month ago, they were right around 5 weeks here.

- honey she is either an EE or an Amerucana as she has puff cheeks but green legs...

- one of the buff roo's - we have named them Rocco and Bruno.

- Little One - she is an Ameraucana black beard and black puffy cheeks. She is super friendly and always comes up to me. Can't help but feel a special bond with her after hand feeding her when she was sick. I think we have 4 Ameraucana or Araucana's.

- unsure of what type of breed the two on the left are, the dark brownish black. In certain light their feathers have a purplish hue to them. They have no comb so far.

 

[suncatcher]

They look healthy and happy!!!!