Colorado

[Debbie82]

Better photo of both of them

 

[Percheron chick]

I don't like the amount of green feathers in the front bird BUT there are no saddle feathers and the comb and waddles are 1/2 of the other bird. Still say pullet.

 

[trsturself]

I don't like the amount of green feathers in the front bird BUT there are no saddle feathers and the comb and waddles are 1/2 of the other bird. Still say pullet.

X2

 

[Debbie82]

At least he'll be pretty.

Another question.... My neighbor informed me they have be trapping mice, something we've never had a problem with until my chickens came along. Any idea on things to use to repel them?

 

[Mtn Margie]

This is a horrible year for rodents across the board. It probably has nothing to do with you getting chickens, however, keeping your feed in metal containers and general feed security is always a good plan.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Feeders supply has an ad on Craigs. Looks like they are planning on some interesting breeds this year.

http://fortcollins.craigslist.org/grd/4782202255.html

Big fluffy chochins, Barbanters and golden penciled hamburgs oh my.

Places DH will now not let me go alone....
Jax
Bomgaars
Murdochs
and I am certain he will be adding
Feeders Supply
Well once he figures out I found another place to get chickies from.

 

[Percheron chick]

When you put them side by side with their heads up, you can clearly see the difference. As far as mice, they are attracted to the chicken feeder. All you can eat buffet 24/7. Some chickens will kill and eat them but mine just stare at the floor while the mice run around. Even my guineas are useless with mice. If my cat goes up to the barn where the coop is the guineas promptly chase her back to the house. I've resorted to poison. Not the ideal solution but I can't stand to see 5 mice in the feeder every time I go in the coop. I'll put it inside a cage that the chickens can't get into right over the mouse holes. Once I see they've eaten what I put out, I'll remove the cage. I probably have to do it every 3-4 months. Right now mice are at their worst because they have moved inside to get out of the cold. Try suspending the feeder if you have that style. That would limit the mice to what's on the ground.

 

[Percheron chick]

http://fortcollins.craigslist.org/grd/4782202255.html

What a tease.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Something that may help prevent feeding the mice is put upside down cut off milk jugs over the tops of the hanging feeders with a hole drilled in the lid just big enough for the rope to go through. Or at night when the hens go to bed lift the feeder and hang it on the hook the rope is on. I am doing the lift and hook method and have noticed a huge decline in rodent droppings in the coop. (I have not seen a mouse in almost a month.)
I have Home Depot buckets for my feed with Gamma lids on them.
Hard to chew through and the lid unscrews easily enough for my arthritic hands. I can fit 50 pounds of feed in two buckets. Not cheap but effective so far.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Leaktite-5-gal-Screw-Top-Lid-5GAMMA6/203205720

Yup Feeders Supply is a huge teaser.

 

[Debbie82]

We feed during the day and never inside the coop. We bring out a dog bowl full in the morning and will scatter half on the ground for them and leave the other half in the bowl. The left overs in the bowl go back inside the garage at night when we lock up the chickens.

The place I got my originals from has their hatch dates up for their breeds. I'm entertaining the idea of more as well