FIRST TIME FREE RANGERS....PICS

[texaschickmama]

That's funny, you know my DH was outside working on his boat and I asked him before I let them out should I get the gun just in case. I'm a redneck woman!!!!!

 

[LynnGrigg]

I might have to try and enlist Mr.G's help to try this. He just got his concealed weapons permit and he'd love a real excuse to carry it around. We have a two acre yard well off the road. I bet our standards would enjoy a few afternoon hours in the yard. We do have a breeding pair/family of Cooper hawks next door.

 

[speckledhen]

One reason I said ROO was the size of the bird, but not only that, the size of the legs. HUGE legs. Now, you could just have a very masculine hen; it's happened before, however, you should be seeing some saddle feathers here pretty soon if you have a rooster. I cant tell in the pic about that.

 

[texaschickmama]

I have tried to figure out what saddle feathers are, can you tell me?

Okay, I went to the learning center and looked, I think I could identify them now, I'll have to take a look.

 

[ruth]

Beautiful pics. Wanted to give a tip - instead of chasing them - and they will always run - just walk in coop/run area with a bag or bowl of treats - calling them and making noise and throwing a little on the ground. If they have not learned to come running yet - it only takes one and then they all follow suit. Mine free range all day long and put themselves to bed at night but I started slowly like you did and would need to put them in before they were ready. They were already used to come running when they saw me shaking my freezer bag of treats so I use that to put them up whenever I need to before dark. Now if you just need a good workout - chase away.

 

[texaschickmama]

Thanks, Ruth, next time I will do that. I don't want to stress them like that again. I will give extra treats today because they are probably still a little upset with me. Of course, the last one we had to get was Gumbo, he was not happy. But calmed down as soon as we had him. I looked him over and petted a little and talked him down.

 

[joebwe25]

HAH! They're so cute!

"Oh wow!" "This is nice!" "I like this!"
That's probably what they're thinking lol!
I'd say it's a roo!

It looks bigger then the others and it's comb is bigger than the rest.
Just wait to see if it crows or lays an egg!

 

[speckledhen]

Saddle feathers are those that hang off the back right before the tail begins-see the dangly ones on Maverick here?

 

[Matt Berry]

It looks like a hen to me also. I'm basing this on the fact that I don't see pointed saddle feathers, or other roo feathering. Also at 6 months old a roo should definitely be crowing by now.

My last order of chicks had 15 barred rock boys in it and needless to say the last one crowed at 16 weeks old. The feathering started at about 10 weeks old. I'm expecting you'll see an egg from your "Roo" sometime soon

 

[Ellie]

I just let my girls out last week too. Amazingly they kept pretty close. Like others, I did keep looking for them and counting.

The first time, I wanted them back into the run so I could let the cats out and I had a pice of pvc pipe laying there. Picked it up and just used it like a wand... slowly walking toward the coop with them in front of the pvc pipe. All in and no fuss nor any stress (on them or me!

The next time I just called "chick chick chick" and stood in the coop with treats and they came running.

This weekend I am going to try to see if they go in by themselves.

I am continually amazed at how wonderful these little creatures are.

I remember having chickens many years ago and the chasing game. Because of the advice on this forum, I have chickens that seem to have gone to obedience school!

Ellie