From Civilian to Chicken Rancher timeline.

[The Lazy L]

Talking of paint... what shade of green is that, it's lovely!

Harvest Green. I tried to paint the coop to match the nearby pole building.

 

[gabrielle1976]

UPDATE PLEASE .. I need my chickie fix from you your post is awsome

 

[The Lazy L]

UPDATE PLEASE .. I need my chickie fix from you your post is awsome

June 18

They are four weeks old today.

They sleep on the top roosting bar about 3 feet from the floor. How they get up there I haven't been able to catch on the web cam.

They love cheese.

They were drinking a quart of coop water a day until they found the 5 gallon waterer in the run. Now about 1/3 of a quart from the coop.

There are enough chick people watching the coop cam that I have to unplug it when I play Xbox Black Ops. Serious bandwidth problems!

They are almost fully feathered except their neck and heads, except for one. The one I'm expecting it to be Lucky the Rooster. Do BO rooster mature later then the hens?

They are back spending their day in the run. Whatever had scared them earlier is ether gone or the chicks figured out they are safe (so far).

I still have something (I suspect coons) digging around coop and leaving prints on the lid of the nest box access. Since coons are normally night animals I'm putting together a little surprise for them, stay tuned (insert evil laugh here).

 

[Stumpy]

Have the coons had their surprise yet?

 

[canesisters]

Do they have names??

 

[The Lazy L]

Have the coons had their surprise yet?

Not yet...still working on the surprise...and when the son can be there to help me implement the surprise and the wind is from any direction but South.

I'll get a picture of the "surprise" and perhaps video the implementation (if it isn't too graphic for the majority).

 

[The Lazy L]

Do they have names??

Lacy

Laine

Lana

Lara

Laurel

Lavern

Leann

Libi

Lucky (the rooster)


Names are subject to change depending on the Hatchery's accuracy on sexing.


How are your chicks doing?

 

[canesisters]

They're doing really well. The fighting seems to have eased off and the tiny marans actually stood up to the bully the other day and made her back down. (Yeah Hurra!).
I've still got a little bit of safety work to do around the coop roof - and then the run to add. Still working out exactly how I'm going to do that.

 

[The Lazy L]

June 19

Almost out of the first 10 pound bag of DuMor Chick Starter Grower. During my lunch hour I stop at Tractor Supply to get another bag, $7. Happy Hen Premium Meal worms treats, $15...hmmm...a bit pricey but it's worth a try.

Get home from work, change clothes and put on the outside only mucking shoes. Since I've put feed and water in the run too, the coop's feed and water don't need filled. I flick into the run a meal worm...I get a mild response. Dump in about a dozen worms, no interest from the chicks.

Wife had some pea pods and carrots scraps. Throw those into the run, chicks show no interest.

A weed with high moisture content, throw that in and the chicks go nuts fighting over it.

Anyone who want a barely used can of Happy Hen Premium Meal Worms treats for $15 plus shipping let me know.

 

[canesisters]

Give them a couple more chances - they'll figure it out.
I dropped a worm in the outdoor playpen when mine were itty-bitty and they were scared of it. The next time I tried it - it was down right scary. Vicious little things!