fuzzi's Chicken Journal

[fuzzi]

The little fellas are starting to show their combs aren't they!

Unfortunately, yes.

Now I'm afraid I have 6 cockerels and 4 pullets. :sigh:

 

[fuzzi]

I was wondering about the abundance of white on my chicks. I sent an inquiry this morning to several breeders listed on the American Sussex site, and already got a reply from a breeder that made me feel better:

"You cant tell anything at 5 weeks. They wont keep those feathers. At 4-5 months of age you will have idea of final color."

 

[fuzzi]

It's my BYC anniversary today, one whole year!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Time flies!

If you hatch, it seems like you end up with several boys. I love the little guys but can't keep them all! I don't have the pens or space to keep more than 3-4 roosters, so extras are grown out and processed. Not for everyone I know, but for me it's what works.

 

[fuzzi]

Time flies!

If you hatch, it seems like you end up with several boys. I love the little guys but can't keep them all! I don't have the pens or space to keep more than 3-4 roosters, so extras are grown out and processed. Not for everyone I know, but for me it's what works.

One of the reasons I am NOT naming the chicks yet (aside from Blondie and Arby) is that I might have to send some to Freezer Camp (as @3KillerBs describes it) if I can't find good homes for them. I won't put them in a situation where someone uses them for fighting.

 

[fuzzi]

Update
"Blue" has been behaving himself lately, not pecking me at all. He likes to flutter up onto my lap, preen, and then take a nap! Reprieve.

But "Red/purple" didn't exactly peck my hand twice this evening, he pinched it hard with an open beak. Both times he got restrained for a couple minutes.

BTW, my current avatar picture is "Red/purple". He got on my lap on his own. Then he misbehaved. No more lap time for bad boys!

 

[fuzzi]

I was wondering about the abundance of white on my chicks. I sent an inquiry this morning to several breeders listed on the American Sussex site, and already got a reply from a breeder that made me feel better:

"You cant tell anything at 5 weeks. They wont keep those feathers. At 4-5 months of age you will have idea of final color."

And another Speckled Sussex breeder responded to my email!

"First off, Often the Chicks have alot of white...that means Nothing...they are chick feathers...they drop those and those are not indicators of adult feathers. I can say chicks that have a lot of white feathers in the breast usually are males...and again those drop...so he won't be that color as an adult. So I wouldn't worry just yet. I have sold birds to someone in your state that perhaps yours are from. Otherwise I don't no anyone that has very good quality Sussex in bantams. I have seen there's a farm selling chicks that raises Speckled Sussex from photos that I have seen on their site have color issues but I don't believe they are saying they are show quality. Sussex have a beautiful color pattern but it is tough to get correct. I have raised them for 23 years now, it took me many years to get them where they could be competitive at a show. I am happy to say mine have won many shows but even with that being said they continue to be challenging as with any breed there's always room for improvement."

I feel better now. I wasn't planning on showing my birds but did want them to reproduce.

 

[3KillerBs]

And another Speckled Sussex breeder responded to my email!

"First off, Often the Chicks have alot of white...that means Nothing...they are chick feathers...they drop those and those are not indicators of adult feathers. I can say chicks that have a lot of white feathers in the breast usually are males...and again those drop...so he won't be that color as an adult. So I wouldn't worry just yet. I have sold birds to someone in your state that perhaps yours are from. Otherwise I don't no anyone that has very good quality Sussex in bantams. I have seen there's a farm selling chicks that raises Speckled Sussex from photos that I have seen on their site have color issues but I don't believe they are saying they are show quality. Sussex have a beautiful color pattern but it is tough to get correct. I have raised them for 23 years now, it took me many years to get them where they could be competitive at a show. I am happy to say mine have won many shows but even with that being said they continue to be challenging as with any breed there's always room for improvement."

I feel better now. I wasn't planning on showing my birds but did want them to reproduce.

How lovely that the breeder took the time to respond to you.

 

[fuzzi]

I noticed this morning that the long range weather forecast has overnight temps about 40°F...now that I unplugged the MHP.


I'm going to see how they do over the weekend.I was planning to remove the brooder and place the roost in its place, with lots of straw underneath in case they want to huddle.

 

[fuzzi]

Was looking for information about chickens' internal temperature, found this article that seems to be based in fact:
https://www.hobbyfarms.com/chickens-body-temperature-need-know/