Helo from NE Pennsylvania

[windstarfarm]

Hello to everyone! I am from Northeastern Pennsylvania and am the proud new owner of 10 chickens. I wanted to start with Guineas in the springtime, but a fellow showed up with what he told us was going to be Guineas....and they turned out to be chickens!! So I was a bit unprepared. We have a temporary coop set up, and we are getting some eggs. The girls are doing well, and wehave become friends......they follow me around and greet me (hoping for a treat I'm sure

) whenever they see me come out the back door!!! I don't know what kind of chickens they are...mixed breeds I think....and I don't know how old they all are...do you have any hints as to how to tell a chickens aprox age??? They are not all laying, but I dont know if its the time of year...lower temps, less daylight etc...or if some just don't lay anymore. Any help would be so very appreciated!!! Merry Christmas!!!

 

[crazyaboutchickens]

Hello and Welcome to BYC from NY!

 

[redsoxs]

Greetings from Kansas, windstarfarm, and

! Great to have you here! So you became unwitting chicken mom, huh? Glad you are enjoying them. Could be a couple of reasons they aren't laying....could be the shorter days - chickens need about 14 hours of light to be steady in their laying. Also there is quite a bit of variation in breeds in terms of when they start laying. After you post a few times (10, I think) you can post pics. Maybe someone can help you ID the breed and maybe an educated guess about the age. If you do post some pics, post them here:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/15/what-breed-or-gender-is-this

Best of luck to you and Merry Christmas!

 

[windstarfarm]

Thank You!!!!

....right back at 'cha!!!

 

[windstarfarm]

Redsoxs.....Thanks for the welcome!! I will post pics as soon as I can! I really am enjoying my chickens, and they are rewarding me with some nice eggs!! When I can, I will use the link you suggested and post my pics! They came to me in a very small cage, and in my opinion they are doing better than they were when they arrived. They are varied in color and size....some white, a darker red-brown one (I do believe she is in charge!), and some that are multi colored. Their feathers look softer and have a nice sheen to them now. I have them free range during the day and close them in the coop at night to protect them. They are very cooperative so far! I have been lurking here and exploring this site for a while, and I figured it was time to say Hello!! Thanks for the direction....I will post my pics soon!!!

 

[redsoxs]

I'm not surprised that they are looking and doing better - sounds like you are a giving them a great home!! Looking forward to the pics!!

 

[weimarmama]

&

from Alabama. Glad you joined us.

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Welcome to BYC!!

Glad you joined us!!!

 

[kidcody]

from washington state glad you joined us!

 

[windstarfarm]

Thank you everyone! Great to be here!!!