Hi from New Hampshire!

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FortCluck said:
Yes they are both black-eyed beauties. They're feathers shine teal in the sunlight, they're stunning. I was supposed to get 2 pullets, but somehow the farm gave us 2 roosters that were most likely someone else's order and I don't want to get rid of either one of them because they are so stunning. I'm planning on hatching eggs in the spring to see what I get. We are using the ones that we don't give away or keep for laying as meat chickens so we can move away from meat at the grocery stores.
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Yes, they're absolutely stunning, I'd keep them around, too, just to watch them exist!

In the future raising our own meat to get away from the current meat system is our plan, too. My husband really wants a pig (he loves bacon!). And we have a ton of acorns - apparently acorn-fed pigs are a big thing nowadays.

I've seen way too much on how awful the living conditions are of animals in concentrated feed lots to be able to support it or eat it.
 
Mybackyardpeepers said:
Make sure you do rounds before dusk, some maybe tempted to roost in other places lol. Get a bag of freeze dry fly large and shake the bag till they come to investigate. Give them time and all you have to do is touch the bag and they will (hopefully) come running.
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I like this idea - how about our little container of meal worms?
 
feathermaid said:

Hello and View attachment 1917378 It's nice to see such enthusiasm and I really enjoyed reading your posts. You have quite an adventure ahead of you!

Chickens are creatures of habit and it really would be a good idea to lock them inside the coop/run area for several days to a week so they're certain they know where home is. I know they seem to wander in, but it wouldn't take much at all for one to decide to roost up in a tree, then others follow and you'll never get them back if they disappear during the night. Even if one happens to stay out a little past dusk and you physically have to go get her, it won't take long for predators to discover an easy meal... some start hunting early while it's still light out.

Keeping them locked in will be a perfect opportunity to teach them to come to a special call... "Here chickie chickies!" or a whistle or kissing sound... I click my tongue (like you guide a horse) to get my girls to come for treats. Use that call whenever you give them anything good, even plain feed. Sunflower seeds, mealworms, tomatoes and scratch are what my girls consider high value rewards, so I use them sparingly to keep them guessing. Then later on, the call usually works if I need to have them come back in early for some reason. But in emergencies, I've found that pool noodles (one in each hand) also work well in herding chickens back to the coop.

Here's a couple links to help you with safe free ranging --or not!!
Key Points to Successful Free Ranging
Keeping Chickens Without Free Ranging

and my must-read holy trinity:
How Much Room Do Chickens Need
Chicken Coop Ventilation - Go Out There And Cut More Holes In Your Coop!
Predator Proofing

Best wishes with your new flock! View attachment 1917363
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Oh I like the idea of a call when giving them their treats. Perfect!

I did find a long stick to kind of prod them along and extend my arm during one of my chases (one found a nice little area of protection under a small fallen tree with tons of branches and a few surrounding live trees so it was much easier than trying to bushwhack my way in!) Pool noodles sound much safer, I was definitely being cautious in regards to not wanting to poke her with the stick. We have plenty of pool noodles!

I do have to sprinkle some DE and spray the coop (and might as well clean up the poop while I'm in there...) today as I think they have mites. And by think I mean I'm 99% sure since I had to take a bath in coconut oil yesterday to stop them from biting me. Fun!
 
feathermaid said:

Hello and View attachment 1917378 It's nice to see such enthusiasm and I really enjoyed reading your posts. You have quite an adventure ahead of you!

Chickens are creatures of habit and it really would be a good idea to lock them inside the coop/run area for several days to a week so they're certain they know where home is. I know they seem to wander in, but it wouldn't take much at all for one to decide to roost up in a tree, then others follow and you'll never get them back if they disappear during the night. Even if one happens to stay out a little past dusk and you physically have to go get her, it won't take long for predators to discover an easy meal... some start hunting early while it's still light out.

Keeping them locked in will be a perfect opportunity to teach them to come to a special call... "Here chickie chickies!" or a whistle or kissing sound... I click my tongue (like you guide a horse) to get my girls to come for treats. Use that call whenever you give them anything good, even plain feed. Sunflower seeds, mealworms, tomatoes and scratch are what my girls consider high value rewards, so I use them sparingly to keep them guessing. Then later on, the call usually works if I need to have them come back in early for some reason. But in emergencies, I've found that pool noodles (one in each hand) also work well in herding chickens back to the coop.

Here's a couple links to help you with safe free ranging --or not!!
Key Points to Successful Free Ranging
Keeping Chickens Without Free Ranging

and my must-read holy trinity:
How Much Room Do Chickens Need
Chicken Coop Ventilation - Go Out There And Cut More Holes In Your Coop!
Predator Proofing

Best wishes with your new flock! View attachment 1917363
Click to expand...

Also, thanks for the links!
 

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