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Doublete

Doublete

Songster
Apr 4, 2019
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York County, PA
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Hello!
I’m not new to keeping animals, and have had chickens before when I was younger but never to this extent. I purchased my horse farm last year and it came with a beautiful chicken coop, with a chain link (and flight nylon over top) run attached and even electric run to it. I left it empty while I settled in last year... but not this year! The coop is in the horse pasture so the chickens will also have access to wander there (it is fenced safely so they would be fully contained in the field unless they fly over the 5 foot fence).
So I got 2 barred rock pullets, 1 golden comet pullet, 2 “silkie discounts” from tractor supply, and 3 silkies from a breeder (one white and two partridge looking ones- one of which has the cutest “hat”). They are all the same age- the two silkie discounts maybe a week older than the rest. But born approx March 19/20.
I’m a huge silkie Fan and had a pet Bantam in high school that used to ride around in my arms everywhere.
I am picking up 3 olive Eggers (f2 Marans/ OE) that are straight run on Thursday and also approx 2 weeks old.
That’ll complete that section of my coop... I tried to pick all docile, friendly, and social types so they would get along and be pets as well as lay some eggs for me.
I also pre reserved 2 pullets and 1 cockerel (day olds) from a reputable cream legbar breeder to be picked up the end of April. They’ll have an adjoining section inside the coop until everyone has been sorted out and hopefully everyone gets along!

But with that... I’m done and hoping for more girls than boys...I am predicting of my 5 silkies I have 2 girls.. we will see if I was right! :)
 
Looks like you've got quite the flock going. Love the one with the hat!!

Your childhood experience with bantams was much better than mine. We had a pair of black roosters who would "greet" me when I got off the school bus -- by attacking me with spurs flying. I'm not sure why my parents thought we should keep those two!!! Thankfully, the hens were much nicer.

Welcome to the group, and enjoy the adventures ahead.
 
Thanks everyone!
My babies seem rather skittish still but I haven’t really sat with them for hours.... when I go in with them they crowd in a corner... one or two (one of the barred) are curious... I am going to try to start giving them some treats so they might start coming to me... they know I bring the food... but not enough to like me...
It’s weird because I’m good with animals... cats, dogs, horses, goats, I even have two parrots so I know birds lol. But they don’t quite trust me yet!

I’ll have plenty of questions... probably “do I have a boy or a girl?” Multiple times

Thanks for the welcome!
 
Doublete said:
Thanks everyone!
My babies seem rather skittish still but I haven’t really sat with them for hours.... when I go in with them they crowd in a corner... one or two (one of the barred) are curious... I am going to try to start giving them some treats so they might start coming to me... they know I bring the food... but not enough to like me...
It’s weird because I’m good with animals... cats, dogs, horses, goats, I even have two parrots so I know birds lol. But they don’t quite trust me yet!

I’ll have plenty of questions... probably “do I have a boy or a girl?” Multiple times

Thanks for the welcome!
Click to expand...

Have you already been giving them chick grit? If not, they need that before you offer treats. And it is in the best interest of the chicks to keep the treats to a very low roar.

Don't feel bad that your chicks are cowering from you. Most brooders are set up so that when you approach, you are towering over them. You are a predator. They are prey. They need to learn that you will never hurt them. They will learn to trust you. Patience.
 
DobieLover said:
Have you already been giving them chick grit? If not, they need that before you offer treats. And it is in the best interest of the chicks to keep the treats to a very low roar.

Don't feel bad that your chicks are cowering from you. Most brooders are set up so that when you approach, you are towering over them. You are a predator. They are prey. They need to learn that you will never hurt them. They will learn to trust you. Patience.
Click to expand...
Yup I started with grit... but by treats I tossed them some dandelion heads yesterday to mess with.. just something to associate me with different

And I’m lucky my coop is set up the way it is.
The first week I had them contained under their heat lamp, but in their coop, but now I’ve got them opened up in a section of their permanent coop (it is closed and stays toasty), just out of the “bin” I was using. They have a heat lamp up high and one hooked lower . Whoever built the coop put small wire all the way to the ground all around and put gates throughout the coop so I can actually section off and close 4 different areas.
I tore down the area they used in the back of my horse barn but I believe they raised either guinea or pheasant.. I couldn’t quite tell from the feathers I found.

But anyways... when I swing open the gate to go in and do their water or freshen their bedding or do their feed... they end up in a corner freaked out... so I try to go in a few times a day and just talk to them from my side of the gate
 

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