HI Everyone!
First, thank you for this site and for all your posts. I have been lurking and absorbing your amazing knowledge and I am truly grateful for your sharing. It's been a great help so far and I look forward to more learning. thank you!
I am a happy flock mama of 19 chicks(!). 16 from McMurray and 3 from a local feed store(the kids picked their own). I have always been interested in having chickens both for eggs and meat(and also poop for my organic garden) but finally made the leap just 2.5 weeks ago. It has thus far been a wonderful experience. I am amazed at the growth and learning stages the chickies are going through and so quick! They are a delight and, knock wood, all are happy and healthy. I did have my first hawk attack about a week ago and a cat stalking but everyone made it out unscathed. It almost seems like a neon sign for a free lunch has been posted on my door!
I've got them in a pen in the garage and let them loose in the backyard in the morning and evening. When they get older I will move them to a coop outdoors and figure out a free range area that is netted off from the hawk....?
Here is the breakdown of the chicks. There are a lot of them but we will be "harvesting" them down. I know that sounds terrible but going full circle is part of the lesson and reason for having them(at least to me).:
From McMurray
8 Cornish Crosses-straight run
1 Silver Grey Dorking--free packing peanut...cute but hoping it's not a male....
2 Buff Orpington Females
2 Araucana Females(they have tails so I think they are technically Ameraucanas?)
1 Black Jersey Giant Female(I wanted her to be the mascot for our future shop, Black Chicken Creative Labs)
1 Black Australorp Female
1 Pearl Leghorn Female
From the Feed Store...I can't tell if they are pullets or cockerels:
1 Rhode Island Red
1 Ameraucana(this bird is really smart,flighty and very feisty....but I think it will be a roo <:-S)
1 Barred Rock(maybe a female)
First, thank you for this site and for all your posts. I have been lurking and absorbing your amazing knowledge and I am truly grateful for your sharing. It's been a great help so far and I look forward to more learning. thank you!
I am a happy flock mama of 19 chicks(!). 16 from McMurray and 3 from a local feed store(the kids picked their own). I have always been interested in having chickens both for eggs and meat(and also poop for my organic garden) but finally made the leap just 2.5 weeks ago. It has thus far been a wonderful experience. I am amazed at the growth and learning stages the chickies are going through and so quick! They are a delight and, knock wood, all are happy and healthy. I did have my first hawk attack about a week ago and a cat stalking but everyone made it out unscathed. It almost seems like a neon sign for a free lunch has been posted on my door!
I've got them in a pen in the garage and let them loose in the backyard in the morning and evening. When they get older I will move them to a coop outdoors and figure out a free range area that is netted off from the hawk....?
Here is the breakdown of the chicks. There are a lot of them but we will be "harvesting" them down. I know that sounds terrible but going full circle is part of the lesson and reason for having them(at least to me).:
From McMurray
8 Cornish Crosses-straight run
1 Silver Grey Dorking--free packing peanut...cute but hoping it's not a male....
2 Buff Orpington Females
2 Araucana Females(they have tails so I think they are technically Ameraucanas?)
1 Black Jersey Giant Female(I wanted her to be the mascot for our future shop, Black Chicken Creative Labs)
1 Black Australorp Female
1 Pearl Leghorn Female
From the Feed Store...I can't tell if they are pullets or cockerels:
1 Rhode Island Red
1 Ameraucana(this bird is really smart,flighty and very feisty....but I think it will be a roo <:-S)
1 Barred Rock(maybe a female)
