I can't believe we did this again! New Babies

[Enchanted1s]

So - here are their 8 week pictures. 8 Weeks and 2 days - and Cupid's last day with us. We traded him for a mixed breed pullet that I know nothing about. Father was supposed to be a 55 Flowery - mother? age? A sad day, but we just can't have two roo's.

The New CutiePie

A couple of pictures of the new CutiePie this morning. Her 1st day with us. We put her in the back coop with the other three last night. She had no roosts where she came from, so she slept on the floor while we have ours trained to go to the roost now (just started this week). She is a quite a bit smaller than the other 3. She weighed right at 12 ounces so I am guessing her age at about 5 weeks?? I see no sign of bugs or illness. Everything seemed to be going great - then I let them out of the coop and into their grow out run and they all chase and peck at her. She is flying up to the highest anything she can get to - to be away from the others. I set her up an area where she could eat in piece (on top of the bookshelves). Blacky in particular chases her and is VERY aggressive with her. We are keeping a close eye on her, but she seems to be staying high above the others. I was wondering if I should go back and buy one of the other pullets that she was penned up with? I hate to see her always alone. Doesn't look like she is use to people being around much either, but once she is caught she settles nicely. So far - she is VERY quiet, calm and sweet. One other note. Tootie - our oldest hen [just over 1yr] saw her her the first time this morning and immediately tried to attack her thru the HWC! ... QUESTION ... Do non-white chickens dislike white chickens? It seems as though the older girls all seemed to have a problem with CutiePie [Cupid] and now the new CutiePie??? Just a thought. Anyway - LONG edit this morning.

 

[Enchanted1s]

Not quite a week that CutiePie II has been with us. The name just doesn't seem to fit - I think we will call her Whitey. She is doing really well. She is now always very happy to see me and loves to be cuddled. She is now eating on the ground - no necessarily with the others, but at the same level now. She is getting along just fine with BlueBoy and Brownie, but Blacky! she is still aggressive with her. I didn't receive any replies on opinions if we should get another one her size. I am still considering it, but if it were not for Blacky, she would be getting along fine. She is HALF the size of the bigger ones! She is now roosting, but Blacky will not let her stay on the same roost as the others

Did I mention that BlueBoy started crowing at about 7 ½ weeks! He doesn't have anyone to show him how, but he is sure trying.

Anyway - here are there 9 week pictures.

Blacky - 9 Weeks - 30oz


Brownie - 9 Weeks - 32oz


BlueBoy - 9 Weeks - 30oz


Whitey - ?5 Weeks - 15oz

 

[Enchanted1s]

10 Weeks Update. There wasn't much weight gained this week - unless I really messed up last week? I am basing my guess on Whitey's age by her weight. She was 17 oz, so I am now guessing that she is about 7 weeks. Still, about half the size of the other three - but she seems to be getting along better with the other three every day. Still spends a lot of time alone when in the run, but more and more time with BlueBoy.

We have started letting them out with the older ones for a bit every day. When the babies are outside the run - with the big girls - the four stay together and do their best to stay away from the older girls. The big girls just want to be able to get back in the run! They don't seem to care - one way or the other - about the babies. Once in a while, the older ones will peck/chase Whitey, but it does not really seem aggressive. They have only been out with the big girls for short periods of time - under close supervision .

Here are this weeks pictures...

Blacky - 10 Weeks - 32 oz.


Brownie - 10 Weeks - 36 oz.


BlueBoy - 10 Weeks - 32 oz.


Whitey - ? 7Weeks ? - 17 oz.

 

[Enchanted1s]

Well - it has been an eventful week for these babies. I don't weigh them and take their pictures until Friday's but figured I would update this while I had a few minuets.

Yesterday, everyone was together all day. The babies still spent most of their day in the run - but the door was open for everyone to come and go as they pleased. NO PROBLEMS! So...

Last night - I removed the divider wall in the coop! It went even better than I expected. There was a little bit of squabbling, but nothing major. These four young ones slept VERY close together on one perch and the older girls step in pair on the two perches in the front of the coop. (3 of these 4 are our 1st babies from 29 November 17).

This morning - I had my butt out there when the door opened! No issues at all! The big girls came out first and the babies were right behind them. Today went much the same as yesterday. Babies spent much of their time in the run, but everyone was allowed to come and go. Tonight, the divider wall remains removed. I still helped the babies get up and in the coop before the older ones went in. But there was no squabbling!! None of the babies tried to run out when the big girls came in. I am NOT planning on being out there at 0530 when the door opens! The plan is to see if EVERYONE will go to the coop on their own tomorrow. That is really asking a lot, as the babies have always gone to be via the door to the back of the coop and tomorrow they will need to use the front (automatic) door. We are having our first 'date night' since getting chickens this Saturday, and we will not be here in time to put anyone to bed, so my fingers are crossed that all goes well tomorrow!

I will try to update this post with their pictures tomorrow evening.

 

[Enchanted1s]

Didn't get back here in time to edit last nights post - had to wait until dark tonight...

I am SO PROUD of these babies!!! They did it! They went to bed all by themselves! They are 11 weeks old today - except for Whitey who is several weeks younger!. It was rough on them (and us!), but they did it! The big girls threw them out FOUR times, but they knew they needed to go to bed, were persistent, and they did it ALL BY THEMSELVES! BTW - Little Whitey is a brave little girl! It seemed as though BlueBoy and the bigger girls would make little bitty Whitey go in the coop first to face the big hens!

Here are their pictures. They did not gain much weight this week, or last week. I don't have anything to compare with, so perhaps this is normal at their age? They were doubling their weight each week for the first 6 weeks or so, but these last two weeks, each gained 4 ounces or less. - even Whitey. She is now 20oz - which is what the others were at around 7 weeks.

11 Weeks - BlueBoy - 41.1 oz [now the biggest ]


11 Weeks - Blacky - 36oz


11 Weeks - Brownie - 38oz


?? Weeks - Whitey - 21oz


Below is the only picture I seem to have with the {29 Nov 17} first babies at 11 Weeks.

 

[drumstick diva]

Whitey is beautiful

 

[Enchanted1s]

Whitey is beautiful

Thank you. She has turned out to be an awesome little pullet! I am not sure what type of barnyard mix she is, but she is a sweetheart ! I'm a little sad because she is growing up and liking us humans less and less Sometimes - she will come to me when called! But, less and less as she matures.

We were told her dad was a 55 Flowery and mom an Ameracana (Sp).

 

[Enchanted1s]

12 Week Update - This will probably go to monthly updates from here. 4 Months

They stop almost doubling in size after about 5-6 weeks, but the weight gain really slows after about 10 weeks. The Black SexLinks are now the same weight as Tootie - our first little black hen. Tootie is a Very small hen - about one year. Tootie likes to be broody and hatched her first brood early spring. (Adding Tootie's picture at the bottom)

BlueBoy - 46.4oz - He remains the biggest (finally). I think I saw him try to mount little tiny Whitey once! He is still scared of the big girls, but is starting to become a young man. Hates to be picked up, but tolerates laying by us and being petted.



Whitey - By her weight (29.7oz) I am guessing about 8 Weeks - has become BlueBoy's best buddy. She is very brave and smart. Her & BlueBoy are always the first to learn, whatever I am teaching them.



Brownie - 43.4.oz - The most mellow and laid back of the 3mm. Gets along well with everyone and never starts trouble. Likes to be touched and is very soft. She looks much bigger than Blacky.



Blacky - 43.1oz - Still the smallest and lightest of the three. She is no longer aggressive and gets along well with all three. There have been no problems with her pushing Whitey around for quite some time. Doesn't really like to be touched, but is fine once caught.


Tootie 13 March 2018

 

[Enchanted1s]

4 Months Update

I just realized I hadn't updated this in a while. The babies are 17 weeks now - except for Whitey, I still think she is about a month behind the others.

Everyone is growing up.


BlueBoy is becoming BlueMan. He has found his voice and his hormones are in high gear.

 

[ronott1]

4 Months Update

I just realized I hadn't updated this in a while. The babies are 17 weeks now - except for Whitey, I still think she is about a month behind the others.

Everyone is growing up.
View attachment 1496823 View attachment 1496825 View attachment 1496830 View attachment 1496827

BlueBoy is becoming BlueMan. He has found his voice and his hormones are in high gear.
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The look great!