Illinois...

[ChicagoClucker]

@ChicagoClucker
I really like your chicken yard! (and I agree that your black orp looks great.)

How's the gravel working out so far?

That's pretty much what I have is a chicken yard and my deck. LOL. The gravel would have worked out great if they didn't scratch it out all the time. That's why I decided to move the Mother Clucker Inn over onto the bricks and just make it a single run for everyone. The small doghouse coop that the 4 juvies are in, will be removed soon. My legbar uses it to" fly the coop" so to say. Hope the GL chicks make it for you.

 

[megpie021]

@Faraday40 that silkie doesnt look the least bit spoiled I hope the little ones turn around for you too.

@ChicagoClucker GAH! I just love her. All of them are turning out beautifully though.

Poppy and Ginger survived the first night in the coop. I had to escort them out though... they were on their way then suddenly veered into a nesting box... I get the whole Polish Chickens are a bit odd thing now. They definitely are the least predictable of the group.

 

[Junibutt]

Your favorite is getting big and beautiful! She/he has me wondering what they are? I am so bad with pea combs and it doesn't help that I have bad eye sight. But the legs look pretty long to me. I have stared at the comb, dumb founded. LOL, any insight would be appreciated. I have also gotten myself into big trouble. I am in love with my black orpington boy, he is just getting more beautiful everyday and he is as sweet as his father was. Now I planned on keeping him, until @Junibutt hatched those choc laced project chicks and blue cuckoo. I think I have 1 of each on the choc laced project chicks and a cuckoo boy, of whom is a favorite. I will only keep 2 roos, 1 of which will be my SL orp. This is going to be soooooo hard. Snapped some pics of the new set up. Everyone is sharing the same run. It is 10 x 25 ft, pine shavings will be easy cleanup on the brick base and I moved the azalea bushes on each end of the raised beds so they have plenty of room for dust bathing. I have found the 3 plants that the chickens won't or can't reach to eat. I will be adding a patio umbrella (as soon as I find a cheap base) to go in the center of the run. It has good shade at each of the ends, but gets to much sun from 11-4 in the centerView attachment 1050273 View attachment 1050271 View attachment 1050270 View attachment 1050272 View attachment 1050274 View attachment 1050268 View attachment 1050267
View attachment 1050266 View attachment 1050265 .

Really nice set-up. Are you going to put any netting on the run to protect against the hawks?

 

[ChicagoClucker]

I have the vinyl umbrella I plan on setting up in the middle to give them some shade for that area, it gets hot. I have the netting that I figure I can place over each open end. Luckily my friend had bought the netting for her pond. She had cranes stopping in for a meal. When she came over and showed her the new setup and said I needed to get some netting and an umbrella, she said she has practically a whole roll sitting in the garage. Sweet!

 

[Junibutt]

I have the vinyl umbrella I plan on setting up in the middle to give them some shade for that area, it gets hot. I have the netting that I figure I can place over each open end. Luckily my friend had bought the netting for her pond. She had cranes stopping in for a meal. When she came over and showed her the new setup and said I needed to get some netting and an umbrella, she said she has practically a whole roll sitting in the garage. Sweet!

Great!

 

[Faraday40]

@Faraday40 that silkie doesnt look the least bit spoiled I hope the little ones turn around for you too.
.

Nope. Not spoiled. You should see how DD spoils the other silkie. Gilfie gets at least 30 min of snuggles daily, special treats from the garden, and DD made a special bed in the corner of her room for when the black silkie comes inside to visit. The black pullet even has her own travel purse (like a tiny Hollywood dog). DD really wants to make Gilfie a "house chicken" but I insist that chickens live outside. For some reason Gilfie doesn't seem to consider herself a chicken.

I've been telling DD that the splash chick is a rooster, so he's not staying. However to myself, I've been going back & forth on its gender. The comb's not large (but slightly bigger than Gilfie's was) and the head poof is kind of round. The crest does angle slightly back, but it's not long & flowing like most silkie cockerels.


Although I can't tell the gender, I've been trying to find it a home that would keep the splash silkie if it were a male. I have about 5 families that would take it if I could say it's a female. In the meantime, when kids come over to "play chickens" my daughter takes the black one & her friend gets the splash. It's kind of like playing house but the girls have silkie chickens instead of pretend children.

DS is a lot more simple. He grabs his chicken & sits her in his lap when he's on the swing, in the fort, or even playing video games. He simply likes holding his chicken & doesn't bother dressing her up.

 

[Junibutt]

I guess I spoke too early on my broody taking all the chicks. After accepting them, for a couple of days, today I noticed that she has started picking on one of the chicks. Ironically its the 2nd one to get attached to her and was bothering her all the time by picking on her wattles. She was fine with that yesterday and the day before but today she is not even letting that chick near her. He/she is also scared of going near her when she growls so I take it he has been taking a beating in my absence. I also noticed that when her older chicks are around, she ignores the younger ones but when they are not, she gives them treats and lets them play with her.

Shall I separate the one being beat up along with another one for company? Poor chick is only 5 days old today so I don't think he can handle the beating for long.

 

[megpie021]

@Faraday40 cuz who wouldn't want a silkie hen?? And sure I guess comparatively it isn't being spoiled..

And I like your sons thinking. A lap chicken for video game time. I bet Poppy or Ginger would comply

 

[Faraday40]

@Junibutt
Yes, I'd pull the tiny babies out. (the one getting beat up & a friend) You may try putting them in again in a couple days to a week, but for now, they need warmth, food, & water. My broodies are caring for the tiny chicks 1st & giving the little ones preferred treatment. Since the other chicks are 2 weeks older, I know they're OK. They already know how to eat & drink just fine.

 

[jnckids]

Anyone interested in some backyard crosses? 12 4 week olds, 2 13 week olds.