I'm finally ready to be a chicken mama!!

[hennotrooster]

from CA

wish you lots of luck with your new pets.

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC. With chickens, 3 is better than 2. Chickens are flock animals, and if one dies the solitary bird will be very unhappy.

 

[bruceha2000]

Just got my babies today after work today - a Rhode Island Red and an Americanaus. They are pretty mellow. I was so excited I forgot to ask how old they are.

Hi Anne,
They are not likely more than a few days old. How big are they? Easily fit in the palm of your hand with space to spare? And yes, watch the pasty butt, warm water on a cotton swab and some patience works wonders. Don't rub, let the water loosen it. We had two and they came out fine.

After you spend more time here on the forums, (OK, right now) you will learn that your "Americuana" is a "non-breed" (meaning they aren't recognized by the American Poultry Association) called an Easter Egger because they will MOST often lay either a blue or a green egg (I have one of each). They have some Ameraucana or Araucana blood but are NOT Ameraucana because they (one or more):
1) Won't breed true 50% or more of the time
2) Don't have a beard
3) Don't have a muff
4) Aren't one of the recognized Ameraucana colors.
5) Don't lay a blue egg

This can be true of a chick hatched from a "pure" Ameraucana hen and rooster pairing.
EEs are great birds and so far, with my Black Australorps, the best layers of the 6 breeds I have. None of my girls are "friendly" meaning they don't want to come sit in my lap (except Echo when I had earwigs for them in the summer) and do not care to be petted, but then I've not encouraged that either. I got them to lay eggs, not as pets. I talk to them when I'm out. They all come running whenever they hear me because, like my almost 18 Y/O daughter, as far as they are concerned, I exist for the sole purpose of feeding them (well, for the daughter, starting in the Fall, also to fork over for college) and I might have treats. They will come "visit" to see what I am doing but that is because they are immensely curious creatures. And other than the 1st 4 weeks, when they were in an unused bathtub we used as a brooder, don't come in the house.

There is a thread on BYC for EEs, you will see an amazing array of colors and patterns (one of the reasons people like them, besides the blue or green egg a given hen will LIKELY lay): https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/273489/the-ee-braggers-thread
Unlike most breeds you have NO idea what they will look like as adults based on their coloring/pattern as a day old chick.

Bruce

 

[roostersandhens]

welcome so glad you joined us! I am a vegetarian too! I am exited when vegetarians join BYC!