Just joined...3 questions

[BBStacker]

Hello, I've been reading this site for awhile now and decided to join since I have questions on my own flock (first timer here since March).

Anyway we wanted to start with only three hens but were told 6 chicks were minimum purchase. Now we have three girls and aren't completely sure of the other three since I wanted at least one roo so the other three were randomly selected.

I know nothing else except the three randoms are Jersey Reds. We think 2 are roos but still aren't completely sure because none of the flock has their adult voice yet.

Q1: Is it possible to tell from these pics the gender and breed of the flock?

Q2: I'm thinking of using the deep litter method in the coop. What's the best way to maintain this and how often does it need to be cleaned? (we're on rental property and will move out 2 to 3 years from now...flock will either be given away or turned into dinner if we move where we can't keep them.)

Q3: We've been opening the coop to allow some supervised outdoor time about 3 weeks ago. They venture out but elect to stay with the coop? (makes me confident enough to walk away but am curious as to when they may start venture further.) It is hot and they lay in the coop or Just in front of it mostly. I suspect they're hot so I got small tubs and filled them with water to cool off. Is this the reason they seem to stay in the Shade? Are they avoiding excessive sunlight?

(I tried uploading pics....not working for some reason.... Will make my own album) and attempt to post them on this thread later.

 

[BBStacker]

Finally figured this out.

Also....another question, the chicks, though raised in same brooder and coop since they were a week old, seem to separate according to their breed. Is this normal behavior?

 

[junebuggena]

The darker red ones are Rhode Island Reds, the lighter ones are Production reds. You have at least two, maybe three cockerels.

 

[KelsT]

I see at least 2 boys.... the ones with the larger combs are boys

 

[nj2wv]

welcome to BYC !!

 

[BBStacker]

Thanks for the help and insight! I'll be exploring the rest of the forums. Hopefully I can forward the favor to somebody else.

 

[drumstick diva]

Oh they are good sized, I thought they were tiny babies. Yes, strong sunlight and hot temps can have a lot of effect on their activity level. Are they drinking well and eating? Sometimes the pecking order, pushes some to the "have not," section. There are times when the flock will break up into smaller groups of the same breed. If there were raised up together from their earliest days - they are generally accepting of each other. Welcome to BYC.

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

 

[BBStacker]

Oh they are good sized,  I thought they were tiny babies.  Yes, strong sunlight and hot temps can have a lot of effect on their activity level. Are they drinking well and eating? Sometimes the pecking order, pushes some to the "have not," section.  There are times when the flock will break up into smaller groups of the same breed.  If there were raised up together from their earliest days - they are generally accepting  of each other.   Welcome to BYC.

Thanks for the advice....they are drinking well but I don't know if they're eating enough. I got some cracked corn, crumble, oyster shells and granite from tractor supply company and mixed it all in a plastic bin. They don't go for the mix but seem to grudgingly eat the nonmixed crumble (took them off their chick stage diet about 2 weeks ago). I put the mix in a 10 pound hanging feeder and they peck at it sometimes but it seems they prefer to lay around in the coop when they're done scratching outdoors. The mix has been there for about a week seemingly untouched so I poured some into a shallow tray today. They went at that as soon as I backed off from it then came out to feed on grass. They seem calm and happy. Run back and forth sometimes at the sound of cars or challenge each other for establishment of pecking order.

One of my pullets keeps facing off with the roosters and I'm noticing her comb is slightly bigger (same color) than the other pullets and a waddle can be seen under (her?) beek.

 

[junebuggena]

Oyster shell should be offered separately and only made available once they start laying, that way the roosters don't accidentally ingest the excess calcium. Cracked corn should be used as a treat. It should not be mixed in with the feed. If they have access to free range for some of the day, you don't need to provide them with extra grit.