Meyer Hatchery Chicken pics anyone??

[hyzenthlay]

I got a few new pics to share of my young girls from today, almost 3 weeks old--and they have names now!

From left to right, this is Violet (the SGD), Petunia (the CM), and Delphine (Blue Ameraucana):





Little Delphine is still the smallest and sauciest. She is juuuust too big now to fit through the bars of the pen, so they were able to spend a bit more time outside today without me hovering over them. They do enjoy sitting on the kids and hanging out when the kids are in those little camp chairs, though.



I thought this was a pretty good pic of Petunia--I usually have a hard time capturing the expression on the black chicks.

 

[Finnie]

I was noticing that this one is consistently showing that "look at me, I'm the star of this show" attitude since the beginning! You can see, that in each shot, she has her eye on the camera.

 

[Finnie]

Oh yeah, and I love their names! I love flower names. You have a blue bouquet!

 

[hyzenthlay]

Thanks, Finnie! Yes, I've noticed that about Delphine, too! She seems like the most assertive, and the most adventurous and inquisitive. Today she was definitely eyeing up the camera, like, "what's that thing you're sticking in my face? How about you bring it closer so I can peck it?!"

I (obviously) love botanical names, too. We do have a theme or two going on. Our older girls are Mrs. Fig (SLW), Chamomile (EE), Tiger Lily (EE), Pansy (Barred Rock--I figured young Petunia the Cuckoo Marans could be her sidekick since they'll have a similar look), and the ones we lost were Pennyroyal (Salmon Fav) and Marigold (BO). I've pretty much got the names picked out for our set of 4 chicks coming this month, too, so now I'm looking forward to their arrival even more.

 

[Finnie]

Thanks, Finnie! Yes, I've noticed that about Delphine, too! She seems like the most assertive, and the most adventurous and inquisitive. Today she was definitely eyeing up the camera, like, "what's that thing you're sticking in my face? How about you bring it closer so I can peck it?!"

I (obviously) love botanical names, too. We do have a theme or two going on. Our older girls are Mrs. Fig (SLW), Chamomile (EE), Tiger Lily (EE), Pansy (Barred Rock--I figured young Petunia the Cuckoo Marans could be her sidekick since they'll have a similar look), and the ones we lost were Pennyroyal (Salmon Fav) and Marigold (BO). I've pretty much got the names picked out for our set of 4 chicks coming this month, too, so now I'm looking forward to their arrival even more.

We had a cat named Tiger Lily once! She came to us with the name of Tiger, and that just had to change. She wasn't even striped!

I name a lot of my budgies theme names. One time one struck me as a Thumper. I don't know why. But then I had to name her brother Bambi, and her sister Flower. Then of course, Flower's children had to have flower names, so there was Marguerite and Delphinium. Delphinium happens to be the best brightest cobalt color I have ever produced to date. (Sorry for the off-topic, I'm surprised my love of budgies doesn't push through more often than it does.)

 

[autumnhearth]

Our three little Meyer girls are 13 weeks/ 3 months old today! They are slowly getting bolder around their big sisters but know when to scurry out of the way. They are also going through their juvenile molt right now, so funny to see the house sparrows picking up all the chicken feathers around the yard and flying back to line their nests. It was raining heavily when I took these this afternoon, but we were nice and dry thanks to new roof over our run


Snow and Pema


Pema the Light Brahma


Snow the White Rock


Cornelia the Welsummer


Love her coloring


And her pretty eyes!

 

[Finnie]

Looking good, Autumnhearth!

Can you show us your coop and run, with the new roof?

OK, so I'm trying not to overdo it with the Birthday Monday photos all the time, and I know this shot is blurry and not good, but I wanted to post it because I love how it shows Weetabix' dark brown beak tip. Interesting how each chicken and/or breed has little differences. Easter Eggers, of course, are all over the board.


My four youngest are two weeks old today. They are from the Tuesday after Memorial Day hatch. I guess Meyer did double hatches the following week, which is what the store told me when I called last week to see what they were getting in on Wednesday, and they said due to the double hatch, they were getting their shipment on Thursday instead. I wonder if doing double hatches is common. I had been under the impression that they only hatched on Mondays, except for when a holiday falls on a Monday.

Oh, and poor stupid naughty Elizabeth did jump down into the dog run with the dachshund yesterday. I didn't know she was in there, and by the time I responded to the dog barking, She was missing some feathers from her butt, and some skin along with it.

I have her isolated and am treating her, and the wounds don't look too bad, I think. But I'm a little concerned that she seemed to be in shock, and didn't eat or drink much the rest of the day. I hope she will be OK. It's going to be hard forgiving my little dog for following her instincts otherwise. I really didn't think the chickens would be dumb enough to go in with the dog. I hope all the other ones were watching and learned what not to do. I don't think Elizabeth will try it again.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Poor Elizabeth. I'm glad it wasn't worse though but poor thing. :/

 

[autumnhearth]

Looking good, Autumnhearth!

Can you show us your coop and run, with the new roof?

OK, so I'm trying not to overdo it with the Birthday Monday photos all the time, and I know this shot is blurry and not good, but I wanted to post it because I love how it shows Weetabix' dark brown beak tip. Interesting how each chicken and/or breed has little differences. Easter Eggers, of course, are all over the board.

My four youngest are two weeks old today. They are from the Tuesday after Memorial Day hatch. I guess Meyer did double hatches the following week, which is what the store told me when I called last week to see what they were getting in on Wednesday, and they said due to the double hatch, they were getting their shipment on Thursday instead. I wonder if doing double hatches is common. I had been under the impression that they only hatched on Mondays, except for when a holiday falls on a Monday.

Oh, and poor stupid naughty Elizabeth did jump down into the dog run with the dachshund yesterday. I didn't know she was in there, and by the time I responded to the dog barking, She was missing some feathers from her butt, and some skin along with it.

I have her isolated and am treating her, and the wounds don't look too bad, I think. But I'm a little concerned that she seemed to be in shock, and didn't eat or drink much the rest of the day. I hope she will be OK. It's going to be hard forgiving my little dog for following her instincts otherwise. I really didn't think the chickens would be dumb enough to go in with the dog. I hope all the other ones were watching and learned what not to do. I don't think Elizabeth will try it again.

Sure can! The brown beak tip *is* adorable! I never mind lots of pics. Yes, during prime spring and summer months Meyer hatches on Mondays and Wednesdays Aww poor Elizabeth, I hope she heals and recovers from that nasty encounter. Any way to cover the dog run?


Our narrow suburban backyard, garage is to the right (not pictured) and there is some open space behind it.
Movable pen we used for integration.


Coop is 4x6 and run is 8x10, not counting the space under the coop.
Every opening is covered in hardware cloth and we now have all purpose sand in the run, which I love!


View if the side from behind the garage. See how there is room for a nice coop addition to the right?



It could use some exterior decor, perhaps a wreath on the run door and a hanging flower basket. I wanted to paint it sage green with off white trim but I worry about paint fumes and the nest box lid sticking. On my wishlist is an automatic coop door, chicken fountain and a treadle feeder

 

[Finnie]

I like your back yard, Autumnhearth. Not bad privacy for a narrow suburban yard.

I don't think you have to worry about paint fumes too much, since it's outdoors, with plenty of ventilation, and if you were worried about the nest box lid sticking, you could just not paint the two surfaces that touch each other. It's not like that part would show.

You have a nice size coop and run, and yes, I can see plenty of room for an addition!

Elizabeth seems a little more relaxed today. I think she's getting used to confinement. I might let her out for a little bit to walk around tomorrow, and see how stiff she is. Can't cover the dog run, it's this:


Lol, had to go back a ways to find a photo that showed most of the dog run fence! This was pre-chickens. I guess they are just going to have to learn not to go in with the dogs. The thing is, the turkeys go in the dog run all the time, and if I let the dogs out when they are in there, the turkeys are too big for the dog to hurt. I think what I'll do is start shooing the chickens back into the chicken yard whenever I see them go up on the fence. It was cute when they copied the turkeys and perched up there. But now it's not so cute anymore.