Michigan

[AngelaB]

Here she is. Well, the back of her head and body. She wouldn't hold still for a good face pic.

 

[sj3364]

Angela,

I'm fairly new to chickens, but, are you sure this is a girl? The coloring suggests boy to me and it might just be the picture, but it kinda looks like saddle feathers.

Maybe some others with more experience will know better. Beautiful chicken, either way.

 

[yorkchick]

Opa, you said you were going to put in a water line and frost-free hydrant out to where your birds are, probably next spring. I am very interested in doing this. The last two winters I have hauled water from the house and with chickens it's not too bad, but the geese need so much more water that I am not looking forward to that chore once it starts to freeze and I have to put the hose away. I would not be surprised if you are able to do that work yourself, Opa, but it would certainly be far beyond my handyperson skills. What kind of a professional would do it? We have a well... would a well driller do it? Or a plumber?

 

[Stacykins]

Quote:
I have to agree. The red leakage on the wings screams male, and those are hackle feathers on the neck, thin and pointy compared to a hens thick and fluffy neck feathers. Definitely rumpless, though! Must have been a rumpless parent somewhere in the mix. Very pretty EE though, I love willow legs, which is what he has.

 

[Olive Hill]

Looks like an EE cockerel to me, too. He's cute though.

 

[RaZ]

My chickens really aren't spoiled.
TV in the garage isn't a big deal. I just ran an extra cable from the junction box. I already had an old TV so I only get some of the channels. At least I get some football games but not hockey. My garage is my workshop, I just letting the chickens share it for the winter.

 

[Olive Hill]

Quote:
You do know geese don't need water to swim in, right? Just to dunk their bills. A five gallon pail works really well in the winter months. They will sit around it and preen and dunk, but they can't get in it to dirty it up so it lasts longer. One pail can be used for drinking and cleaning since they're not pooping in it.


And just a note/idea for everyone for winter. If you have any kind of faucet that does not freeze -- it doesn't have to be a frost free hydrant, ours comes right off the side of the house and does not freeze -- you can use your hose year round. Just hang it so that the middle of the hose is the highest point and the two ends are both the lowest points -- the steeper the grade from center to ends the better. When you're done using it be sure to unscrew it from your faucet. The water will drain out of the hose on both ends and it'll be empty for use again next time. TSC has inexpensive screw-in hooks that work wonderfully for running a hose along a barn or coop soffit.

 

[M.sue]

Quote:
Congrats......sure is pretty and I like the coloring. I'm new at this too but from just looking @ the pic I got a feeling like the others.....you have nice Roo there. Congrats anyway.....I love to hear Roosters crow!!!

 

[chicken grandma]

Quote:
Jamie, That is so encouraging to me! I have two little Isa Browns who are 3 weeks old. I have them in the coop with my Bantam who is 1.5lbs and a shy girl. I do have them separated by a fence for the time being. I don't want an Isa to be injured in a tussle.

At what age did you bring your young maren boys into the coop with your adult hens?

Also, I found out that my chickens are legal. I don't think I have the coop in the right spot but in my township, chickens are legal. Not roosters, but chickens.
YEAH! And I am only 7 miles outside the center of G.R. but I am in a township and not in the city limit. Whew!

 

[dianaross77]

Quote:
Jamie, That is so encouraging to me! I have two little Isa Browns who are 3 weeks old. I have them in the coop with my Bantam who is 1.5lbs and a shy girl. I do have them separated by a fence for the time being. I don't want an Isa to be injured in a tussle.

At what age did you bring your young maren boys into the coop with your adult hens?

Also, I found out that my chickens are legal. I don't think I have the coop in the right spot but in my township, chickens are legal. Not roosters, but chickens.
YEAH! And I am only 7 miles outside the center of G.R. but I am in a township and not in the city limit. Whew!

I had a really easy time integrating my Isa hens with the Seramas I had. I just waited until the Isas were almost fully feathered but still a little smaller than the bantams. The Isas are really docile and I never had any trouble. If anything, they tend to give up the top spots in the pecking order willingly. Mine are real sweeties and I've been really pleased with their production. As long as I make sure their protein is a little higher than normal layer feed. I mix 1 part 16% layer with 1 part 26% turkey starter but 22% gamebird would work too. I also have to supplement their calcium with oyster shell since their layer is being "diluted." I tried switching them to layer and they stopped laying altogether. The other upside to them is that they're quiet. They cluck and chatter, especially when they see me coming, but they don't sing an egg song so they're great for stealth flocks.