Minnesota!

[Minniechickmama]

This one reminds me of the song that starts "I like big butts..." LOL





We got Ole cleaned and fluffed up yesterday. He loves getting brushed!






Minnie I cant believe how big these Buckeyes are getting!! The biggest cockerel is about the same size as one of my EE hens. They go lay in the shade all day and look very happy!

 

[mnbrewdude]

Hey all! Been a busy week on my side of the world. My rents sold their house so we helped them move. It was my first time away from the chicks for a weekend, and I'm glad to say my coop remains predator proof. I walk the perimeter almost daily to see if i can find any signs of digging, but haven't seen anything yet. Today, I took the day off and gave my wife a real "mothers day", since yesterday was spent moving and unpacking boxes. This afternoon, two of my Icelandic Roosters went to one of my coworkers, who breeds Black Australorps. Funny how it works, he agreed to take these so I didn't have to cull them, but when I got to his house, he had several 14 week old BA hens that he was going to cull due to not needing them. Lets say Im now the owner of two healthy BA hens. My birds are somewhere between 8 and 9 weeks, so the age difference isn't terrible, but the timing isn't ideal either.


Now, I read and read and read on introducing new members into a flock, and problems that can occur. At this time, the Australorps are significantly larger than my buckeyes and icelandics. I was concerned the new girls would come in and bully. the exact opposite occurred! My Roo gave the girls the business (as expected, and they established that line immediately), but the other girls were awful hard on the BA's all afternoon. Finally this evening, I went to close down the coop and they were all inside. I opened the door and they were intermingled roosting without too much noise or commotion, but I will maintain a watchful eye on this for the next few weeks. I know that this essentially is the opposite of what anyone would say to do, but I'm glad I did it, and I'm the type that has to learn from my own mistakes, so Ill hold my breath and watch and see.

Finally, Yesterday and today, I left the run door open for most of the day when I was home. It was really cool to see the chickens free ranging, and they barely touched the feeder so thats a nice perk! I had to laugh because while outside, two geese flew in low prior to landing in the field, I've never seen my birds run back inside so fast. Good to know they recognize overhead predators (even if they are just some dumb Canada's)

Do chickens tend to get enough grit naturally while free ranging, or do you guys leave some out to supplement?

 

[athalia17]

Internal layers?!?! I've never heard of this!! How do you know if you have it? Some are starting to get harder shells now, but they are laying in weird areas and the rest are eating the eggs now... so that will be fun to deal with. Collecting all the time I guess now and leaving ceramic eggs for them to peck at, lol!

So the weather/storms will effect laying too? Is it just because they get nervous?

On a sidenote: a lady gave me her chicken she raised up from a chick... in her kitchen (she built a coop there). So, this chicken has never seen other chickens. I thought- great- she's laying, and she has very little chance of having any diseases. Little did I know she is lacking all chicken skills, which now seems like an obvious fact. So, I've been trying to train her how to be a chicken. She is the sweetest thing, comes when you pat your leg even and runs to you when all the other chickens are chasing her (they want to basically kill her unfortunately). I keep her in her own pen inside the coop so everyone can see everyone, but it's not helping when I try to slowly introduce her into the flock. It's not even a matter of them trying to establish a pecking order, they literally just want to kill her or mame her severely- so I have to constantly be watching. Ugh. Poor chicken.

 

[KlopKlop]

Hey all! Been a busy week on my side of the world. My rents sold their house so we helped them move. It was my first time away from the chicks for a weekend, and I'm glad to say my coop remains predator proof. I walk the perimeter almost daily to see if i can find any signs of digging, but haven't seen anything yet. Today, I took the day off and gave my wife a real "mothers day", since yesterday was spent moving and unpacking boxes. This afternoon, two of my Icelandic Roosters went to one of my coworkers, who breeds Black Australorps. Funny how it works, he agreed to take these so I didn't have to cull them, but when I got to his house, he had several 14 week old BA hens that he was going to cull due to not needing them. Lets say Im now the owner of two healthy BA hens. My birds are somewhere between 8 and 9 weeks, so the age difference isn't terrible, but the timing isn't ideal either.


Now, I read and read and read on introducing new members into a flock, and problems that can occur. At this time, the Australorps are significantly larger than my buckeyes and icelandics. I was concerned the new girls would come in and bully. the exact opposite occurred! My Roo gave the girls the business (as expected, and they established that line immediately), but the other girls were awful hard on the BA's all afternoon. Finally this evening, I went to close down the coop and they were all inside. I opened the door and they were intermingled roosting without too much noise or commotion, but I will maintain a watchful eye on this for the next few weeks. I know that this essentially is the opposite of what anyone would say to do, but I'm glad I did it, and I'm the type that has to learn from my own mistakes, so Ill hold my breath and watch and see.

Finally, Yesterday and today, I left the run door open for most of the day when I was home. It was really cool to see the chickens free ranging, and they barely touched the feeder so thats a nice perk! I had to laugh because while outside, two geese flew in low prior to landing in the field, I've never seen my birds run back inside so fast. Good to know they recognize overhead predators (even if they are just some dumb Canada's)

Do chickens tend to get enough grit naturally while free ranging, or do you guys leave some out to supplement?

nice trade! extra roosters for pullets is as good as it gets! I dont supplement grit as i have a gravel driveway and they are always out there picking rocks. i do offer oyster shell as calcium and maybe that offers some grit quality, but i dont know for sure.

i have 2 broody BAs playing pancake for 2 days now. i moved them to broody hutches and I hoooope they go back on the eggs. they were a little upset from being moved.

 

[Minniechickmama]

Hey all! Been a busy week on my side of the world. My rents sold their house so we helped them move. It was my first time away from the chicks for a weekend, and I'm glad to say my coop remains predator proof. I walk the perimeter almost daily to see if i can find any signs of digging, but haven't seen anything yet. Today, I took the day off and gave my wife a real "mothers day", since yesterday was spent moving and unpacking boxes. This afternoon, two of my Icelandic Roosters went to one of my coworkers, who breeds Black Australorps. Funny how it works, he agreed to take these so I didn't have to cull them, but when I got to his house, he had several 14 week old BA hens that he was going to cull due to not needing them. Lets say Im now the owner of two healthy BA hens. My birds are somewhere between 8 and 9 weeks, so the age difference isn't terrible, but the timing isn't ideal either.


Now, I read and read and read on introducing new members into a flock, and problems that can occur. At this time, the Australorps are significantly larger than my buckeyes and icelandics. I was concerned the new girls would come in and bully. the exact opposite occurred! My Roo gave the girls the business (as expected, and they established that line immediately), but the other girls were awful hard on the BA's all afternoon. Finally this evening, I went to close down the coop and they were all inside. I opened the door and they were intermingled roosting without too much noise or commotion, but I will maintain a watchful eye on this for the next few weeks. I know that this essentially is the opposite of what anyone would say to do, but I'm glad I did it, and I'm the type that has to learn from my own mistakes, so Ill hold my breath and watch and see.

Finally, Yesterday and today, I left the run door open for most of the day when I was home. It was really cool to see the chickens free ranging, and they barely touched the feeder so thats a nice perk! I had to laugh because while outside, two geese flew in low prior to landing in the field, I've never seen my birds run back inside so fast. Good to know they recognize overhead predators (even if they are just some dumb Canada's)

Do chickens tend to get enough grit naturally while free ranging, or do you guys leave some out to supplement?

It is uncanny what instincts they have about stuff like aerial predators.

I don't give additional grit unless I am feeding coarse ground grains or scratch. If they are on the ground, they will find some of their own, but feeding pellets or crumbles should be safe without giving extra grit.

It is good your coop held up to your test, I know how nervous you were about it.

Boy, you are becoming quickly addicted! Be careful, you will end up with a place like mine! LOL

 

[KlopKlop]

One hen was still a pancake this AM and the other was half on half off the nest. Not sure what she was up to. They both were on their eggs last night. I really hope at least one sticks with it. I would love to have broody raised chicks!!

 

[mnbrewdude]

No Way! I cant believe my wife let me keep 1 rooster, not a chance of me breeding birds in the future! I do love the birds I have now, and now that they are able to free range some it makes it even more fun.

 

[MinnesotaNice]

@athalia17 , I have hen that I slowly introduced last summer/fall. I initially had two, but her cell mate had some....issues. She was, ummm, "rehomed". Anyways, All of my others hens just hated her. She always roosted by herself and still does to this day. They don't chase her down like they used to, but she doesn't get too close, either. She's a sweet bird. Just a loner. I know a lot of it has to do with her being introduced solo.

 

[lalaland]

well, tonight I had to leave the one broody alone and not take her off the nest for feed/poop/dust bathing - the don't touch the broody 3 days before the hatch routine except I am doing the dont touch 2 day vefore hatchs, took her off the nest last night, and 21 days is thursday.

I've read some say don't ever take your broody off the nest for feed and water, let her decide, and I've heard some say a broody will and has died from not getting up for feed and water. I've noticed they complain like heck when you move them off and put them in front of feed and water, but then they gobble that feed, drink like they can't get enough, and dust bathe like crazy.

my limited experience is that the broody will perhaps occasionally get up for feed and water but not usually. so I feel better about them getting a little food and water, and some exercise.

I did learn that it wasn't such a good idea to let a broody sit so early in the spring, because of the still shorter daylight hours and a work schedule and commute that means it can be hard to get them off the nest in the daylight. Next year I will make them wait til June, I think, to sit on a nest.

@mnbrewdude , do you mean you for sure will breed, or for sure you will not?...sometimes you have to spell it out for me

 

[KlopKlop]

well, tonight I had to leave the one broody alone and not take her off the nest for feed/poop/dust bathing - the don't touch the broody 3 days before the hatch routine except I am doing the dont touch 2 day vefore hatchs, took her off the nest last night, and 21 days is thursday.  

I've read some say don't ever take your broody off the nest for feed and water, let her decide, and I've heard some say a broody will and has died from not getting up for feed and water.  I've noticed they complain like heck when you move them off and put them in front of feed and water, but then they gobble that feed, drink like they can't get enough, and dust bathe like crazy.  

my limited experience is that the broody will perhaps occasionally get up for feed and water but not usually.  so I feel better about them getting a little food and water, and some exercise.  

I did learn that it wasn't such a good idea to let a broody sit so early in the spring, because of the still shorter daylight hours and a work schedule and commute that means it can be hard to get them off the nest in the daylight.  Next year I will make them wait til June, I think, to sit on a nest.

@mnbrewdude
 , do you mean you for sure will breed, or for sure you will not?...sometimes you have to spell it out for me

I put feed and water bowls within beaks reach of my Broody girls when I put them in their hutch and have been keeping them filled. I'm hoping then I won't need to move them around myself. This is the first time they have brooded so I don't want to accidentally break them.