Mom of 6 chicks

[MyPetNugget]

 

[Mom of 6 chicks]

Thanks for the intro!!! I've learned so much since I began visiting this thread.

 

[Mom of 6 chicks]

An update to my 6 chooks. The boys (three of them) have returned to the farm they came from. Oh, what beauties they have become with their iridescent green tail feathers, the spotted chests and white manes. Of all, I miss Peeps the most. His whimsical behavior always brought a smile to my face...and the black tufts on his cheeks added character to his roo expressions. After consideration of what combination of breeds we have, it is most likely they are Langshan/Ameracauna and Dominique/Langshans. My two little hens with the top notches also carry the extra toes.

It was difficult taking the boys back to the farm, but that's part of the fun of raising backyard chickens. I will miss their morning crows...well, maybe not ALL of the morning crows, but I will truly miss their crazy antics of the day. The three remaining girls...they have all become beautiful black hens with true iridescent green feathers. Henny has retained her "necklace" of feathers. Precious is now turning red around her face. My favorite...Cuddles...very friendly and a wonderful family pet, is developing a small pea (or the beginning of a rose) comb...still gray, though. She's a special bird...one I keep under my wing (pun intended).

All in all, three hens is more than enough for a backyard chicken project at a home on a 10,000 square-foot lot. The ceramic egg is now in the coop...hinting to the girls that it's almost time to begin doing what they do best. Mom's doing regular peeks in the nest box, now...

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[donrae]

Thanks for the update! Hopefully eggs are incoming soon. Such a waiting game, even for those of us that have been playing a while!

 

[Mom of 6 chicks]

Hi donrae. Good to hear from you!!!

It is definitely a waiting game in the egg laying department. I remember years ago with my first backyard chicks (an FFA project)...it seemed to take forever and my hens lived to 8 years old. It would've been longer for one of my hens, but a gnarly, nasty old opossum raided the "secure" coop, abruptly ending her life. This time around, the coop is surrounded with a 1' deep cement footing embedded with hardware cloth as well as a secure door. I don't ever want a repeat performance by wildlife encounters. We know there's raccoons in the area, so we upped a secure housing for the chickens. We also keep a keen eye to the sky when the chickens are roaming free. I have a portable pen I herd them into when I cannot keep a close watch on them during the day.

One of my most favorite moments since acquiring the chicks came the other day when all three of the girls were at the patio door, looking for "Mom." I opened the door and invited them in, but they just stood looking for treats. Of course, Mom came through for them and gave them what they sought. Hard to believe for some that chickens can have such personalities but boy do they!!!!

I wish you a happy and safe New Year!!!

 

[Mom of 6 chicks]

donrae....

I'm so excited!!! My first hen (Cuddles) has finally produced the first egg of the coop on Saturday, January 25!!! It was a a perfectly-shaped, pale brown...almost pink egg. My husband has been teasing me...claiming I had "Steers" (his nickname for hens who don't produce). I've had to use a heat lamp the past few weeks as our nights have been in the low 20's. My girls are spoiled, lol. Even though it was a bit small which isn't unusual for first layers, I was quite excited. I could hardly wait to utilize it this morning at breakfast time!!! Oh, it was so bright and so fresh and tall as it cooked in the pan...made the store-bought eggs look pale and unworthy. You sure can tell the difference between mass production and farm fresh, THAT'S for sure!!!

No "Steers" in MY coop!!!