Well hello,
I've been lurking here for awhile and reading everything I can find. The Internet is such an amazing thing. There is so much great info here that I feel prepared to tackle all my new chicken chores!
I have a flock of six. They are six weeks old today, and healthy. I'm anxious to get them out of brooder number two and into my imagined coop in the great outdoors of 'da City.
Our initial brooder was a couple of large cardboard boxes wedged and taped together. At two weeks old, it was time to build a larger home of wood... 4'x2.5' and 3' tall. It features a dining area 4" higher than the main floor where the feed and water things go. This keeps most of the pine shavings out of the water. I've added three roosts in two corners at different heights and they need more roost and play space. Soon, because the weather has been too cold here to build a proper outdoors coop, I will complete a removable second floor addition with a loft space above the dining area and a removable attic/roof with room for higher roosts. My indoors basement space will allow for this, and I think I can move the whole thing outside (if the weather cooperates) while I build a more permanent coop and run. There is sooooo much to do.
We have a mixed flock (my idea) named by an 11 year old girl and her 10 year old brother... Both of whom are doing a pretty good job of pitching in on the care and feeding of the flock!
In pecking order they are
:
#1 Chipmonk (Ameraucana/Araucana/probably EE) is the leader and has been from day one. She comes when you call her and hops right up on your hand. First to fly, first to use the roost bars, first to escape!.;
#2 Astrid (Buff Orpington) really wants to be #1. She hates having her feet in the worm bin until she gets a worm or two, and then she's done and tells me so. She has flown from the door of the brooder to my arm... But landing on ma arm may have been happenstance;
#2.5 Florence (Silver Laced Wyandotte) is smart and would easily fill Astrids #2 spot, but she doesn't really seem to care. She is always waiting at the door and hopping onto the door sill first. All of these three are always ready to perch on a hand or arm;
And the rest, alphabetically...
Dot (Barred Rock) is the largest and super cool. A classic kinda hen in my mind! She's a little skittish when you try to pick her up but submits nicely to gentle handling. Really pretty cooing voice;
Minty (Black Orpington) is the easiest to handle. She loves to be tickled under her wings and has the most interesting deep voice. I'll make a recording of her one day. Her voice would be soothing to sleep to.;
Nellie (Golden Laced Wyandotte) is the smallest, the fastest and likes to be held the least. We could have named her mouse for the way she skitters about the brooder. She will eat out of my hand, reluctantly, but will play Barbies with the 11 year old girl and any other flock member for hours!
The pictures were all taken today with my iPhone (better camera next time) while the girls took turns foraging for red worms in the worm bin. When you put old lettuce on top of the worm bin bedding, they worms come right up to the top. Easy pickings for six week old chicks!
Thanks for reading, and being here!
Tim
Nellie and Dot
Chipmonk and Minty
Astrid up front with Dot and Nellie
Backs and necks - Minty, Florence and Chipmonk
Dinosaurs - Minty and Chipmonk
I've been lurking here for awhile and reading everything I can find. The Internet is such an amazing thing. There is so much great info here that I feel prepared to tackle all my new chicken chores!
I have a flock of six. They are six weeks old today, and healthy. I'm anxious to get them out of brooder number two and into my imagined coop in the great outdoors of 'da City.
Our initial brooder was a couple of large cardboard boxes wedged and taped together. At two weeks old, it was time to build a larger home of wood... 4'x2.5' and 3' tall. It features a dining area 4" higher than the main floor where the feed and water things go. This keeps most of the pine shavings out of the water. I've added three roosts in two corners at different heights and they need more roost and play space. Soon, because the weather has been too cold here to build a proper outdoors coop, I will complete a removable second floor addition with a loft space above the dining area and a removable attic/roof with room for higher roosts. My indoors basement space will allow for this, and I think I can move the whole thing outside (if the weather cooperates) while I build a more permanent coop and run. There is sooooo much to do.
We have a mixed flock (my idea) named by an 11 year old girl and her 10 year old brother... Both of whom are doing a pretty good job of pitching in on the care and feeding of the flock!
In pecking order they are
:
#1 Chipmonk (Ameraucana/Araucana/probably EE) is the leader and has been from day one. She comes when you call her and hops right up on your hand. First to fly, first to use the roost bars, first to escape!.;
#2 Astrid (Buff Orpington) really wants to be #1. She hates having her feet in the worm bin until she gets a worm or two, and then she's done and tells me so. She has flown from the door of the brooder to my arm... But landing on ma arm may have been happenstance;
#2.5 Florence (Silver Laced Wyandotte) is smart and would easily fill Astrids #2 spot, but she doesn't really seem to care. She is always waiting at the door and hopping onto the door sill first. All of these three are always ready to perch on a hand or arm;
And the rest, alphabetically...
Dot (Barred Rock) is the largest and super cool. A classic kinda hen in my mind! She's a little skittish when you try to pick her up but submits nicely to gentle handling. Really pretty cooing voice;
Minty (Black Orpington) is the easiest to handle. She loves to be tickled under her wings and has the most interesting deep voice. I'll make a recording of her one day. Her voice would be soothing to sleep to.;
Nellie (Golden Laced Wyandotte) is the smallest, the fastest and likes to be held the least. We could have named her mouse for the way she skitters about the brooder. She will eat out of my hand, reluctantly, but will play Barbies with the 11 year old girl and any other flock member for hours!
The pictures were all taken today with my iPhone (better camera next time) while the girls took turns foraging for red worms in the worm bin. When you put old lettuce on top of the worm bin bedding, they worms come right up to the top. Easy pickings for six week old chicks!
Thanks for reading, and being here!
Tim
Nellie and Dot
Chipmonk and Minty
Astrid up front with Dot and Nellie
Backs and necks - Minty, Florence and Chipmonk
Dinosaurs - Minty and Chipmonk
and Welcome To BYC! What cute babies, fun names they picked out for them. It is going to be a really colorful flock when they are grown. Can't wait for spring to get here either, though the chicks sound quite spoiled already! Maybe you need house chickens!
