elmhikin
Hatching
- Jul 23, 2015
- 6
- 0
- 7
Hi all, we are new to raising chickens and to this site although we have visited it many times before we bought our chicks. We got our first 6 in the beginning of June and have just put them in the back yard this weekend after having them in the garage. I am glad to have our garage back but miss hearing them talk to me through the door as I start moving around in the morning. We have 2 Barred Rocks, 2 Golden Sex Links and 2 Black Sex Links, all females (we think).
We also acquired 6 Rio Grande turkeys one week later (strictly a food source says my husband), however they also follow us around like a little puppy and are sometimes underfoot more than the chickens. Our 2 Barred's often times will fly up to my shoulders as I am petting the flock, sitting on top of them until I coax them off. The smallest of our turkeys' observed this and decided to do this as well. Time to cease this behavior, as I can only imagine how those feet are going to hurt when they all get older and bigger. My husband keeps reminding me not to name the turkeys, but I just can't resist.
The only think that we have noticed is that one of our Golden's has lost most of her feathers along her back. I am hopping this was only stress and boredom related since we noticed it right before we moved her out with the rest of them in the backyard pen, We did order an apron just in case we have pecking going on and to help with the regrowth. I hope this was the right way to go since none of the others have the same issue.
I am excited to be a part of this group and look forward to the growth of our knowledge with the help of the site and forums.
New to backyard chicken and turkey raising
We also acquired 6 Rio Grande turkeys one week later (strictly a food source says my husband), however they also follow us around like a little puppy and are sometimes underfoot more than the chickens. Our 2 Barred's often times will fly up to my shoulders as I am petting the flock, sitting on top of them until I coax them off. The smallest of our turkeys' observed this and decided to do this as well. Time to cease this behavior, as I can only imagine how those feet are going to hurt when they all get older and bigger. My husband keeps reminding me not to name the turkeys, but I just can't resist.
The only think that we have noticed is that one of our Golden's has lost most of her feathers along her back. I am hopping this was only stress and boredom related since we noticed it right before we moved her out with the rest of them in the backyard pen, We did order an apron just in case we have pecking going on and to help with the regrowth. I hope this was the right way to go since none of the others have the same issue.
I am excited to be a part of this group and look forward to the growth of our knowledge with the help of the site and forums.
New to backyard chicken and turkey raising
and Welcome To BYC! There is a nice article in the Learning Center on bully behavior in chickens if it looks like you have plucking going on 
The visual of a turkey on your shoulder is too funny! It would definitely be wise to stop this behavior while they are still young and lightweight.
