new chix pix!

[fargosmom]

Here are some new pix of the chix - they're about 3 weeks old now, I think. Someone shoulda told me how beautiful they are!

this is Pickles, dancing . . .

this is Lucy, Ethel, Buffy and Pickles . . .

. . . Lucy and Buffy . . .

. . . Buffy, Lucy and Pickles . . .

. . . and Buffy's beauty shot.
BTW . . . we'll be starting the coop soon and a friend suggested that an automatic waterer would be a good idea (it gets pretty hot here in the summer). I found this one http://www.strombergschickens.com/products/fount_automatic.php (scroll down to item #FT4308). Anyone have any experience with it? Or any other suggestions? I'd like something super-simple . . . and easy-to-clean would be nice too. Cheers!

 

[Mahonri]

I hope that bottom one is not a roo and that you get some green eggs out of "it".

 

[fargosmom]

Are you saying you think it might be a roo? I don't know what to look for but "she" is certainly bigger than the other EE. Sure hope she's a she; I really wanted a two of each type. When does the gender become apparent?

 

[Mahonri]

Big feet, I'm just sayin'.

I'm betting roo.

 

[fargosmom]

Oh I really hope not.

When will we know for sure?

 

[jossanne]

I got two EE's in my last order of layers, and I was sure one was a male because it was so much bigger and less shy. Its comb was bigger and pinker, too. I didn't know it was a female until it was about 8 weeks old, I think, when she was showing no signs of male-ness.

Today, she's a beautiful 6mo laying machine. She's not any bigger than the other one.

Don't give up hope on the bigger one being female. My fingers are crossed that your luck is the same as mine!

 

[TaLani]

Cute chickies! We use the waterer you are wondering about - it works great. Cutler Supply has the best prices around for poultry supplies from what I've found anyway: http://www.cutlersupply.com/cart/.

 

[Three_Blessings]

Very cute! I'm getting chick fever seeing all these sweet chicks!! Only a few more months til spring!!

 

[fargosmom]

Thanks Josanne - I really hope she's a she - I don't like having to re-home animals. Once they're mine they're mine, but I definitely couldn't get away with keeping a rooster.
What are the basic signs you watch for as the chicks develop?

 

[jossanne]

In my little bit of experience (one EE roo), he developed sickle shaped tail feathers and pointy saddle and hackle feathers before 12 weeks. I'm not exactly sure when, just that his 12 week picture he's obviously a rooster. I remember being sure that he was a male a few weeks before that.

This larger of my two current EE pullets just never developed the size of comb that the first cockerel did, and she never developed the saddle feathers and tail that the cockerel did. Her coloring also looked identical to my previous EE pullet.

Keep posting pictures of your babies as they grow, we can all watch and wait with you!