I have raised and shown Arabian Horse and Toy Poodle throughout most of my life. Now that I am older, it seemed right to downsize. So in June, I got my first chickens - four from our local tractor supply including a Barred Rock, Sapphire Gem, Easter Egger and, what was supposed to be a Dominique, but turned out to probably be a black sex-linked hen. Fortunately, they are all hens and are now 22 weeks old. Not an egg to be found yet, but, hey, the days are getting shorter and I built them a new coop. I'm assuming the time will come. They are happy & healthy.
Of course, I had to decide to get a few Bantams. So I get a Bantam Black Cuckoo Silkie, an Bantam Americauna and a Bantam Porcelain Belgian Bearded d' Uccle. Meyer hatchery sent me an additional chick for checking a box about something I didn't even realize. And no one knows what this chick is. For sure it isn't Bantam! It's twice the size of the other chick. Someone suggested it might be a meat bird. I do hope not, but we will see.
Two weeks later, my next order arrived, which I had forgotten I had ordered - an Ayam Cemani and two Golden Cuckoo Marans. The black girl is adorable but very small. In fact, she appears Bantam. The description did not say that. It described the hens as being 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 pounds. So I now am not sure how to manage them. I have them in separate brooders right now. I'm not sure if they will merge or have their own coop. At least right now it looks like they are all pullets.
Finally, I have an order in for Belgian Mille Fleur d'Uccle from a successful local breeder. I probably won't get them for a month or two, since I am down on the wait list with this breeder. But it is actually the Bantam breed I wanted. They were just so hard to find.
So, I now have a nursery in my garage with 7 babies (Bantam & not). My 22 week old girls are in a new coop & run. And I will get two 6 week old pullets and a cockerel Mille Fleur (which is the only way the breeder would sell them)That will make for an interesting menagerie!!! Fortunately I am a nurse with lots of animal experience too. But I have never had chickens! You might be seeing lots of posts from me in the not too distant future as I try to sort out my new
two legged family.
Of course, I had to decide to get a few Bantams. So I get a Bantam Black Cuckoo Silkie, an Bantam Americauna and a Bantam Porcelain Belgian Bearded d' Uccle. Meyer hatchery sent me an additional chick for checking a box about something I didn't even realize. And no one knows what this chick is. For sure it isn't Bantam! It's twice the size of the other chick. Someone suggested it might be a meat bird. I do hope not, but we will see.
Two weeks later, my next order arrived, which I had forgotten I had ordered - an Ayam Cemani and two Golden Cuckoo Marans. The black girl is adorable but very small. In fact, she appears Bantam. The description did not say that. It described the hens as being 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 pounds. So I now am not sure how to manage them. I have them in separate brooders right now. I'm not sure if they will merge or have their own coop. At least right now it looks like they are all pullets.
Finally, I have an order in for Belgian Mille Fleur d'Uccle from a successful local breeder. I probably won't get them for a month or two, since I am down on the wait list with this breeder. But it is actually the Bantam breed I wanted. They were just so hard to find.
So, I now have a nursery in my garage with 7 babies (Bantam & not). My 22 week old girls are in a new coop & run. And I will get two 6 week old pullets and a cockerel Mille Fleur (which is the only way the breeder would sell them)That will make for an interesting menagerie!!! Fortunately I am a nurse with lots of animal experience too. But I have never had chickens! You might be seeing lots of posts from me in the not too distant future as I try to sort out my new
two legged family.
