Roosteria
Chirping
- May 2, 2021
- 24
- 87
- 59
Heya, I've read so many threads on BYC in the last 5 weeks since I got my first (tho I spent a lot of time in my childhood around chickens, grandmother had them) flock of 14 5-weeks-old chicks, but only as a lurker until this day. 
Anyway, really glad there's this place with so many questions answered and some great content overall. In the end all of us newbies probably ask the same questions.
Chicks have ofc grown since I got them, they're actually quite big already and I'd say everything's turned out well, transition to the outside world, survived some low temps and happily scratching the dirt and doing chicken things all day long now. As many of you may already know, I don't think these 14 will be the only chickens here for long, haha. They're so crazy and interesting to watch!
They're mixed heritage breeds and were kind of the best option I had here at that moment for what I wanted - good free-range birds that can forage, detect and evade daytime predators, are ok layers and like being mama hens. The supply of different pure heritage breeds is kind of scarce here unfortunately, unless I'd want to incubate... They might be willing to do it for me next season
Possible breeds in the mix: Altsteirer (a.k.a. Styrian chickens), naked neck, some italian breed (they just call them ''italians'' here), araucana, dorking or similar hybrids, they also kept silkies in their flock and some look a bit like Kraienköppe hens.
What makes me extremely happy is that my dog hasn't eaten any of the chicks yet!
But seriously, they're starting to get along just fine now, still never unsupervised though, but I spend most of my time in the garden, near the coop anyway. Might have more time for reading, studying and doing indoor things... next winter
So I really look forward to the very first fresh beyond organic eggs this summer, think they might start laying in July, and I bet there's much to learn on this journey ahead. That's also why I'm joining this community, which I found a while ago while searching for brooder setups and temperatures for chicks etc. So thanks for all the content and thanks again for everything in advance.
Greetings from Europe!
Anyway, really glad there's this place with so many questions answered and some great content overall. In the end all of us newbies probably ask the same questions.Chicks have ofc grown since I got them, they're actually quite big already and I'd say everything's turned out well, transition to the outside world, survived some low temps and happily scratching the dirt and doing chicken things all day long now. As many of you may already know, I don't think these 14 will be the only chickens here for long, haha. They're so crazy and interesting to watch!
They're mixed heritage breeds and were kind of the best option I had here at that moment for what I wanted - good free-range birds that can forage, detect and evade daytime predators, are ok layers and like being mama hens. The supply of different pure heritage breeds is kind of scarce here unfortunately, unless I'd want to incubate... They might be willing to do it for me next season
Possible breeds in the mix: Altsteirer (a.k.a. Styrian chickens), naked neck, some italian breed (they just call them ''italians'' here), araucana, dorking or similar hybrids, they also kept silkies in their flock and some look a bit like Kraienköppe hens.
What makes me extremely happy is that my dog hasn't eaten any of the chicks yet!
But seriously, they're starting to get along just fine now, still never unsupervised though, but I spend most of my time in the garden, near the coop anyway. Might have more time for reading, studying and doing indoor things... next winter So I really look forward to the very first fresh beyond organic eggs this summer, think they might start laying in July, and I bet there's much to learn on this journey ahead. That's also why I'm joining this community, which I found a while ago while searching for brooder setups and temperatures for chicks etc. So thanks for all the content and thanks again for everything in advance.
Greetings from Europe!
Welcome!
Where’s the cute pictures 
Glad you joined.
