Anycockildo
Chirping
- May 23, 2021
- 40
- 74
- 71
New to Chickens!!! 7 weeks ago.
I got a straight run of 4 Rhode island reds, I am not sure but I think 2 or 3 are roosters. 2 Golden Comet girls, 2 California tan girls, and a Broad breasted white turkey (i have been informed we are not eating her as I had planned). Then a week later, my friend Lynette added 2 more California tan pullets to the flock. Not to be outdone, Elvira added 4 straight run Saphire Gem chicks to the flock 2 weeks later. The spot on the head thing didn't work, I'm pretty sure 2 are roosters. I decided I got chickens because I really love the blue and green eggs, so I got 6 easter egger chicks the next day. I wish they would have been available day 1!!!
Now I'm thinking I have too many chickens. I told my friend
I wanted colored eggs, so he gave me 12 EE x ISA Brown eggs, scheduled to hatch tomorrow. I have 23 acres so I'm not worried about space, and I have lots of predators around, including black bears, and Bald Eagles so while I don't want any to get eaten, i think its inevitable.
Right now I have built a 8 x 8 pen in the garage, and am putting together another one for the smaller chicks so i can use the box for the hatchlings. I have to start building a large coop pretty quick. Problem is I'm still building the house.
I am training the flock to free range, I would take them out 3 at a time, and this week, I started letting the big ones out all at once. They are pretty good at coming back to the pen when I whistle the treat whistle.
Anyway, I'm afraid I was too impulsive, getting too many too quick. There is no way we will eat that many eggs. Guess I have to sell eggs. I want to keep 2 of the roosters. But I want the roosters to carry the blue egg gene, so the 4 or 5 in the current lot wont accomplish my goal of breeding a larger chicken with extra large blue or green eggs.
So wish me luck!!! I am open to advice.
I got a straight run of 4 Rhode island reds, I am not sure but I think 2 or 3 are roosters. 2 Golden Comet girls, 2 California tan girls, and a Broad breasted white turkey (i have been informed we are not eating her as I had planned). Then a week later, my friend Lynette added 2 more California tan pullets to the flock. Not to be outdone, Elvira added 4 straight run Saphire Gem chicks to the flock 2 weeks later. The spot on the head thing didn't work, I'm pretty sure 2 are roosters. I decided I got chickens because I really love the blue and green eggs, so I got 6 easter egger chicks the next day. I wish they would have been available day 1!!!
Now I'm thinking I have too many chickens. I told my friend
I wanted colored eggs, so he gave me 12 EE x ISA Brown eggs, scheduled to hatch tomorrow. I have 23 acres so I'm not worried about space, and I have lots of predators around, including black bears, and Bald Eagles so while I don't want any to get eaten, i think its inevitable.
Right now I have built a 8 x 8 pen in the garage, and am putting together another one for the smaller chicks so i can use the box for the hatchlings. I have to start building a large coop pretty quick. Problem is I'm still building the house.
I am training the flock to free range, I would take them out 3 at a time, and this week, I started letting the big ones out all at once. They are pretty good at coming back to the pen when I whistle the treat whistle.
Anyway, I'm afraid I was too impulsive, getting too many too quick. There is no way we will eat that many eggs. Guess I have to sell eggs. I want to keep 2 of the roosters. But I want the roosters to carry the blue egg gene, so the 4 or 5 in the current lot wont accomplish my goal of breeding a larger chicken with extra large blue or green eggs.
So wish me luck!!! I am open to advice.
Hello and welcome to BYC, You found an Amazing Poultry Community to be a part of with many great knowledgeable members who are more then willing to jump in and help you along your journey with any questions you may have. 
Glad you joined.
