Our introduction to keeping chickens, the high's, the lows and pics of our journey.

[Bens-Hens]

Fodder has been growing so fast I can hardly keep my emotions contained! Much more excitement around here and I could hurt myself hahahaha

We have two tubs that are now forming green shoots, the second layer is sprouting too but that still all yellow. The third cycle is soaking.

Riveting stuff.


Wheat is soooooooo slooooooooow to grow.

In breaking news, no eggs yet. I meant to get a nice pic of Luna today so you all could see just how close she looks, if I had hair I would have pulled it out by now lol.

In other affairs we have had some wild and windy wet weather last night. When I went out to return the boy's to the flock, I noticed Curly (BV with curly toe) standing near the rooster box. I checked the run gate, closed. Kids still inside in pj's. Poor girl must have missed the gate closing late night and spent the night tucked up someplace in the yard furniture. I have looked everywhere for a nights worth of pullet poo and still not yet found where she spent the night.

Poor girl, at dusk tonight she was a bit skittish and took some convincing to go into the coop. Not sure why she seemed scared. We have not seen her get picked on so maybe it was just the wintry weather and a cold night alone upset her last night.

Oh, and I scooped another big round plastic drum which I am going to use for chicken poop composting too, got an idea for a liquid separator I am keen to try for making liquid fertaliser for the lawns. Similar to our worm farm. See how that goes.

 

[EverMystique1]

As expected, that 1st chick mama left out did not make it. The other 4 are doing well, although I will need to borrow another brooder box from a friend due to the count currently being 13 in the box, 1 in tge bator drying, and even more to hatch. Oy!
On another nite, mama 2 let me see her babies today. 2 more reds, 1 more black. Gonna be a full farm in no time.

 

[ozexpat]

Fodder has been growing so fast I can hardly keep my emotions contained! Much more excitement around here and I could hurt myself hahahaha

We have two tubs that are now forming green shoots, the second layer is sprouting too but that still all yellow. The third cycle is soaking.

Riveting stuff.


Wheat is soooooooo slooooooooow to grow.

In breaking news, no eggs yet. I meant to get a nice pic of Luna today so you all could see just how close she looks, if I had hair I would have pulled it out by now lol.

In other affairs we have had some wild and windy wet weather last night. When I went out to return the boy's to the flock, I noticed Curly (BV with curly toe) standing near the rooster box. I checked the run gate, closed. Kids still inside in pj's. Poor girl must have missed the gate closing late night and spent the night tucked up someplace in the yard furniture. I have looked everywhere for a nights worth of pullet poo and still not yet found where she spent the night.

Poor girl, at dusk tonight she was a bit skittish and took some convincing to go into the coop. Not sure why she seemed scared. We have not seen her get picked on so maybe it was just the wintry weather and a cold night alone upset her last night.

Oh, and I scooped another big round plastic drum which I am going to use for chicken poop composting too, got an idea for a liquid separator I am keen to try for making liquid fertaliser for the lawns. Similar to our worm farm. See how that goes.

You should give millet a go. It is very fast

 

[Bens-Hens]

Next time I am at the feed store I am going to see what whole grains they have. This one was a mix, and included shell grit and layer pellets. The pellets made rinsing a long drawn out process as they swelled and broke apart.

Mystique, glad to hear most of your chicks are doing well, sorry about loosing the first one.

I am not sure if it's just a 'here' thing, but we have a tradition here when you have a roast chicken dinner. Growing up, who ever did the dishes got to have the 'wish bone'. For those who are starting to thing "What's the crazy Aussie smoking?" I don't smoke hahaha. Allow me to explain.

After drying on a window sill, a person pinky grabs either side of the small 'y' shaped bone that spans the chest. Gently pulling away from each other until it snaps. The person who ends up with the large part gets to make a wish. Sort of like a carnivorous bon bon.

Well, here is the result from this morning.


We both felt so ripped off!

Have a good day, I'm off to work

 

[LFchixranch]

We (crazy Americans) have a similar tradition at thanksgiving with the turkey wish bone. Except you make the wish before you break it.

 

[NovaAman]

Yup, we had that too. Both with the turkey and chicken dinners. **** English forbearers.

 

[Bens-Hens]

OK, been a bit quiet of late, just have not had much happening in our chicken world.

I have been tinkering a bit of time on our 'barrel poo processing device' I just have to put a tap into it and it should be ready to start to use. When it's done I will get a few pics. We are producing more than our compost barrel can cope with so this is an alternate that we hope is suitable to use at the same time. More on that later.

Still no egg/s. I was kicking it outside today with the family and got some update photo's of the flock. I didn't get everyone but we got both sexes and one of the breeds we have.


Here are our 4 20 Week old's.
Luna (BA)....we have had many talks about pot's and crispy chicken strips. She is strong willed!


Rosie (RIR) Big and fluffy, wide backside, but not much comb/wattles, and still light pink. A while to go for her.




This is Cleo, very hard to tell our two L/S's apart without picking them up. I think they are that close they will lay their first eggs within a day of each other! Very crisp white feathers on both of those girls. Couple more weeks before we get an egg from them too.


Now our 15 week old's.

Smudge, Lav Araucana (non US STD) He has not long ago started to get his defining hackle and saddle feathers. Loves a crow and a bit of a dance around.


His comb has really stepped up the last two weeks too. He is called Smudge because unlike the other roo we had, he had this grey colour in his comb, like it was 'smudged'


Barney (BV) He is getting so shiny! I carry both the boys to their night box and get a good look at them every day. Barney dodged the crock pot by pure character. Steal was a bit rough and I could see us having problems down the track, where Barney was much more tame, so we kept Barney and Steal became mild slow cooked chicken curry.


Baby (Lav Ara), has grown bigger than Jewel. Her and Jewel both have plenty of standard floor, but both are beautiful birds. baby has white legs, but some nice head gear coming in.


Curly Sue (BV) She is a nice birds too, this is the one that spend some time in a splint, we never fixed her toe. name was as simple as her brother's Barney. Just had to be Curly. Also feathering out nicely.


Here is Lavern (Lav Ara) She is clean faced, but has the nicest dark grey colour, also has slate legs.




This is Amy Wyandotte, one of our two SPW's. They seem to be maturing well and taking the hen shape of low and wide. Lovely birds with the exact feathering type we were hoping for. Look forward to see how she looks at full size and feather.


That's it, down to two roo's and 10 pullets.

We have a trip to Brisbane planned in two and a bit months. We have family coming to look after the two boys and our chickens. By the time we get back, all our hens should be producing, and the roo's should be sexually active. We will sort out Blue Australorp egg's, and some French Wheaten Maran eggs to go in with a bunch of our backyard mixes and see what we get. I am looking forward to our next hatch, wish it was sooner but is best for us to do one bigger one with nicer weather than run a split one and to burden our family with more tasks such as chicks etc.

Have a good day!

 

[Wrightsx4]

They look great Ben - I always love when the roosters get their shine on! My RIR roo, Mr Sprinkles, has amazing shiny feathers - I notice it most on the red ones. My black tailed buff 15(?) week old cockerel is starting to look like he's been oiled
We have returned from camping on the lake - had a wonderful time! Just got caught up reading BYC - luckily you all haven't been busy posting too much, lol!

 

[LFchixranch]

Looking good Ben

 

[NovaAman]

I think you aught to start naming future boys by their intended meal names... LOL

I am surprised you haven't gotten any eggs yet. But boy does Luna look ready! I'd say you should have something real soon. She may have also started laying, but they are soft yet, and they are eating them, and they are several days apart... AND you are going into winter there, so may be a bit longer. How many hours of light are they getting?