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

[Wrightsx4]

Nova, if I remember correctly you're younger than me so stop it Until a few years ago I couldn't run either due to a really bad knee, probably from too much beach volleyball years ago, lol. I switched to running shoes with really firm arch support and my knee didn't bother me nearly as much and eventually it got stronger. Doesn't ever bother me anymore. If my back and neck would just do the same...
Should be fun to play "who's your daddy" guessing game with your upcoming chicks!

 

[Bens-Hens]

Absolutely. It's simple and cheap that confinement.

Glad to know your family made it through, Oz.

Chicks... chicks are so cute!! I have a freak silkie on freak eggs right now. Why freak eggs? Well... see... They are eggs from the hens in the garage right... and that's cool... BUT there are a few roos in there that are NOT matching to the hens. HEHE. I have no idea where the fertilization will come from. BUT I am thinking there will be several faverolle/phoenix crosses, a silkie/phoenix, even possible serema/phoenix. Yes... Serious muttitude going on in there. LOL man... it's going to be funny.

How's the foot strike change going Ben? I wish I could run, but I have freaking awful knees. Maybe when the weight is down more. I did do a teensy bit of running with the boys, but on the grass, and that seemed to be ok, but boy did my knees hate me the next day. I have that now too from going up and down ladders... I feel OLD. Just keep on keeping on with the eliptical and the bike... No impact.

Life complicated in your garage, going to be some nasty Maurie episodes in a few weeks lol.

Foot strike has been a bit hard actually. I never thought I had a 'problem' until someone told me I was a heel striker, so I had to watch video's of why that was bad and how to fix it. It was like a flood gate because as soon as one person said it I got it from everywhere lol. SO now, instead of a long stride landing on my heal first, I am trying to shorten it and land more flat, or mid foot. Harder on the brain than the legs really. My old runners had a lot of k's on them, and all with my old style, so I got some new kicks and am trying to wear in a new groove with this mid foot strike.

Doesn't feel any easier, but the numbers are showing it's better so I will stick with it. I have a timed run tomorrow so that should give a good reflection of how I am going.

My advise is to start out walking if it's new to you, or been a while. ALicia started out walking on the treadmill, a steady 5.4kph, then, slowly built it up. SHe walks faster than me, I have to jog to keep up to her fast walk. From there, she started to jog a bit, then just built on that. In the end, if you want to get good at it, you will need practice. SOme nice shoes fitted properly (both in size and support) will help keep your knees up to the task.

Set long and short term goals, then work away at ticking them off!

Nova, if I remember correctly you're younger than me so stop it

Until a few years ago I couldn't run either due to a really bad knee, probably from too much beach volleyball years ago, lol. I switched to running shoes with really firm arch support and my knee didn't bother me nearly as much and eventually it got stronger. Doesn't ever bother me anymore. If my back and neck would just do the same...
Should be fun to play "who's your daddy" guessing game with your upcoming chicks!

Hahahaha, 'who's your daddy' lol, we tried to keep it simple with just one dad, Nova has little chance there! There was a bit of 'Are you my mummy' yesterday through the fence though hahaha.

Today I plan to revamp our temp run, I think I can do a bit better job.

 

[babyfoot]

Phew *wipes brow* a wee bit hot today, guess summer is here. Been out misting my chickens and chicks as much as they dislike it it is necessary in this heat I think

 

[EverMystique1]

Nova, if I remember correctly you're younger than me so stop it

Sadly, I am probably younger than either of you, and if I make it half a mile of running, I am amazed. I used to run. Then this disease kucked into overdrive. Now, a half mile will nit only aggravate my tendonitis, it will start my muscles spasming for hours. Of course, if you saw me at work, no one would believe it. But running is different from walking or assembling trunk hinges for the ford fusion.

So, you runners, enjoy a half mile for me. I'll burn off my calories at work.

 

[babyfoot]

Above- Chick 1 that I thought was male because of larger comb but loads of feathering and neck feathers are coming through too

Above- chicks 2 and 3, one on left is female I think, tiny comb but hardly feathered

Above and below- chick 2, eyeliner still visible, few feathers tiny comb



Above-Chick 3, large comb but very well feathered

chick 3

any guesses welcome, I've only been doing this three years so still learning and as you know it's a lot harder with mixes

 

[babyfoot]

Quote: forgot to quote, in case anyone thinks I am randomly posting pics

 

[EverMystique1]

If I dodn't know them to be chicks, I would think Chick 3 had some turkey heritage. Lol.

I am useless in guessing sexes until they are teens. Except for my RIRxPR crosses... those I can finally figure out. (Only had to hatch a few dozen to get there.)

 

[EverMystique1]

Side by side on 2 and 3, I would guess 1 M, 1 F, but I would be hard pressed to guess which is which until those rooster tail feathers started coming in.

 

[babyfoot]

If I dodn't know them to be chicks, I would think Chick 3 had some turkey heritage. Lol.

I am useless in guessing sexes until they are teens. Except for my RIRxPR crosses... those I can finally figure out. (Only had to hatch a few dozen to get there.)

Wellll..... I've had a few different wild birds visit my run so anything's possible hahahahaha. Yesterday I saw a wild crested dove frantically trying to woo and mate with an ordinary turtle dove, she seemed to be giving in, can't wait till they hatch and come a visiting.

My roosters, and either of these two are the sire (hey what's the correct terminology for a daddy rooster?)



and I know this is mummy of chick 1 unless there's a throwback coming out

 

[Bens-Hens]

I am guessing they are about 4-5 weeks old too? I am leaning towards white and light coloured being female, the darker one is on the fence for another week. If that (or any) of those combs start turning pink then I would be going with a boy. If they stay yellow and don't get much bigger then I would lean towards all three being pullets.

Another week or so should be more confident.