Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[AnneInTheBurbs]

Probably a huge one!

 

[OneMountainAcres]

I think I'm in love with these silver welbars! Yesterday afternoon, I finally left them out of the crate that they were in so they could explore a little. I rescued them a couple times from the older flock members but nothing major. This morning, when I opened the coop, they decided that I'm a safe place. 2 landed on my head, and two on my arm lol. I spent about a half hour just sitting on the ground with them. They're so sweet and affectionate

 

[hyzenthlay]

@kie4 , if you are looking for friendly chickens, I have to say that the 2 Dorkings I've gotten from Meyer Hatchery have been the friendliest birds I've seen. My current Dorking, Juniper, is always following me around, pecking at my shoes hoping for treats, and if I crouch down, she will jump up on my shoulder like a pirate's parrot! None of my other birds have ever come close to that level of friendliness, except my last Dorking, who died this spring.

So, one more plug for my accidental roosters. Anyone interested in a 17 week old Olive Egger roo (Welsummer x CCL) or an 8 week old Lavender Orpington cockerel? Free to good home!

They are both from Meyer, happy, healthy, and not allowed to live in the city--which is unfortunate, since that's where I live.

They need a new home--the lav orp hasn't started crowing yet, but the neighbors have noticed the OE's crowing, and while some of them think it's charming, others are probably not amused. He has already fended off at least one Cooper's Hawk attack, and he is getting frisky with the ladies--I have already seen a few fertilized eggs--and he is very respectful of people, even keeps his distance from my toddler. If you know anyone who is interested, please spread the word!

Here they are again:

 

[kie4]

I think I'm in love with these silver welbars! Yesterday afternoon, I finally left them out of the crate that they were in so they could explore a little. I rescued them a couple times from the older flock members but nothing major. This morning, when I opened the coop, they decided that I'm a safe place. 2 landed on my head, and two on my arm lol. I spent about a half hour just sitting on the ground with them. They're so sweet and affectionate

How old are your silver Welbars? Our Merida is 8 weeks old now and has a lovely mullet. Merida on the right and her CCL sister on the left.

@hyzenthlay I didn't know Dorkings are another friendly one, thanks!

 

[stake]

@kie4 , if you are looking for friendly chickens, I have to say that the 2 Dorkings I've gotten from Meyer Hatchery have been the friendliest birds I've seen. My current Dorking, Juniper, is always following me around, pecking at my shoes hoping for treats, and if I crouch down, she will jump up on my shoulder like a pirate's parrot! None of my other birds have ever come close to that level of friendliness, except my last Dorking, who died this spring.

So, one more plug for my accidental roosters. Anyone interested in a 17 week old Olive Egger roo (Welsummer x CCL) or an 8 week old Lavender Orpington cockerel? Free to good home!

They are both from Meyer, happy, healthy, and not allowed to live in the city--which is unfortunate, since that's where I live.

They need a new home--the lav orp hasn't started crowing yet, but the neighbors have noticed the OE's crowing, and while some of them think it's charming, others are probably not amused. He has already fended off at least one Cooper's Hawk attack, and he is getting frisky with the ladies--I have already seen a few fertilized eggs--and he is very respectful of people, even keeps his distance from my toddler. If you know anyone who is interested, please spread the word!

Here they are again:

Ditto:

I've had a # and they were all friendly and chatty.....I hope to have more in the spring....

 

[stake]

Anne:

TSC has have a heart traps for about $30.....a racoon who's fixated on chicken food may not be that hard to trap.....you already know the bait.....just sit it out in the open next to the empty food bowl...if you don't want to spend the $$$, you can borrow my trap.....but it you catch him you need to eat him....lol.....

 

[emorems0]

@kie4 , if you are looking for friendly chickens, I have to say that the 2 Dorkings I've gotten from Meyer Hatchery have been the friendliest birds I've seen. My current Dorking, Juniper, is always following me around, pecking at my shoes hoping for treats, and if I crouch down, she will jump up on my shoulder like a pirate's parrot! None of my other birds have ever come close to that level of friendliness, except my last Dorking, who died this spring.

So, one more plug for my accidental roosters. Anyone interested in a 17 week old Olive Egger roo (Welsummer x CCL) or an 8 week old Lavender Orpington cockerel? Free to good home!

They are both from Meyer, happy, healthy, and not allowed to live in the city--which is unfortunate, since that's where I live.

They need a new home--the lav orp hasn't started crowing yet, but the neighbors have noticed the OE's crowing, and while some of them think it's charming, others are probably not amused. He has already fended off at least one Cooper's Hawk attack, and he is getting frisky with the ladies--I have already seen a few fertilized eggs--and he is very respectful of people, even keeps his distance from my toddler. If you know anyone who is interested, please spread the word!

Here they are again:

I'm betting my neighbor would love your OE rooster, but the logistics don't really work right now... she has 20 layers but they are just chicks and keeping a single roo by himself until the girls grow up would be a hassle.

 

[emorems0]

I'm having a problem with my neighbor (not my new, chicken-loving neighbor across the street... my immediate next door neighbor). Apparently, they've been talking to other people about how there are coyotes in our neighborhood and that they think our flock is drawing them in. I just heard through the grapevine that they are thinking of going to the courthouse about it. Keep in mind that I am not the only person in our rural development who has animals and that we are positioned directly between the Gamelands and another swath of forest. There are no ordinances that say we can't have chickens and there are other people in our neighborhood and municipality who have chickens, ducks, goats, and even a pig (although that is strictly a pet, it is not super mini). And we don't free-range, our chickens are always in their run/coop (I mean, a coyote could easily jump the fence, but the birds are always in the secure coop at night).

Before I heard about his concerns and plans to go to the courthouse, he and my chicken friend across the street were chatting in my yard this afternoon. He thought one of our pheasants got out and was trying to catch it, but it turned out to be a wild pheasant. He mentioned how they release them during hunting season by the hundreds in the gamelands but they get eaten up by the coyotes. Then he started talking about how a pack of coyotes had a standoff with his dog (a Doberman) and they didn't back down. My chicken friend from across the street said about how they gang up on domestic dogs and attack them and how she's had them run past her going from the gamelands behind her house to the swath of woods behind our house. She also suggested that maybe they were drawn in by the smell of next-door neighbor's dog because she's in heat. He was very friendly and non-confrontational and spoke positively about all of our animals, but I could tell he was concerned about the coyotes (as we all are in the neighborhood... there are tons of kids and dogs here).

I'm just hoping that my chicken friend's comment about being attracted to the smell of his dog in heat and the comments about how lots of wildlife moves from the gamelands to the woods behind our houses and we just happen to be on that path changes his perspective a little. But what if it doesn't? Can he do anything if I'm not breaking any rules by having our animals? If other people in the neighborhood have them too?

 

[OneMountainAcres]

How old are your silver Welbars? Our Merida is 8 weeks old now and has a lovely mullet. Merida on the right and her CCL sister on the left.

@hyzenthlay I didn't know Dorkings are another friendly one, thanks!

I THINK they're around 8 weeks old now? Don't quote me on that. They came to me through the chicken train from @dheltzel

 

[dheltzel]

I THINK they're around 8 weeks old now? Don't quote me on that. They came to me through the chicken train from @dheltzel

I would say they were hatched sometime in August, so at least 8 weeks, maybe 12+. It's interesting that you found them extra friendly. With all the discussions about friendly breeds, I would say that in general, nurture wins over nature in this area. I've had reports of my "flightiest" breed being the most bold about flying up to perch on an arm or shoulder. I tell all my customers that ask for a friendly breed that the real difference is how they are handled when young.

But, I did not handle those silver Welbars at all. There is no reason they should be acting so friendly, unless you are -- THE BIRD WHISPERER !!