I hadn't realized they were good fliers. It looks like I'll have to plan on a covered run. Though all mine are covered I do let the birds out to range in my yard and none go over the 4' chain link except on EE and I clipped her wings.
Did I mention that my hoop coop was 40* today and the waterer in the run was still liquid? I was impressed since it was pretty cold out.
What I like about the hoop runs is that you can keep adding on as money allows.
My oldest SFH flies over the 6 foot fence everyday and then back again at night. I have thought about clipping her wings but I think she would be devastated. She mainly sits on my front porch and looks in the window. She has even laid me an egg a time or two in my flower box right out the window. She will also jump in my car anytime she gets a chance. I am not sure what I will do if the other 11 SFHs are as friendly as her.
CarolJ, I am so sorry for you lost the chick. It is never easy.
I have some Birchen Marans chicks that get out of the brooder, they will walk over to me, but then when I reach to pick them up they run. little stinkers.
I really should climb in the brooder and examine them more closely. My brooder is a 4 ft. kiddie pool with 36" fencing around it. It's up off the floor so I need a step stool to get in it.
I think there may only be one SFH with crooked toes. I can live with that.
I bought my chicks from Greenfire...ordered 12 they sent 17, 2 didn't make the trip...I now have 15...no bent toes. they are starting to feather out...I have a lot with crests...they are so cute! I'll post pictures when they get a little older...~Charm1704
I wanted to order from GF but couldnt' find anyone to go in with me to fill an order. I have two with crests and will work from there, keeping all roos.
I'll try to get pics today. I had hoped for a new camera for Christmas but it didn't happen. The one I have doesn't do well.
I wanted to order from GF but couldnt' find anyone to go in with me to fill an order. I have two with crests and will work from there, keeping all roos.
I'll try to get pics today. I had hoped for a new camera for Christmas but it didn't happen. The one I have doesn't do well.
Hi Rancher Hicks. I just noticed where you are from. My folks both went to SU and I grew up in Romulus, NY. Now I am in NM and it is 65 degrees here today. Nice now but summers are really tough.
Anyway, I notice two of my SFHs have crooked toes- I bought the chicks from Greenfire at $19 a piece but only paid for 6 and they sent 14! Did you come up with anything regarding causes of the crooked toes? One of them did not evidence the crooked toe thing until now. The other had a bent toe when I got her, it went away, and now it is back. Hmmmmm. I was thinking of breeding and selling eggs but I'm afraid due to general ignorance.
CarolJ I am so sorry for your loss. I lost one, too. Husband found her dead outside coop, in the run (2 months old, at that point). Either she got separated and was too cold or my BCM chickens pecked her to death or, more likely, the neighbor's cat killed her. We patched up the hole in the roof and made a secure enclosure for the youngsters inside the coop. Since then no losses.
Contrastphoto, they are gorgeous! Congrats and thanks for sharing the photos.
Anyway, I notice two of my SFHs have crooked toes- I bought the chicks from Greenfire at $19 a piece but only paid for 6 and they sent 14! Did you come up with anything regarding causes of the crooked toes? One of them did not evidence the crooked toe thing until now. The other had a bent toe when I got her, it went away, and now it is back. Hmmmmm. I was thinking of breeding and selling eggs but I'm afraid due to general ignorance.
Wow, you did great on bonus chicks! I paid for 8 and got 9. One has crooked toes. I do not remember if they were like that when the chicks arrived. Didn't know to look for it. Now I do!
A lot of people keep saying it's an incubator problem causing the crooked toes. It CAN be that but it can also be genetics. I think there are just way too many for it to be totally an incubator issue. They are also not all coming from the same incubator! Time will tell.
My guy has been separated from the rest of the SFHs for a couple months now. He has his own harem of Ameraucana pullets. It's an experiment to see if he passes the toes through totally unrelated girls. I may get some really cool chicks, too, that lay blue eggs and have crests and muffs. He's a red crested and the girls are blue wheaten. It's my own little project.
Well it sounds like it's not any one breeder with the crooked toes. So it's not likely to be an incubator problem. Has anyone written to GF about this? It sounds like it started there. It also sounds like they give great deal.
Wow, you did great on bonus chicks! I paid for 8 and got 9. One has crooked toes. I do not remember if they were like that when the chicks arrived. Didn't know to look for it. Now I do!
A lot of people keep saying it's an incubator problem causing the crooked toes. It CAN be that but it can also be genetics. I think there are just way too many for it to be totally an incubator issue. They are also not all coming from the same incubator! Time will tell.
My guy has been separated from the rest of the SFHs for a couple months now. He has his own harem of Ameraucana pullets. It's an experiment to see if he passes the toes through totally unrelated girls. I may get some really cool chicks, too, that lay blue eggs and have crests and muffs. He's a red crested and the girls are blue wheaten. It's my own little project.
That sounds great!
I hope you take pictures when you hatch the Ameraucana/SFH crosses. It certainly will be interesting to see if the crooked toes are passed on to those chicks. I was disappointed as a blue-ish rooster with a crest and deep red markings on his wings has the toe issue. I love his coloring and really wanted to try breeding him.
I will say these SFHs are living up to their reputation for personality! What bold, friendly little sweethearts they are! Crooked toes or not, they are fun to have around and pretty to look at.
I see Rancher Hicks suggested asking Greenfire about the toes. That is a good idea. I may do that next week when I'm done with the latest ordeal at work.
