The adventure begins!!!!

[Cheyenne2929]

Last week I got my little coop off of craigslist. We were going to fix up our 30 yr old 14x6 coop, but decided we didnt have time or $$ to spend on it and I bought a small chicken tractor with run on craigslist. Last night I picked up the chicks that I also found on CL. I got a barred rock, an austrolorp, a buff orph, and a NH red. They are approx 5 weeks old. 3 are 98% feathered, and the NH is mostly feathered on her body. We got home lateish and it was too cool out to put them in the new coop, plus we have to chick proof before they can go in overnight. The chicks got to spend the night in the house in a wire dog crate. The 2 dogs and cat were very interested and scared the chicks a bit at first, but they are all getting used to each other. I noticed a couple chicks testing to see if they could squeeze out between the wires, didnt look like they could fit more than their heads and necks though. I warned hubby that IF they did get out, to grab the dogs first, then the chicks. For bedtime we put them in our office and covered with a blanket and closed the door. The chicks and the rock in particular chattered quite a while, then around 11 went quiet. I think this may have been when they made their break for it! Got up early this morning and 3 of the 4 had escaped and were hiding around the room. Had a fun little roundup! The buff was the only one left in the cage, she is not the biggest, but is the most mellow, I think she just didnt care to try to get out, or didnt try hard enough.They are back in their crate. Had hoped to get them outside for a bit today, but it is still pretty cool out. Maybe later!
They have not been handled much and were in a group of 25-50 chicks in their previous homes. The rock seems pretty fearless, pecked me one when I picked her up the first time, but didnt mind being held much. the NH red and the austro are very timid, the buff is just chill. I guess they have their little personalities already!
Now to name them...The buff is my hubbys fave, so I let him name her Buttercup..yeah, original! lol Trying to think of a feisty but feminine name for the rock. I named the red Cinna from the hunger games which I am reading now. I think the austro will be Rue, and was thinking of Katniss for the rock since she kind of fits the personality a bit of the main character in the books. I'm sure something will come to me...
So far it has been an interesting adventure!

 

[Wolftalk]

GOOD LUCK!!!! have fun with your babies. They arent babies very long! lol! I love the Hunger Games names thats really cute.

 

[Cheyenne2929]

Loving my chicky babies! It has taken a couple days but even the most shy girl is hopping up on my atm or lap if i sit on the ground with them. I will def have to post some pics tomorrow!

 

[theoldchick]

Can't wait for the pictures!

 

[Cheyenne2929]

So no pics yet. Cant find my mini memory card converter My girls are doing well. It warmed up the past couple days so we set up the coop for the girls to sleep in last night. I was so worried about them, my poor lil girls out there by themselves. I had gotten so used to the chirping in the next room. Hubby let them out into the run this morning, they were happy to get out. 10 min later he noticed them playing keep away and thought they had a very large worm...no it was a very small baby snake!!! He comes in the house and says Snake! I'm thinking OMG a snake has killed my babies! He grabbed the little garden spade thing we use to dig up worms for the chicks and ran in to save the chicks from the "snake". Buttercup would NOT let him have the snake! It looked more like he was saving the snake from her! He would scoop up the snake and she would attack it and steal it back. It was kinda funny once i realized the snake was so teeny. After he took the snake out of the run Buttercup ran around looking for it peeping in a very irritated tone. Guess she will make a good guard chicken, at least against baby snakes!

 

[nick7764]

good luck! Cant wait to get my own girls this summer...

 

[Cheyenne2929]

My girls from about 5-7 weeks old
The girls in the house for the night, in a row on their "roost" log

Cinna jumped up on Minx, it was totally her idea, then she went for a short ride where Minx knocked her off by running under my leg.


The girls in the coop/run for the first time. approx 6 weeks old

poor Cinna before she started getting feathers on her head. The buff is buttercup, the black is Rue and the rock is Katniss

Katniss rides Minx my cocker spaniel

 

[Cheyenne2929]

The girls now.

dust bath!

The snake they caught the morning after their first night in the coop! Buttercup was not giving it up!

Buttercup baby in her fave. spot

Katniss says what you lookin at?!!

Rue, my black austro

Cinna my NH red, finally starting to get her feathers on her head and back.

Their personalities were somewhat evident even at 4-5 weeks when I got them, but they are getting stronger. Rue is my shy girl, but if everyone else hops up on my lap she will too, she is usually the last up though. Cinna is the 2nd most shy, but once she decides to be brave she likes to perch on my arm. Buttercup and Katniss are the most friendly, buttercup is more laid back, katniss is more fearless/dominant, though not mean to the others. Katniss likes to be up high and survey her queendom. She is usually the first on my lap, then I have to fight to keep her off my head. Buttercup likes to cuddle and will lay riht down as soon as she gets on my lap, arm whatever, she is content just to be there.
The girls are having trouble going into the coop when it starts to get dark. We have been putting them in by hand, or once in a while they will go in or I can call them in. If it is just me trying to get them in they respond well to my voice, here chickchickchick. If we are in a hurry hubby catches them and puts them in, which they do not like.
They do spend more time in the coop in the daytime since we cut vent holes in it. (when we got the coop it had little to no ventilation, but they were not living in it at the time) before they moved in full time we did lots of vents.

I am really enjoying my chickenbabies.

 

[mondotomhead]

I love the names you've given your chickens. I'm reading that book now too.

Cute picture of Katniss on your dog's head

 

[Cheyenne2929]

The girls enjoyed some cantalope today. They were not sure what to make of it, but finally started eating the seeds, by tonight they ate all the guts and were working their way to the rind. I ate most of it so they didnt get much actual cantalope.