The Middle Tennessee Thread

[New2chicksinTN]

I think it is normal for chickens to have mood swings...my oldest girls are 16 months old and are molting and they are all very irritated at me and each other (it is painful for them to grow all of those new feathers in) that could also explain why she is not laying she could also be molting....not sure about the sounds they make mine do that also sometimes just be sure they do not have a rattling or wheezing sound and they should be fine...about dumplin is it possible they she could be a cornish cross (meat chicken) ?

Possibly a cross. We purchased her from TSC so not too sure if they are crossed or not.

 

[New2chicksinTN]

I am so sorry about your nephew.

thanks. It has been tough. Was what THP called a freak accident.

 

[Cinny]

We are all crazy chicken ladies....and gentlemen.

 

[New2chicksinTN]

Hi, It sounds like it could be a couple of things.
(1) Every flock has a pecking order. If no males are around a hen will take over.
(2) She is broody. Not laying eggs, protective of eggs and or chicks. Always mad looking puffed out.
(3) She is just plain mean or Bipolar It happens.

Chickens as they grow can make some funny sounds till they get their cluck or crow down pat. All roos sound awful when first starting to learn to crow. Some sound as if they are in pain.

Sexing can be tricky till the are around 8 weeks old. Roos will stand strait, tail up, wings tight to their body, many EE's will have red patches on the wings, with red combs and start getting pointed feathers around the neck and base of tail.
Hens are softer looking. Tail is droopy, wings relaxed, comb is pale or light pink. color is uniformed and not patchy. They start to pair up at that age. Little pullets start to hang out with 1 favorite roo. Right now my 10 weeks old have a favorite roo. He has 5 pullets hanging around him and the other 4 roos run together.

I have never seen a fat leghorn. they are mostly skittish and lean. I did have a cornish X my kids got as an Easter gift from a friend who worked at Koch farms. It was a gross chicken. solid white and just sat in front of the feed bowl. It didn't move much and got fat quick. It just sat eat and pooped where it was. By 10 weeks old I dressed it out and it was 11 pounds! We called her Chickenzilla. i will never get one again.

she definitely is the dominant chicken. she is not too protective of her nesting box...usually just walks beside me griping about everything. She is by far my most vocal chicken. She only puffed up at me and when the younger ones were first introduced. This is my first go round with chickens so I am learning. thanks for your input. I will post pics soon to see if anyone can help with the sexing.

 

[New2chicksinTN]

New2chicksinTN, I'm so sorry about the loss of your nephew.

thanks. it has been tough for all of us. a freak accident and he died instantly....28 years old.

 

[Cinny]

The only one I have that has gotten all puffy when brooding is my Maran...she'll puff up and talk up a blue streak at me and really gets riled up when I take her off the nesting box......but she's never pecked at me. The only time I ever get pecked is if I wear my polka dot boots from tractor supply, I have a dominique that is the sweetest hen ever but she will peck at the polka dots until I brush her away.

 

[New2chicksinTN]

The only one I have that has gotten all puffy when brooding is my Maran...she'll puff up and talk up a blue streak at me and really gets riled up when I take her off the nesting box......but she's never pecked at me. The only time I ever get pecked is if I wear my polka dot boots from tractor supply, I have a dominique that is the sweetest hen ever but she will peck at the polka dots until I brush her away.

I was wearing my bright pink crocs....maybe she does not like them?

 

[DMRippy]

I too am calling the roo guys this week. I still have the slw roo the one with cross beak is not sever and very very slight. I had to look at him twice yesterday to make sure. I also have a 2black year old black copper marans roo. He is very good never a worry about him attacking anyone. He would not be good for a copper marans breeding but for olive eggers or just a flock roo he would be great. They are FREE! I really dont want them to be eaten but i need the pens so LAST CALL.

Oh yeah i still have the older Foley slw roo if anyone wants him for showing he would do great.

Don't call him yet, let me bring you some roos this weekend. Unless your available after 5 pm then I can bring them during the week.

That is fine. I will not call him till the weekend. How old are they? I have 2to roo guys for different ages.

 

[amenfarm]

I was wearing my bright pink crocs....maybe she does not like them?

If I forget and wear flip-flops to the coop, one of the ladies goes for my Red/pink toenail polish!

 

[Octoberlyn]

That is fine. I will not call him till the weekend. How old are they? I have 2to roo guys for different ages.

I think you are close to me - near Cookeville? Can you tell me who you call so I can call too? I got one reference, but this one was near Chattanooga and that's a haul fo rme - - -