The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[lalaland]

flyladyrocks, when I read your post it made me laugh! I totally get the conflomeration of events that puts you in that frame of mind. (been there, done that.......)

I'll add my wishes for your husband's speedy recovery.



on another note, can you believe a 9 week old rooster trying to mate the grownups? they can't believe it either!

 

[Leahs Mom]

flyladyrocks, when I read your post it made me laugh! I totally get the conflomeration of events that puts you in that frame of mind. (been there, done that.......)

I'll add my wishes for your husband's speedy recovery.



on another note, can you believe a 9 week old rooster trying to mate the grownups? they can't believe it either!

What????? What breed is this guy? (Is it a breed thing that they mature early?)

 

[subhanalah]

What?????  What breed is this guy?  (Is it a breed thing that they mature early?)

I had a 10 week old silkie try to mate a young pullet. I wasn't sure what I was seeing lol

 

[Leahs Mom]

A Silkie!!!!!!! Wow.....

 

[armorfirelady]

Morning all. The babies are a month old already!!! I was watching them last night after I fed them and I realized neither Mom called them to dinner. babies were happy out in the yard zooming around chasing bugs. Sophie finally did a few clucks but half hearted at best. Guess the moms are letting the babies spread their wings. I've noticed the last few days they stray further & further from the moms as they forage as well. I've found smaller poops on top of the nesting box as well. I don't know if they are roosting at night now or not. Work hasn't let me check on them at night the last 2 nights. Def will be checking tonight. It will be great to pull the temporary nest box if the babies are roosting now. Maybe the moms will start laying soon. I have a coop full of slackers. Edie is only one laying daily. And the big girls usually leave me 2 eggs as well. Thankfully my egg customers are patient. I told them the girls think they are on summer vacation .

I'll try & grab some updated pics of the babies. Suppose to rain all day so I want to get some chipping done before heavier rain shows up

 

[subhanalah]

A Silkie!!!!!!!   Wow.....

yeah, I was quite astonished. I guess he's taking lessons from the big guy, who came running over to see why the chicken I picked up was squealing, you know, the chicken that was just trying to mate one of his pullets. Smh

 

[subhanalah]

Sometimes, I wonder about you.  I don't think anybody read that she must defend her actions to  us.   I took it as a light hearted  grumble about being tired.  Don't add me to the "Please forgive us"  IMO

well, the type of welcome I received was one in which one could not ask a simple question and receive a simple answer. I was simply applying my experience on the board with the things she was stating. It is not simply my own experience.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:
Well...my 9.5 wk SFH must all be females then. None of that behavior going on!

And I think you're right about the "brown" one. I compared brown's photos with "Mister'" photos at the same age and there is no mistaking he's a roo.

Mister at 9 weeks:



Current "brown" at 9 weeks:

 

[subhanalah]

Well...my 9.5 wk SFH must all be females then. None of that behavior going on! And I think you're right about the "brown" one. I compared brown's photos with "Mister'" photos at the same age and there is no mistaking he's a roo. Mister at 9 weeks: Current "brown" at 9 weeks:

Oh, how exciting! I have all your boys over here, I'm still hoping the crested is a girl!

 

[armorfirelady]

Big girls picking off grass and bugs off the tractor while I was moving the netting. While they don't like it when it's running they do like walking behind me as I mow to grab bugs.

Just a pic to show the babies are venturing further & further from mom. They are a month old yesterday

Mommas & the babies are digging to china around the Lilly's & Black-eyed Susans. I moved their fence into a new area so they have more bugs to get. Apparently they approve.

Another baby pic. If I had to guess I would say the 2 with tail feathers are Roos. The grey I am guessing is a hen. (Fingers crossed) and the other black is a hen. One I am undecided as of yet. Has short tail feathers so could go either way @Sally8 all the babies are very healthy. And my mom has decided we need to do it again next year