The tale of the Henitentiary

[steny03]

Lol, yes it does get hot in Nevada. Luckily, where I'm at its considered the high desert, so nowhere near the temps that Las Vegas is famous for. It rarely gets above 100 where I'm at. I did buy the largest waterer I could find in order to always make sure they have enough. I found a 5 gallon plastic waterer at a ranch store.

Nothing too exciting for the girls second day at home. They seem to be getting slightly more comfortable with me...meaning they don't run as quickly to the coop when they see me! They are still spending quite some time in the coop...but I have seen them eating and drinking, so I know they come out for that. They will also come out to peck and hunt at the scratch I spread out in their run.

So, it's a bit soon to be able to pick out personalities, but I have been noticing that the two biggest girls hang together, while the two smallest girls are becoming fast friends. I have noticed some pecking between the girls. I hope it will go away as they establish a pecking order.


I've also been throwing a couple handfuls of crab grass for them to pick through. Seems to be a huge hit!

​

 

[StephieSky]

They're gorgeous I want some! So so bad. They look so happy already. Cute cute cute! Everywhere I go now I'm thinking can I get that for my chickens? I've started my collection of chicken stuff in a big way and I don't even have real chickens yet! lol Well, I have two but I need more chickens, a coop and tall run soooooooooo bad. I <3 yours!

You know even with just two they still have a pecking order but given all the space you've provided and plenty of food and water they should settle right down to be happy hens When my two argue it doesn't last but a moment. One will get mad and walk away and the other one will be like " omg! I'm so alone! " and that ends all arguing lol

Oooo they are so sweet. I can't hardly wait to see more pictures and hear about how they are adjusting to life in the high desert I bet you can't wait for the first egg lol I read it seems to surprise the chicken too haha!

 

[NovaAman]

Beautiful! Well, I guess that means it happened.

In the winter hear, I go out of my way and buy lettuces, cabbage heads, spinach, greens and provide them. In the summer, not so much, they turn their noses. BUT if you have a pretty grass free run, I bet they'd love the different varieties. On the really hot days, frozen water bottles put in the waterers helps. Well we get so humid here that doing things to help my birds is probably not the same as you'd need, but that's irrelevant, iced melon, frozen peas, grapes, berries... Did I mention my girls and guys are spoiled?

As for mutts... I love my mutts. They've got character and beauty all their own.I'll post some picks later. Can't do with the touchpad.

 

[BY Chicken Lady]

Lol, yes it does get hot in Nevada. Luckily, where I'm at its considered the high desert, so nowhere near the temps that Las Vegas is famous for. It rarely gets above 100 where I'm at. I did buy the largest waterer I could find in order to always make sure they have enough. I found a 5 gallon plastic waterer at a ranch store.

Nothing too exciting for the girls second day at home. They seem to be getting slightly more comfortable with me...meaning they don't run as quickly to the coop when they see me! They are still spending quite some time in the coop...but I have seen them eating and drinking, so I know they come out for that. They will also come out to peck and hunt at the scratch I spread out in their run.

So, it's a bit soon to be able to pick out personalities, but I have been noticing that the two biggest girls hang together, while the two smallest girls are becoming fast friends. I have noticed some pecking between the girls. I hope it will go away as they establish a pecking order.


I've also been throwing a couple handfuls of crab grass for them to pick through. Seems to be a huge hit!

​

I have two Black Australorps that just turned 2 months old. I hope they turn out as beautiful as your girls! I love their beautiful coloring in the sunlight

 

[steny03]

Thank you all!

They slowly adjusting to me. They don't seem to be as eager to run away, and will even be ok with me standing a foot or two away...but only outside the pen.....one did try to take a dust bath in front of me so I'm taking that as a good sign that they are feeling comfy. I did give the little runt a name.....Dumpling....now will just have to figure out three more....

NovaAman - thank you for the idea of a frozen bottle in their water. I have a bottle freezing right now and plan to put it in tomorrow before I leave for work. I tried broccoli but they didn't take to it. So far all they like are their pellets, scratch, and the crabgrass I pull for them! I did buy some kale and will try that. I also have an older watermelon in the fridge.....

BY Chicken Lady- they are gorgeous! I bet yours will be too.....I love all the blues, greens, and purples m seeing!

Steny

 

[NovaAman]

OMG! I hope they love the watermelon. Oh they will. Might take a minute to get used to. Considering they come from a hatchery as started pullets, I do not see them getting the spoiled treatment of watermelon parties. Peas too. Frozen peas are fun in the summer and nice in oat meal on a cold winter night.

 

[steny03]

OMG! I hope they love the watermelon. Oh they will. Might take a minute to get used to. Considering they come from a hatchery as started pullets, I do not see them getting the spoiled treatment of watermelon parties. Peas too. Frozen peas are fun in the summer and nice in oat meal on a cold winter night.

I just tried the frozen peas! Took a moment for one to become brave enough to try one, but once she did everybody else had to join in! I think they are a definite hit! I also tried some Bok Choy....the jury is still out on that one. One girl took a couple pecks, but nobody else seemed willing to try. I left it in their pen, and will go out later to see if it has been nibbled on.

So far, the hits on treats are scratch, crab grass, and peas!

I have to agree....as hatchery raised birds, they just haven't been exposed to all the different types of food out there. I'm going to take the slow approach, and will try to introduce treats a second time if the first wasn't successful.

steny

 

[BY Chicken Lady]

I just tried the frozen peas! Took a moment for one to become brave enough to try one, but once she did everybody else had to join in! I think they are a definite hit! I also tried some bok Choy....the jury is still out on that one. One girl took a couple pecks, but nobody else seemed willin to try. I left it in their pen, and will go out later to see if it has been nibbled on.

So far, the hits on treats are scratch, crab grass, and peas!

I have to agree....as hatchery raised birds, they just haven't been exposed to all the different types of food out there. I'm going to take the slow approach, and will try to introduce treats a second time if the first wasn't successful.

steny

Isn't that so funny? My baby chicks always look at food treats the first time like it is so foreign, then once one of them tries it they all eat it. The first time I gave them sprouted wheat they acted like I unleashed a million legged beast in their run...then when I pulled out a single sprout and one of them ate it, they all dug right in and ate the whole tangled pile of sprouts. Silly little things.

 

[steny03]

Today was a big day for my girls! I feel like a bad chicken momma, but I've been having a hard time telling the girls apart. Well, except for the smallest one, which I've named Dumpling.

So I decided to put zip tie bands on their legs. Each girl got a different color. Although they have been slowly getting used to me over the past week that they've been home, I still had not progressed to the point where I can touch them, etc. So I had to confine them to their coop, and then individually catch them, band them, and put them in their run. Sheesh, you would have thought I was killing them! So much clucking! But luckily none of them felt the need to poop on me during the banding. I kept them fairly loose, and will watch them closely to make sure that they don't become too tight, etc.

I took the below photo just after I had finished the last hen. I tried to bribe them with their favorite treat of peas to get them to come back out of their coop. They proceeded to do the "take a step...shake the leg...and cluck disapprovingly" routine at me.



I did go out and check on them about an hour later....I saw almost no pecking at the bands, and all seemed pretty intent on rustling through the grass clippings I put in their run.

steny​

 

[NovaAman]

lol, give it time. They are not like people raised chicks. They are batch raised, minimal contact like holding and no petting. They've got to learn to trust you.

Take a chair, sit in their run. Hand feed them bread pieces but don't try and touch them yet. Slowly transition to sitting on the ground, and get them to come to you from that position. Treats are a real motivator. This way you can getthem to eat from your palm. They'll start to stand on you, be right by you, and may take to minor finger touches. Just have patience.