Update-Chicks are 15 weeks old

[olinr]

Hi All,

My chicks, aka Chickens, are 15 weeks old.

Buff Orphs & RIR pullets in their pen.

Note the automatic waterer with an Orbit Timer attached to the water line.

We are on a water tank so water is scarce. I set a timer to open for five minutes every two hours. The cockerels catch their combs,
but work around it. I have been using the base of a dog watering bottle, however, the chickens drain it with our hot weather. I added
a sun screen to the top of the pen to filter the Sun.

I thought by this time I would be able to tell which Buff Orphington was a cockerel or pullet. This has not worked. I get three cockerels
crowing and see the feathers of the others to be a mix. I guess I will have to wait until the hens begin to lay. And, these are big birds!

All of my RIR's are pullets. There is a mix with the Buff Orphs.

The three cockerels will start to crow when they see me. The RIR pullets have an unusual cackle. It is a blend of a cluck and peep.
That is hard to describe!

Dick.
Phelan, CA

 

[cochinbantam-lover]

What beautiful chickens, and a nice house they have too!

 

[jjrabbit2]

Awww! what pretty birds you have. I love BO's I have 3 One 7 month old that is laying every day and misses a day here and there. She at first was laying double yokers like crazy. Now she is getting the hang of laying but she is the friendliest hen. My two pullets are 10 weeks old One is a Roo and was sold as a pullet. O well he is cool now I have a set of three 2 hens and a Roo. Along with all the rest of them... Thanks for the pics I cant wait till mine are that big!

 

[hinkjc]

Very nice looking birds. I believe I see 5 buff roosters in there.

 

[Gonzo]

what beautiful birds you have!!! how many do you have? We have 6 rh reds and 4 buff orps, and several other breeds... and we're not done getting everyone yet! still waiting on our australorps, and bw taileds... hopefully you'll be able to tell how may roo's you have here soon. I'll be in your boat with ours here soon.

 

[Gonzo]

have you seen the white orphingtons? I thought the buff's were about the prettiest things ever until I saw the white ones! Gonna have to get me some of those next year... I wonder if they have rehab for chicken addicts? Got a bad feeling I'll be in need!

 

[olinr]

gonzo&hispeeps :

what beautiful birds you have!!! how many do you have?....

Thanks to all who have made their comments. They are appreciated.

I purchased 25 day old chicks from McMurray. They shipped me 11 RIR pullets and 14 BO's.
They substituted the BO's for a RIR mix. I was upset at switch, however, the BO's are a bonus.
I did not know about them until now. What fun!

I know I have at least three BO pullets; maybe more. All I know is that I have three roos crowing.
The only other feature noted was the turned down tail feathers of three others and their combs are shorter.

As I age, so will the birds. Time will tell....

BTW, my motive for this post was to show the progress of the chicks growing up. The new breeder, as I was,
could not follow the growth. This should help!

Dick.
Phelan, CA​

 

[SimplyForties]

They look great! What a nice bunch.

 

[olinr]

Here is another photo of my flock. Maybe this will help.
I just threw some scratch out for them to eat.

Dick.
Phelan, CA

 

[MsRiderUp]

Thanks for the photos. I've never raised baby chicks and was wondering what they look like in different stages. We're being given 8 1-year-old hens of different breeds, so I will learn fast!