Washingtonians

[KMHunter]

Hi Everyone,
This week I built a run for my chickies. I mostly used wood from our spare stuff in the garage. I did end up buying four new boards and the 1/4" hardware wire to enclose it. I have a picture of what I want to build so it should be ok on the budget. The chicks are three weeks old and growing like little weeds, and so cute. They are going to be so pretty when they grow up

I am new at this, so I have a question...when can you begin to tell if a chick is a rooster or hen?? I have five chicks, and two are starting to show the crown on their beeks. Is this the sign of a rooster, or is it too soon to tell?? Thanks for any advice on this subject.

Lisa
Puyallup, WA

HI there!
I am not sure what you mean about showing "crown" on their beaks. Are you talking about their comb?
Some girls have little ones but they are really pale pink or peach. If it is a boy it will be starting to turn very pink or rosey colored. What breeds do you have?
It would be great if you had pictures. Maybe some of us on here could help you out.

Some breeds are more difficult to determine at 3 weeks than others.

 

[Totalcolour]

okay, so here's the Scotch eggs I did for our crabbing tomorrow.

The egg in the middle is an EE - the Scotch eggs are ducks eggs wrapped with ground, seasoned chicken thighs. We had one for a starter before dinner tonight, cut up and dipped in mustard. It was fabulous.

 

[Totalcolour]

Okay, dunno who posted it, or even on this thread so I'm going to copy and post it in a lot of places.

Someone posted a recipe for batter - so I tried it on pre-cooked duck legs. It was so totally wonderful I had to come on and tell everyone. Himself is wondering how I can outdo tonight's dinner tomorrow. I'm not sure either!

Whoever posted, thank you, it's fabulous!

 

[LakeBird]

Thanks for letting my join "Freezer Camp" today JustBugged! And it was nice to meet you FirewifeJesse!

 

[FirewifeJess]

Thanks for letting my join "Freezer Camp" today JustBugged! And it was nice to meet you FirewifeJesse!

Nice to meet you too! I had a brain fart when you were leaving and called you the wrong name. Doh! Sorry, I do know your name. Hope your event tonight went well too.

 

[itsren]

You mean the diet of swallowing staples in front of 2 mortified and overprotective chicken mamas?

Yep! That diet. Whew. So glad he's OK.

 

[itsren]

Will do! This was my first time incubating and it really is a lot of fun to see the whole process. The kids will have fun candling and tracking development, etc.
Congrats on your new coop, it must be very satisfying to know it all or mostly came from reclaimed and free materials.

Thanks! I do love that I rescued a bunch of good wood from the burn pile. A lot of the wood is new, which is awesome. Some of it is old decking - a bit of a bugger... I've gotten a lot of slivers from that stuff. I'm going to have to sand it pretty well before painting it.

The smaller pieces are going to be used for Cub Scout crafts.

 

[itsren]

I am new at this, so I have a question...when can you begin to tell if a chick is a rooster or hen?? I have five chicks, and two are starting to show the crown on their beeks. Is this the sign of a rooster, or is it too soon to tell?? Thanks for any advice on this subject.

Lisa
Puyallup, WA

Welcome Lisa! From what I understand each breed is different when it comes to figuring out the sex of the chicken. What breed(s) do you have?

 

[itsren]

That is so true. I remember one of my professor told us to question everything we were ever told. "Trust no-one" he said. So I don't. I'm not sure I even trust me half the time.

 

[itsren]

I hear crickets. Is that perhaps the beginning of the end of summer?

I found a cricket in my back yard yesterday. Almost fed it to a chicken. Yesterday, DD asked me "How come summer is so short this year?" I told her summer went to the rest of the country this year. She doesn't think that's fair.