Washingtonians

[Hinotori]

Anyone else's roosters crow with the moon?

Close to morning, but still...... SHUT UP! IT'S ONLY 4:30!!!

They've been doing this for the last couple of nights.  This morning it was especially irritating because I had to close my bedroom window just when the cool air was pouring in.

My head rooster only crows at night when something disturbs his sleep. Usually that is DH leaving for work. He settles down after he decides there is no threat. He likes to crow in the morning to say "feed us" or when he tries to get my attention after we get home to say "let us out".

It doesn't matter how much he crows since I can't hear him inside unless he's under a window. He's much, much quieter than any of the dogs people have and we are out in the country.

He's almost mute compared to his father. Dang silkies were LOUD and crowed a lot. The blue cockerel I have out there now hasn't crowed yet.

 

[Chickielady]

Hi guys !!!

We are NOT getting alot done in this heat.it has been blinding sun & 99 degrees (or more) here in the shade !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So we work early in the AM and cut off about noon when it gets too hot, and start working again about 6 PM......when the sun moves over the tree line.

OK, back to work for me~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[itsren]

They were raised by an easter egger. She's had them up on stuff from as soon as they could manage to sort of flap up. I just put the long top branch in the other day for them to play on as well since they can now manage to walk down a branch without falling off. I do love how well they forage even at this young age. I just sit out there and read while they are out roaming.

That's awesome. They might get to the point where they can't roost very high though. They get big - fast. A lot of people on the Brahma thread won't let Brahma's roost at all because their legs can't support the weight. Drama can get up on things now, but she can't get down now without falling on her face. She's finally able to get up on our 18" roost in the coop, but I'm finding her on the lower roost often now - which pretty much sits on the floor. At least she's smart enough to sit on the lower roost now instead of right beneath my EE and RIR where she used to get pooped on all night long.

 

[itsren]

Jessica, sorry you had to get rid of Ricky. I know you'll be less frustrated with the chickens though. It was cute to hear him crow during the day - probably not so cute early in the morning. You have quite a few mouths to feed... getting rid of him will help you cut down on that feed bill.

Also.... what was the name of that coffee creamer you use? I can't remember.

As for wing clipping... two things I read (book-learned, not actual experience)... only the 10 flight feathers closest to the tip of the wings get clipped. And, if you have a fencing system where the birds can't see beyond, they won't try to fly over.

So far, so good with mine. We have a solid wood fence, and they have yet to try to escape. My RIR and EE love to fly around the yard (Drama thinks she's flying, but she's just hopping). They could fly over our fence, but they have never tried. The only time we worry about it is when they fly on top of their coop - because they can see right over the fence when they do that. So if we see them on top of the coop, we get them down right away.

Until I have need to, I won't be clipping wings.

NEW PEEPS...

 

[itsren]

Question for the experienced chicken keepers...

Can you mix up flocks? Change their pen-mates?

DH and I continue to debate next Spring's 3 additional chickens (bringing us to the max of 6)... Silkies or LF.

IF I get 2 Brahma's and another LF next spring (chicks), would I, at some point, be able to move Drama to the new coop that is designed to fit either Brahmas or Silkies (all ground level, no ramps, but HUGE doors), would I, at some point, be able to move Drama into a coop with 2 younger Brahmas and move a young LF into the coop with my EE and RIR who will be 1 year old at that point? Is this doable? Or flat out a dumb idea?

We're in total research mode. After buying a Brahma without having a clue how much different she would be, and having all the drama with her... we figured we better plan better the 2nd time around.

 

[lisaheath1]

All chickens will grow wattles, but if at 4 weeks spike is already getting them, cockeral. Probably around 12-15 weeks the pullets will start getting them too, just not as big.

good to know, thanks. I am still very new at this. They are all so sweet and I'm learning a lot from this site. And everyone is so nice and helpful too. (even though I'm sure you all have answered the same questions countless times, lol) Thank you for your patience and helpful answers

 

[Hinotori]

That's awesome.  They might get to the point where they can't roost very high though.  They get big - fast.  A lot of people on the Brahma thread won't let Brahma's roost at all because their legs can't support the weight.  Drama can get up on things now, but she can't get down now without falling on her face.  She's finally able to get up on our 18" roost in the coop, but I'm finding her on the lower roost often now - which pretty much sits on the floor.  At least she's smart enough to sit on the lower roost now instead of right beneath my EE and RIR where she used to get pooped on all night long.

I got two brahmas last year and we loved them and the trees they call legs . The one hen I have left is the most foraging chicken out there. She will roost sometimes if she can get the top bar, but usually prefers to sleep on top of the nest box. The other one was bigger at 8 pounds and never slept anywhere but the nest box top.

 

[Hinotori]

Question for the experienced chicken keepers...

Can you mix up flocks?  Change their pen-mates?

DH and I continue to debate next Spring's 3 additional chickens (bringing us to the max of 6)... Silkies or LF.

IF I get 2 Brahma's and another LF next spring (chicks), would I, at some point, be able to move Drama to the new coop that is designed to fit either Brahmas or Silkies (all ground level, no ramps, but HUGE doors), would I, at some point, be able to move Drama into a coop with 2 younger Brahmas and move a young LF into the coop with my EE and RIR who will be 1 year old at that point?  Is this doable?  Or flat out a dumb idea?

We're in total research mode.  After buying a Brahma without having a clue how much different she would be, and having all the drama with her... we figured we better plan better the 2nd time around.

All of my birds get along, but all of the large fowl grew up with silkies so they see them as normal. I tell you there is nothing more funny than a silkie trying to mate a brahma.

 

[FirewifeJess]

Renee - the coffee creamer is Sweet Italian Cream

Basically it's like pouring out cream and sugar from a single bottle

Well, the busyness has caught up and I'm so exhausted that I'm shaking and cranky. DH took the kids to church so I could rest...but I'll probably do chores instead since we've been so busy the house has been neglected. Man, it never stops!!!!! Today I'm going to be working on creating an improved chore chart system for the kids so that we already have it implemented before we begin school again. I can't wait!

 

[FirewifeJess]

Hey did I mention that one of my Buff Orps squatted for the first time 2 days ago? Oddly, it's the smaller of the 2, Ethel, who loves to be held and carried around and hugged on. I can't wait for her first egg!!