News!

Two of the chicks are probably boys - Juni and Rhoda, the ones we thought were underdeveloped and wierd. They are looking and sounding like boys, and the slower feather development is a boy trait. Here is the resource we used: http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/sexingchicks.html

I am going to go let them out and watch them walk around the yard and read ACRES magazine. http://www.acresusa.com/magazines/magazine.htm

We had to move the chicken tractor today.

Since I was the only one home (this is Peter by the way), I had to not only devise a way to move it by myself, but I also had to find a way to move the chickens to a safe place. The large cage that we kept them in before moving them outside is now full of chicken supplies, so that was not available. The small brooders that we made for the earlier stages are just not big enough to hold more than one or two birds each, and then only for a short period of time. The solution that I found was perfect.

We have a small fenced-in area (60' X 60') directly out the back door of our house. I think the previous owners used it to keep their dog contained. We've tried keeping Clarra in there, but she is such a clever brute of a dog, that it takes her about 30 seconds to break out. But I digress.

So anyway, I closed both of the gates to the fenced in area and move the chickens over one by one. They loved it! They instantly took advantage of the additional space. They were flying around and exploring like curious children. The found lots of food to forage and seem to really like one area of the yard in particular. They truly were having a blast. They got to spend about 2 hours just playing in the yard. It was a great opportunity to take some pictures.

First Night Out!

The chicks spent their first night in the tractor. They seemed fine. In the morning they reminded me of people who had been camping, walking around on the grass, waking up, drinking water. The way they dring is so cute - they scoop the water up in their beaks then tilt their heads back to get it to go down since they can't swallow. We left some music on outside to scare away predators, as well as a lantern next to the coop. We tried to leave Clarra out as a watchdog, but at 2:30 she was whining to come in and it was keeping me up. Even though she abandoned her duties, the chicks were safe. We know there are coyotes very close, right behind the house in the woods, so we need to be aware and make sure they are secure. We want to build something with some of the features of a Henspa, but without the $1300 price tag. Check this out: http://www.henspa.com/Henspa%20Features.htm.

new stuff

At least one of the chicks sounds like a chicken suddenly!! 

There is a very low roost in the tractor which is very nice for Juniper (Juni) because she can't reach the one in the brooder. She is still the least developed and doesn't quite have all her feathers. She is kind of an oddball - often doing her own thing when everyone else is doing something else together. She is very sweet. 

First Day Out

The Chicks are going to stay out all day today for the first time when I leave the property. I have staked the tractor down with big plastic yellow tent stakes, and I have propped plywood around the south end on all 3 sides for shade. I locked the top to keep predators out. I have not given them food yet because I am trying to encourage them to forage, but when I leave I will give them a big feeder of food and more cold water and a feeder of grit. I found out it should be consistently above 50 degrees F to leave them out permanently, but we may rig up an old dog house with a light for them to go in at night. 

Chicks

 

Thursday, March 19^th: got 4 Rhode Island Reds, and 4 Barred Plymouth Rock, pullets, from Orscheln. The Reds are named (from darkest to lightest markings) America, Henrietta Higgins, Rhoda, and Juniper; and the black are (from least to most white) Eliza, Luna, Celia and  Hermione.

 

Friday March 20^th: We change the chicks’ water several times a day to keep it fresh and cool. We change their pine shaving litter once a day. They get Rescue Remedy in their water to prevent stress.

 

Saturday March 21^st: We were away all day at a gardening class and Rose was at Gracie’s. We checked on the chicks twice during the day. The chicks are in a Rubbermaid with a lid Peter made out of wood and chicken wire. They have medicated crumbles, and a feeder and a waterer, and a heat lamp. The thermometer in the brooder tells us the temperature is between 85 and 95 degrees. They are neither huddling under the light nor trying to get away from it.

 

Sunday 3/22: Peter and Rose were home with the chicks. The Hunters came and saw them then they all went to church together.

 

Monday 3/23: Rose and I were home with the chicks for the morning. Clarra tried to get into the brooder! She is not allowed with the chicks anymore! I discovered the place I was looking for paste butt was not the butt but the egg hole. Their butts were all pasty so I cleaned them.

 

Tuesday 3/24: we were all out all day. The chicks are growing lots of wing and tail feathers. They pinch when we hand feed them now. They are trying to fly. They look taller and more like chickens.

 

Wednesday 3/25: They are getting more feisty! Eliza was on top of the waterer and they are doing more brave flapping and jumping when we try to hold them. They like being held two at a time – it makes them less nervous. It is a little too warm (100 under the lamp) so we moved the food and waterer to one end of the brooder to give them a larger space away from the light instead of having it between the food and the water. Rose noticed Celia panting which is why we checked the temp.

Game:  pick up a piece of wood shaving and run around with it like crazy while the other chicks chase you.

 

Friday 3/27: Rose rhythmically kicked the outside of the rubbermaid tub gently by the thermometer and as the thermometer bounced against the side of the brooder, the chicks all turned towards it and gathered around it in silent awe. It looked like they were worshiping it. The effect couldn’t be recreated later. Hermione and Luna have also figured out how to fly onto the feeder and waterer. They need a roost!

 

Saturday 3/28: I went to change the water and left the top off the cage. When I came back I wondered why there was such loud peeping – it was Eliza! She had flown the coop and was walking around the room, a bit confused!

 

Thursday 4/2: I didn’t write for days! The chicks are totally different. Yesterday Rose and I took them out and let them walk on grass for the first time ever! They have eaten some worms we have caught for them as well. They like to play “Chase Me With The Worm!”

They used to play it with wood shavings but now they do it with real worms! They also pick up wood chips to try to conceal the worm in their mouth!

 

Tuesday April 21, 2009: The chicks now live in the dog crate in the garage. They also go out in the tractor for a few hours at a time. Today I let them walk around the garage while I cleaned out the brooder and replaced the wood chips. They walked all around, pecking at random stuff like Styrofoam peanuts. They also pooped all over the garage floor, but I cleaned that up too! I was thinking how great it is to own these little poop factories. I am no longer oppressed by the manure fat cats because I have taken possession of the means of production!

After I put them back in the cage and let Clara out of the house Clara went running into the front yard barking and chased away two coyotes.