Got my chickens today!

[Nicho1]

What a wonderful thing...got 4 little pullets today...two Barred Rock and two Black Australorps. They are into their new "digs" but it is taking a while for them to get adjusted. They are 3-4 months old. For the next couple of weeks, they will stay inside to learn where "home" is and then, if I can get a covered run ready, they'll get to venture outside. Apparently they haven't been handled much so they're a little afraid. I suppose that with time and a routine, they will not be afraid of me? I decided not to get a rooster at this point since it will be cold soon. Who needs another mouth to feed? Then, in the Spring, if they decide to set, I'll buy some fertilized eggs of each of the breeds and place them accordingly. The problem I see with having little ones...soon they would overrun the place! If each hen only had two chicks, that would make a dozen chickens! And, so it goes. I wouldn't relish having to slaughter any but it may come to that. Why worry for what is so far ahead, eh? I'll just enjoy these for now. Thanks to all here who answered questions and helped me with this project. It's going to be really enjoyable.

[Summerthyme]

Oh, great fun! Chickens will tame down, with a bit of time, patience and BRIBES. Food is what makes a chicken's world go 'round. Get them used to a specific "call" (old farm wives used "chick, chick, chick"- good as any, but if you like to tease people, you could try "here bossy" for laughs... the hens won't care!) as you toss a bit of whole grain (scratch grains) or goodies like old bread crusts, etc to them. They'll quickly get accustomed to it, and you can then call them to you when you want to move them.

If you want to let them get a taste of free ranging, even without a run, just let them out an hour or so before dusk, while you are there to protect them from predators. They'll automatically go "home" when it starts getting dark, once they've learned where home is.

If you do set eggs, you'll have to either find homes for a bunch of extra cockerels, or learn to butcher- chickens aren't any different than any other species- they'll produce about half and half male and female. If you know anyone who has chickens, you could consider "borrowing" a rooster for a couple days... once they mate with a hen, she'll lay fertile eggs for about 3 weeks, so you really don't have to have one in there full time. If you do decide to try that, you'll want to be sure their birds are healthy, of course.

Take a bucket or something to sit on, and sit in their pen with some goodies, and they'll get used to you.

If you give them worms and bugs, they'll love you forever! And you'll be highly entertained by the antics as they try to keep "their share" of the bounty from the other girls.

Chickens beat TV any day.

Summerthyme

[momof23goats]

and biwthe fun begins. I have 2 that decided to best, well, we shall see what comes out of it.

[Nicho1]

Uh, oh. "Trouble, right here in River City." I wouldn't know for sure but two of these four pullets may be roosters! The tail feathers seem a little longer and they may be acting a bit "rooster-ish." It is one from each breed. The little Barred Rock and the bigger Black Australorp were standing almost neck to neck, all stretched up high as though they were thinking of starting an argument. That's not good. The woman where I bought them said I could bring them back if they weren't hens but it's a 120-mile round trip! Would it really be worth it? Somehow, I'm thinkin' it would. What a bummer. I guess we'll just have to see.

[Summerthyme]

Boy, by 12-16 weeks, you sure should be able to tell! Combs much different between them? Can you post a pic?

Even hens will "joust" a bit, but nothing like roos...

Summerthyme

[night driver]

"Heeeere bossy Cu-bossy, HEEEEre bossy" Maam you are INCORIGIBLE!!!!


For those who didn't get the joke, MANY farmers call their COWS with "Come bossy, cu-bossy"

[Nicho1]

I'm laughing, Night Driver. I had a "pet" cow once. Loved that old girl. Had her for 16 years. She had several calves along the way and I enjoyed milking her. Wish I could have another one now but with the horses, the pasture is a bit limited.

ANyway, back to the chickens...I'll try to get pictures tomorrow. Are there directions as to how to post pictures? I can insert them into emails but I don't know about a board like this.

[night driver]

For pictures.

You will find a "Manage attachments" button JUST below the box into which you type your post. (IF you have clicked the "Go Advanced" button.)

Click on "Manage attachments" and it will pretty much lead you through the process.

You will want to have saved the pics in the SMALLEST format available (IIRC .jpg works well).

there are size limits so you may have to resize the pics before you finally save them in order to upload them.