And then there were two

We have taken the dogs out on a leash to see how they resoond to the chickens.  Stella is fine; she just ignores them but Bix wants to get one.  He has such a soft mouth that I don't know if he would hurt one but the chickens and I don't really want to test him.  So he will be out on chicken practice until I am sure.

The two girls are enjoying the sun.  When they get separated from each other they cackle until they are reunited.  They don't like to be apart.  

I checked on the roos and was told that they are doing really well in the country.  They have been out of the chicken enclosure and eating grass and bugs and they "look really good" out there.  I think I will also be getting two pullets this summer when Stan orders more chicks.  He is getting Aracanas, which are a South American breed.  They look interesting and are good layers.

cockerels to the country

Here is a picture of the chickens inside the coop.  Billina and Hen Maddox Hen are looking at the camera, Ms featherbottom is in the nesting box and Spot's tail feathers are just visible in the bottom right hand corner.
On Saturday morning, May 28th, I heard two distinct voices in a cock-a-doodle-doo contest.  I looked out the window and Billina was crowing and there was Spot sitting on top of the coop door (pictured above) answering the call.  The cockerels start out with a rr rr rrrr before they get into a full doodle doo.  They are 11 weeks old so Billina started at about 10 weeks.  A friend in the country came to their rescue and said he would take them.  We drove them out on Monday, May 30.  They were put in the coop with the other chickens very unceremoniously...gently tossed in.  Billina mingled with the flock and tried to look like he had always been there.  Spot, on the other hand was left in the enclosed area with #2 rooster.  #2 was staring him down waiting for a confrontation.  Spot didn't know what to do and luckily Stan stepped in and shooed them to the outside enclosure.  He said he had several underlings and since they are juvenile roos they might be ok.  Sometimes the newcomers  get beat up.  He was going to watch to see how they do.  They will all stay in the enclosure for 3 days then they will be able to roam the farm.  They could also become victim to coyotes but all in all it is chicken paradise.  When we left the two newbees were in the outside enclosure pecking away and looking a bit confused but I think they will be fine.  I'll get an update sometime later.  I also learned how to sex a chicken (or any animal for that matter).  You need a large metal staple with a string attached.  Hold the staple by the string over the animal to be sexed and start rotating it in a small circle.  When it is gently moving hold your hand steady and let the staple sway on its own.  If the animal is a male it will begin to swing back and forth in a straight line, if the animal is a female it will rotate in a circle.  We tried it on a mother cat, a tom cat, the two roos, and even my husband.  It worked every time!

Outside at last!

The hens moved outside and all is going well. It is a good thing that I put the fence around the coop because it is going to take a while before Bixby looses interest in the chickens. Everything seemed fine until one morning we heard a strange noise. We thought it was one of the cats but then realized it was coming from outside. It sounded like rr rr rrrr. After about 4 days and being in denial we have conceded that Billina is a cockerel. She...he is such a friendly chicken. I don't want to have him reduced to a meal so I am trying to find him a home. It's difficult...you just really don't need many males around, but I am asking everyone I know with chickens. Hopefully some one will show up before the neighbors complain.

The flood is coming!

looking out the window

Miss Featherbottom decided to have some quite time

The hens have outgrown the brooder box and are ready to move to a bigger home.  I am waiting for the weather to warm up as they should not be outside at this stage until the night time temperature doesn't go below 50 degrees.  However, we had a drain problem in the basement and I noticed that the shower drain was plugged...which is in the bathroom with the brooder box.  I got two dryer boxes and put them together and moved the chicks to a storage room in the basement.  They will need to stay there for about a week until the temperature at night is higher. 

Safety first!

After seeing how excited Bixby was with the chicks I decided to add an extra barrier for at least the first year. I bought a portable fence to put around the coop. It is 10 x 10 x 6 feet tall. The chicks can roam around in the pen and I won't have to worry about them with the dogs. Hopefully the chicks won't stick their heads through the fence!

Billina and Spot are the most independent of the 4 chicks, pictured here at ~ 6 weeks. They like to roost on the top edge of their box. Billina, aka Ms Congeniality,  is the most sociable of the 4. She actually jumps up to greet us and wants her chest rubbed. She is starting to get her wattle now also. We really hope she is not a cockerel! They start trying to crow at about 5 weeks and since they are now 6 weeks and no cock-a-doodle-doos,  it looks good. Scott loves her and says she loves him too so she wouldn't be reduced to the frying pan anyway but a rooster in the backyard would not make us very popular in the neighborhood. The hens are starting to out grow their box and it will be good to get them into the coop.

A visit to the coop

The hens had a short visit to the coop at 4 weeks. The weather was nice so I took them out for some fresh air. It was a bit of a process though...catching them and transporting them upstairs and outside without the help of 3 cats and 2 dogs. Then in reverse to put them back in the heated box. The night time temperature is not warm enough and they are not old enough to make the permanent move into an unheated coop. They need to be 8 weeks and the outside temperature not below 50. It has been cooler than usual this spring. However, it will be hot soon enough! When they were in the coop they really seemed to enjoy it. They could manage to slide down the ramp but their legs are not long enough yet to climb back up. The dogs were tooooo interested. Bixby will be a challenge to train.

entering the dinosaur phase

dinosaur strut

new feathers and colors

Billina showing off her comb

Spot showing off her new comb

perching and preening

At 3 weeks the chicks have lost there fuzz and they are starting to get their feathers.  They are at the gangly stage with long legs and big feet and sparse feathers...aka dinosaur chicks.  They are all starting to show the colors and markings of adulthood.  The buffs are getting some of the rust colored feathers, Spot is getting her barred black and white feathering and hen maddox hen is getting her speckles.  They began roosting this week so I added another perch.  I also noticed their combs are starting to show.  They are curious about what we are doing when we look in on them and they cock their heads to one side and look up at us with one eye.  Of course, when I am there I usually refill their feeder so all the more reason for them to be curious.