Girls Gone Wild

Today I decided to continue work on the chicken castle and my first priority was to fix a problem with the door that allows the bedding to fall out when the door is opened. I needed to work inside both the coop and run so I decided to let the chicks explore the great outdoors while I did my work.

As soon as I opened the door all the chicks hopped up on the edge of the door frame and jumped down to the grass. They really love eating grass and it didn't take them long to start exploring beyond the immediate area. They were probably out for about 20 minutes and I noticed that they were starting to test their wings so I took the opportunity to offer them a treat and they all happily re-entered to coop to eat the dried meal worms that they all enjoy, except one we are calling Phoebe. I don't think she has even tried one, so she probably doesn't know what she's missing. Maybe she's a vegetarian chicken, or maybe just clueless!

After the chicks were safely back in the coop I painted the top coat all around and then installed the new door shield that should keep the bedding material in its place.

So far we have named three of the six chicks, Goldie, Sadie and now Phoebe.

Five on the Roost

The chicks are spending lots of time outside now and I have only been leaving their light on during the day on the coldest of days. I still turn the light on almost every night and they make their way into the coop to cuddle under its warm glow. All six chicks had been roosting scrunched up at one end of the roost, but one of the barred rock chicks flew off just before I snapped this picture. I kind of feel sorry for the Ameraucana chick on the bottom. 

The six chicks are getting along pretty well most days. They do seem to keep themselves entertained by chasing one another around the run and jumping up on the ramp, flying up to the roost and back down. They are lots of fun to watch. 

Last weekend when I installed the roost, I didn't think they would be able to get up to it right away, but as soon as it was installed they all immediately started looking up at it and trying to figure out how to get on it. The first attempts were failed, but then the figured it out. After s few got on, they learned to scoot down to one end so the others could fly up. It's pretty amazing that they figured it out as quickly. 

The water and food also got hung up outside and there has been much less spillage and waste since I moved them there. The fun thing about these girls is that every time we visit them they run to the door looking for a treat. They also like to get out of the run and eat the grass.

Chicken Races

Yesterday I added the roof to the chicken castle and built the ramp for the chicks to get into and out of the coop during the day. I also added some additional structural pieces and paint, so it's starting to look more complete. The chicks loved scratching around in the dirt and eating little bits of grass and leaves left behind in the run. After I unblocked the chicken door, they started peeking their heads out to investigate and in no time they were racing down the ramp into the run.

The neighbor behind us was showing her grandsons the chickens and told me that she loved seeing and listening to them. That was good to hear. Honestly with all of the barking dogs and loud peacocks running around the neighborhood, I don't expect to get any grief from our neighbors about our little flock. Still it was nice to hear the she liked them.

This morning when I unblocked the chicken door, the six chicks again raced down the ramp and started foraging. Later I noticed that they have figured out how to get back up the ramp and into the coop too. They also seem to like hanging out on the ramp and jumping or flying off of it. They are pretty fun to watch I must admit.

All Moved In

Today I finally moved the chicks into their new home. I still have some work to do, but they really needed the extra room. They seem to like it a lot, flapping their little wings and trying to see outside. There is a lot of scratching and running around so far. I added a little roost after I took this picture and some of the chicks immediately hopped up on it and flapped their wings.

To the right is a picture of Goldie, our Golden Sex Link. She is starting to look very pretty and has soft feathers. She was the last chick to leave the brooder today. Her choice. She was playing hard to get. I actually tried to catch her first, but she flew away from me so I took Sadie first and she got to explore the new coop on her own for a few minutes. It didn't take long for her to start chirping loudly for her friends. The next two were the Ameraucana chicks and then the Plymouth Barred Rock. After the rest of the chicks were gone, Goldie missed them immediately and started her loud chirping for her friends. When I went back to get her she didn't put up as much of a fight and was finally happily checking out her new home.

Chicks First Day Outside

Enjoying the great outdoors

The chicks are getting big and I have been seeing them getting restless in their brooder lately, so today while I was working on their new home, I decided to let them spend the day in the run. I put up a piece of plywood where the run door will go while I worked on the doors for the run and coop. They had a great day eating grass, chasing flies, scratching in the dirt and flapping their wings. They never sat still all day long. When I gathered them up to put them back in their brooder, they all settled in together under the light. The girls are getting more used to us and moving them outside and then inside helped to get them even more comfortable. They really love the dried mealworms that I used to lure them to me so I could scoop them up.

I got lots of work done on the two doors today and I will be heading to the store tomorrow for door hardware, plywood and 2x4s to hopefully get closer to finishing the chicken castle. I hope to get the doors and roof done tomorrow so the chicks can move into their new home this weekend and I can clean up my shop. 

Treats for Chicks

Sadie our Dominique Chick

During lunch yesterday I paid a visit to Del's Farm supply; it was time to upgrade the waterer and feeder. The less expensive plastic versions are not proving to be useful for more than one day each anymore. I should have started with the larger, sturdier galvanized models. Since the chicks are eating between two and three pounds of starter feed each day the new 11 pound feeder should be much better. The new waterer holds 3 gallons versus 1 gallon for the plastic one. I won't have to worry about the girls running out of either if I can't get to them every day.

While I was browsing for more feed and the upgraded feeders, I noticed something called dried mealworms and grabbed a bag as treats for the little pullets. I have read that this might be a great way for the chicks to begin to tame down a little bit. Until now every time I open the brooder lid to change water and add feed, the chicks scattered to get as far away from me as possible, even though I move very slowly. Today I put a few of the dried mealworms in my hand and slowly lowered it into the brooder and almost immediately Sadie, the Dominique chick (the oldest one) came over an started pecking at the worms. Once she was comfortable and gobbling all the treats, the others soon followed and before long they were picking worms and running off to their own corner to enjoy their treat before coming back for more. I should be fun to see how they react to me today.

Outsmarting the Chicks

Our chicks can make a mess in a hurry during the day while we are at work. Two of them are bigger than the rest and they love to try to fly already. As I watch them, they fly to the top of the feeder and have tipped it over making a mess when the bottom nut on the feeder fell off (I still have not found it). Now I have noticed that when the water gets low, it gets light enough to rock back and forth spilling water in the brooder and making a big mess.

Last night I decided to clean the bedding and while I was at it I put the water on a solid base so they can't move it as easily. We will see later today if my plan worked. The chicks are eating and drinking a lot every day, which is surprising considering their size. When I bought 25 pounds of food the sales person quipped that it would last me about a week; I almost laughed! Well 10 or so days into that first bag it's about half gone already so he was not too far off, and they seem to be eating more each day. I might have to buy a bigger, more sturdy feeder sooner than I thought!

Here is a portrait of one of our barred rock chicks. So cute...

Busy Chicks

Before I left for work yesterday I filled the chick's feeder and noticed that the nut that holds the feeder together was missing. I have no idea where it went, but looking through the bedding was fruitless so I set up a title platform and set the feeder on it and headed to work.

When I got home the feeder was on its side and the food was everywhere in the brooder. I took me a while to find the feeder parts. They must have been playing pretty rough with it all day! Terri located a replacement nut and I put the feeder back together and things are back to normal.

This weekend, work on the coop continues. It won't be long before these chicks will be living outside and running around the yard. Watch out bugs and slugs.

I plan to get some chick portraits today too. That should be fun.

Chicken Profile #4

Plymouth Rock

The Plymouth Rock originated in New England in the 19th Century and was first recognized as a breed in the year 1869. They created the first Rock (Barred) by using breeds such as Dominique, Dorkings Cochins, etc. After that other colors and forms of the Plymouth Rock were created. It has been a great bird due to hardiness, egg laying, broodiness, and meat production. The first production meat chicken happened to be the Barred Rock. But now The White Rock is typically the female used to create Cornish X meat chickens.

We have two of these little chicks. They are black and fluffy and go peep, peep, peep. This is the second most popular breed on the backyard chickens breed ranking.

Photo and history courtesy of http://www.backyardchickens.com/

Chicken Profile #3

Ameraucana

The Ameraucana was developed in the 70's by a few people who were trying to standardize the Araucana breed. The Ameraucana is easier to breed as there are no complications due to lethal genes. A very detailed history of the Ameraucana can be read at the Ameraucana Breeders Club website. Besides the above color requirements the following are some of the traits Ameraucanas should posess:

{eyes - bay (reddish brown)}
{shanks & feet - slate (blue grey) black accepted on black birds, bottoms of feet white}
{ear lobes - red, pale on females (no white)}
{comb - pea}
{wattles - very small, absent}
{skin - white}
{toes - four}
{muffs & beard - forming three seperate lobes, absence is a DQ}
{egg color - blue, minty green}
{cock weight - 6.5 lbs/cockerel - 5.5 lbs}
{hen weight - 5.5 lbs/pullet - 4.5 lbs}
{full breast, medium back, and tail carried at 45 degrees above horizontal}
{the bird must breed true to color}

Photo and history courtesy of http://www.backyardchickens.com/

We have two of these chicks that are about two weeks old and are very pretty. They are starting to get little wing and tail feathers. So cute. 

Wing Flapping

My morning visit to the brooder found some of the chicks roosting on the new roost, and others sleeping in the bedding material. When they saw me they all popped up and two of them stretched their wings and started flapping them! The Dominique and Golden Sex-Link are getting lots of feathers and they do lots of preening and flapping.

I moved the heat lamp out of the brooder because they can now almost reach it when they are on the roost. This will give them a little more room too.

They all seem to like their new home!

They Made It

The six little chicks made it through the day without us! When I got home the Dominique was taking a "dust bath" in the pine shavings and she seemed to be enjoying herself a lot. She was also spreading her wings and hoping up to the top of the feeder trying to roost I think. I made them a little roost so they can get used to that too. After I put the roost in the brooder, I left them alone for a few minutes. When I returned they were all hopping up on it and pecking at it. I guess they like it!

Chickens

On Saturday afternoon I made the trip to Enumclaw, WA and visited Country Farm & Feed to chose my new chicks. I picked out six chicks and brought them home. I ended up with 1 three week old Dominique chick, 1 two week old Golden Sex-Link chick, 2 week old Plymouth Barred Rock chicks, and 2 week old Ameraucana chicks. They are all getting along well in the brooder I made for them.

The older Dominique has already taken the other five chick under her wind as they all cuddle together when they sleep, so cute.

Today the chicks will be alone for the day since we are all off to work. I will post some pictures this week and also coop progress.

That's it for my first post!